So beautiful

I’m reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn on Brandy’s suggestion, and this passage after Katie’s mother tells her to teach her daughter about fairies and Santa Claus is possibly one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever read:

“Because,” explained Mary Rommely simply, “the child must have a valuable thing which is called imagination. The child must have a secret world in which things live that never were. It is necessary that she believe. She must start out by believing in things not of this world. Then when the world becomes too ugly for living in, the child can reach back and live in her imagination.”
“The child will grow up and find out things for herself. She will know that I lied. She will be disappointed.”
“That is what is called learning truth. It is a good thing to learn the truth one’s self. To first believe with all your heart, and then not to believe, is good too. It fattens the emotions and makes them to stretch. When as a woman life and people disappoint her, she will have had practice in disappointment and it will not come as hard. In teaching your child, do not forget that suffering is good too. It makes a person rich in character.”

One thought on “So beautiful

  1. oh, i’m so glad you are liking it! the language is beautiful and the story is lovely–enjoy 🙂

    and yes, suffering is a master teacher…

Leave a Reply