Dorothy, I begin to doubt our way of church-membership.

It _may_ make the good better; but if a bad one gets in, it certainly makes him worse.

I begin to think too, that every minister ought to be independent of his flock--I do not mean by the pay of the state, God forbid! but by having some trade or profession, if no fortune.

Still, if I had had the money to pay that bill, I should now be where I am glad not to be--up on my castletop, instead of down at the gate.

He has made me poor that He might send me humility, and that I find unspeakably precious.