(seq. 21)

[the following is written in pencil in the margins of a previously used copy book inscribed in ink in Spencerian copperplate; original writing is below.]
that should be pure & shiny & real. At the same time she
felt that this was ungrateful to her husband who had
given her this opportunity to
acquire nearly all that she knew & her life was a
continual struggle between
the things that she liked & thought
best [word illegible] & the things that she
despised but thought right for one
in her position. She tried to hide this from her husband
but he realized
there was something between
them though he could
not have told what & he consoled
himself by a little pleasure not really wrong but extremeley
distasteful to his wife. May knew that Mrs. Merriam was
unhappy & thougguessed the had an
reason why idea of the reason though not clearly
defined. [cyrd?] to he a than
was much pity & respect mingled
with her love for her friend. For May Mrs Merriam recognized
a character & qualities
very like her own & she had an almost
motherly feeling for the girl & a
desire that she might not waste her
[Original ink writing:}

The Child's Hymn

We are poor and lowly born
WIth the poor we bide;
Labor is our heritage
Care and want beside.

What of this> -- ouyr blessed lord
Was of lowly birth,
And poor toiling fishermen
Were His freinds on earth.

We are ignorant and young
Simple children all;
Gifted with but humble powers,
And of learning small.

What of this? -- our blessed Lord,
Loved such as we;
How he the little ones
Setting on his knee!

[the following is written in pencil in the margins of a previously used copy book inscribed in ink in Spencerian copperplate; original writing is below.]
that should be pure & shiny & real. At the same time she
felt that this was ungrateful to her husband who had
given her this opportunity to
acquire nearly all that she knew & her life was a
continual struggle between
the things that she like & thought
best [word illegible] & the things that she
despised but thought right for one
in her position. She tried to hide this from her husband
but he realized
there was something between
them though he could
not have told what & he consoled
himself by a little pleasure not really wrong but extremeley
distasteful to his wife. Mary knew that Mrs. M[?] was
unhappy & thougguessed the had an
reason why idea of the reason though not clearly
defined.

[Original ink writing:}

The Child's Hymn

We are poor and lowly born
WIth the poor we bide;
Labor is our heritage
Care and want beside.

What of this> -- ouyr blessed lord
Was of lowly birth,
And poor toiling fishermen
Were His freinds on earth.

We are ignorant and young
Simple children all;
Gifted with but humble powers,
And of learning small.

What of this? -- our blessed Lord,
Loved such as we;
How he the little ones
Setting on his knee!