XXVII. In The Garden
Ineachcenturysincethebeginningoftheworldwonderfulthingshavebeendiscovered.Inthelastcenturymoreamazingthingswerefoundoutthaninanycenturybefore.Inthisnewcenturyhundredsofthingsstillmoreastoundingwillbebroughttolight.Atfirstpeoplerefusetobelievethatastrangenewthingcanbedone,thentheybegintohopeitcanbedone,thentheyseeitcanbedone—thenitisdoneandalltheworldwonderswhyitwasnotdonecenturiesago.Oneofthenewthingspeoplebegantofindoutinthelastcenturywasthatthoughts—justmerethoughts—areaspowerfulaselectricbatteries—asgoodforoneassunlightis,orasbadforoneaspoison.Toletasadthoughtorabadonegetintoyourmindisasdangerousaslettingascarletfevergermgetintoyourbody.Ifyouletitstaythereafterithasgotinyoumaynevergetoveritaslongasyoulive.
SolongasMistressMary’smindwasfullofdisagreeablethoughtsaboutherdislikesandsouropinionsofpeopleandherdeterminationnottobepleasedbyorinterestedinanything,shewasayellow-faced,sickly,boredandwretchedchild.Circumstances,however,wereverykindtoher,thoughshewasnotatallawareofit.Theybegantopushheraboutforherowngood.