Margaret Fuller, Memoirs of Margaret Fuller Ossoli
W. H. Channing, Ed.

[2055] only, and has never since been able to be moved. Her mother and sister come by turns to take care of her. She cannot help herself in any way, but is as completely dependent as an infant. The blacksmith and his wife gave her the best room in their house, have ever since ministered to her as to a child of their own, and, when people pity them for having to bear such a burthen, they say, ‘It is none, but a blessing.’

Melissa suffers all the time, and great pain. She cannot amuse or employ herself in any way, and all these years has been as dependent on others for new thoughts, as for daily cares. Yet her mind has deepened, and her character refined, under those stern teachers, Pain and Gratitude, till she has become the patron saint of the village, and the muse of the village school-mistress. She has a peculiar aversion to egotism, and could not bear to have her mother enlarge upon her sufferings.

‘Perhaps it will pain the lady to hear that,’ said the mild, religious sufferer, who had borne all without a complaint.

‘Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.’ The poor are the generous; the injured, the patient and loving.

All that——said of this girl was in perfect harmony with what De Maistre says of the saint of St. Petersburg, who, almost devoured by cancer, when asked, ‘Quelle est la premiere grace que vous demanderez a Dieu, ma chere enfant, lorsque vous serez devant lui?’ she replied, ‘Je lui demanderai pour mes bienfaiteurs la grace de l'aimer autant que je l'aime.’

When they were lamenting for her, ‘Je ne suis pas, dit elle, aussi malheureuse que vous le croyez; Dieu me fait la grace de ne penser, qu'a lui.’