If sorrow for her loss be an atonement for the offences which I committed during her life, ample atonement has been made.
My father is a man of slender capacity, but of a temper easy and flexible.

He was sober and industrious by habit.

He was content to be guided by the superior intelligence of his wife.

Under this guidance he prospered; but, when that was withdrawn, his affairs soon began to betray marks of unskilfulness and negligence.

My understanding, perhaps, qualified me to counsel and assist my father, but I was wholly unaccustomed to the task of superintendence.