Says Sir R. Steele: "It is the most beautiful object the eyes of man can
behold to see a man of worth and his son live in an entire, unreserved
correspondence. The mutual kindness and affection between them give an
inexpressible satisfaction to all who know them. It is a sublime
pleasure which increases by the participation. It is as sacred as
friendship, as pleasurable as love, and as joyful as religion. This
state of mind does not only dissipate sorrow which would be extreme
without it, but enlarges pleasures which would otherwise be
contemptible. The most indifferent thing has its force and beauty when
it is spoken by a kind father, and an insignificant trifle has its
weight when offered by a dutiful child. I know not how to express it,
but I think I may call it a transplanted self-love."