Page 212 - The Story of My Lif

TO MRS. WILLIAM THAW

12 Newbury Street, Boston,

December 19th, 1898.

…I realize now what a selfish, greedy girl I was to ask that my cup of happiness
should be filled to overflowing, without stopping to think how many other
people’s cups were quite empty.

I feel heartily ashamed of my thoughtlessness. One of the childish illusions,
which it has been hardest for me to get rid of, is that we have only to make our
wishes known in order to have them granted. But I am slowly learning that there
is not happiness enough in the world for everyone to have all that he wants; and
it grieves me to think that I should have forgotten, even for a moment, that I
already have more than my share, and that like poor little Oliver Twist I should
have asked for “more.”…

TO MRS. LAURENCE HUTTON

12 Newberry Street, Boston.

December 22, [1898]

…I suppose Mr. Keith writes you the work-a-day news. If so, you know that I
have finished all the geometry, and nearly all the Algebra required for the
Harvard examinations, and after Christmas I shall begin a very careful review of
both subjects.

You will be glad to hear that I enjoy Mathematics now. Why, I can do long,
complicated quadratic equations in my head quite easily, and it is great fun! I
think Mr. Keith is a wonderful teacher, and I feel very grateful to him for having
made me see the beauty of Mathematics. Next to my own dear teacher, he has
done more than any one else to enrich and broaden my mind.

TO MRS. LAURENCE HUTTON