Timecame，perhaps，allsosoon，whenourthoughtsover-leapedthatnarrowboundary；whentherewassomeone（verydear，wethoughtthen，verybeautiful，andabsolutelyperfect）wantingtothefulnessofourhappiness；whenwewerewantingtoo（orwethoughtso，whichdidjustaswell）attheChristmashearthbywhichthatsomeonesat；andwhenweintertwinedwitheverywreathandgarlandofourlifethatsomeone’sname。
ThatwasthetimeforthebrightvisionaryChristmaseswhichhavelongarisenfromustoshowfaintly，aftersummerrain，inthepalestedgesoftherainbow！Thatwasthetimeforthebeatifiedenjoymentofthethingsthatweretobe，andneverwere，andyetthethingsthatweresorealinourresolutehopethatitwouldbehardtosay，now，whatrealitiesachievedsince，havebeenstronger！
What！DidthatChristmasneverreallycomewhenweandthepricelesspearlwhowasouryoungchoicewerereceived，afterthehappiestoftotallyimpossiblemarriages，bythetwounitedfamiliespreviouslyatdaggers——drawnonouraccount？Whenbrothersandsisters-in-lawwhohadalwaysbeenrathercooltousbeforeourrelationshipwaseffected，perfectlydotedonus，andwhenfathersandmothersoverwhelmeduswithunlimitedincomes？WasthatChristmasdinnerneverreallyeaten，afterwhichwearose，andgenerouslyandeloquentlyrenderedhonourtoourlaterival，presentinthecompany，thenandthereexchangingfriendshipandforgiveness，andfoundinganattachment，nottobesurpassedinGreekorRomanstory，whichsubsisteduntildeath？Hasthatsamerivallongceasedtocareforthatsamepricelesspearl，andmarriedformoney，andbecomeusurious？Aboveall，dowereallyknow，now，thatweshouldprobablyhavebeenmiserableifwehadwonandwornthepearl，andthatwearebetterwithouther？
ThatChristmaswhenwehadrecentlyachievedsomuchfame；whenwehadbeencarriedintriumphsomewhere，fordoingsomethinggreatandgood；whenwehadwonanhonouredandennobledname，andarrivedandwerereceivedathomeinashoweroftearsofjoy；isitpossiblethatTHATChristmashasnotcomeyet？
Andisourlifehere，atthebest，soconstitutedthat，pausingasweadvanceatsuchanoticeablemile-stoneinthetrackasthisgreatbirthday，welookbackonthethingsthatneverwere，asnaturallyandfullasgravelyasonthethingsthathavebeenandaregone，orhavebeenandstillare？Ifitbeso，andsoitseemstobe，mustwecometotheconclusionthatlifeislittlebetterthanadream，andlittleworththelovesandstrivingsthatwecrowdintoit？