From this time I became more thoroughly in harmony with myself, and altogether happier.

The day was often wearisome, but then the evening rest was the sweeter, and the thought that I had passed a useful day refreshed my soul.

The children gave me many cares, many troubles; but they gave likewise an interest to my life, and happiness to my heart, and all the while, in pleasure and want, in joy and sorrow, they became dearer and dearer to me.

I cannot imagine that children can be dearer to their own mother than Laura and Karin are to me.
In this new position I also became a better daughter, a more tender sister than I had hitherto been; and I could now cheer the old age of my parents far more than if I had remained an inactive and superfluous person in their house.

Now for the first time I had advantage of all that was good in my education.