It was a great saying of my poor mother's, especially if my father hadbeen out of spirits about the crops, or the rise in wages, or ourprospects, and had thought better of it again, and showed her the brightside of things, "Well, my dear, I'm sure we've much to be thankful for."Which they had, and especially, I often think, for the fact that I wasnot the eldest son. I gave them more trouble than I can think of with acomfortable conscience as it was; but they had Jem to tread in myfather's shoes, and he was a good son to them--GOD bless him for it!I can remember hearing my father say--"It's bad enough to have Jackwith his nose in a book, and his head in the clouds, on a fine Juneday, with the hay all out, and the glass falling: but if Jem had been alad of whims and fancies, I think it would have broken my poor oldheart."