The natural effect of sorrow over the dead is to refine and elevate the mind. Whenever a man's friends begin to compliment him about looking young, he may be sure that they think he is growing old. Youth fades; love droops; the leaves of friendship fall; a mother's secret hope outlives them all! The easiest thing to do, whenever you fail, is to put yourself down by blaming your lack of ability for your misfortunes. Some minds seem almost to create themselves, springing up under every disadvantage and working their solitary but irresistible way through a thousand obstacles. One of the greatest and simplest tools for learning more and growing is doing more. They who drink beer will think beer. My only fear is that I may live too long. This would be a subject of dread to me. A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands. But a mother's love endures through all. A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. | 
