Then all at once I saw the moon looking down at me through the pine boughs , just like an old friend . I was comforted right off . Got up and walked to the house as brave as a lion , looking at her . Goodnight , master . Tell Mary the lilacs 'll last another week yet . '' From that night Abel and I were cronies . We walked and talked and kept silence and fished cod together . Stillwater people thought it very strange that I should prefer his society to that of the young fellows of my own age . Mrs. Campbell was quite worried over it , and opined that there had always been something queer about me . `` Birds of a feather . '' I loved that old garden by the harbour shore . Even Abel himself , I think , could hardly have felt a deeper affection for it . When its gate closed behind me it shut out the world and my corroding memories and discontents . In its peace my soul emptied itself of the bitterness which had been filling and spoiling it , and grew normal and healthy again , aided thereto by Abel 's wise words . He never preached , but he radiated courage and endurance and a frank acceptance of the hard things of life , as well as a cordial welcome of its pleasant things . He was the sanest soul I ever met . He neither minimized ill nor exaggerated good , but he held that we should never be controlled by either . Pain should not depress us unduly , nor pleasure lure us into forgetfulness and sloth . All unknowingly he made me realize that I had been a bit of a coward and a shirker . I began to understand that my personal woes were not the most important things in the universe , even to myself .
In short , XXXXX taught me to laugh again ; and when a man can laugh wholesomely things are not going too badly with him .
Abel Campbell Stillwater discontents harbour moon right shirker sloth woes