At the Back of the North Wind

by George MacDonald

But sometimes beautiful things grow bad by doing bad, and it takes some time for their badness to spoil their beauty. So

and the soft wind was so mighty and strong within its gentleness,

"Yes, it is—a very great deal, for it is a beginning. And a beginning is the greatest thing of all. To try to be brave is to be brave. The coward who tries to be brave is before the man who is brave because he is made so, and never had to try."

am only just. All kindness is but justice. We owe it."