higher tribunal than man's, which respects a higher law than fashion, which respects itself too much to be the slave or tool of the many or the few. I call that mind free which through confidence in God and in the power of virtue has cast off all fear but that of wrong-doing, which no menace or peril can enthrall, which is calm in the midst of tumults, and possesses itself though all else be lost. I call that mind free which resists the bondage of habit, which does not mechanically repeat itself and copy the past, which does not live on its old virtues, which does not enslave itself to precise rules, but which forgets what is behind, listens for new and higher monitions of conscience, and rejoices to pour it self forth in fresh and higher exertions. I call that mind free which is jealous of its own freedom, which guards itself from being merged in others, which guards. its empire over itself as nobler than the empire of the world." Be free not chiefly from the iron chain But from the one which passion forges - be The master of thyself. If lost, regain The rule o'er chance, sense, circumstance. Be free. EPHRAIM PEABODY. "It is not enough to have great qualities," says La Rochefoucauld; 66 we should also have the management of them." No man can call himself educated until every voluntary muscle obeys his will. Every human being is conscious of two natures. One is ever reaching up after the good, the true, and the noble, is aspiring after all that uplifts, elevates, and purifies. It is the God-side of man, the image of the Creator, the immortal side, the spiritual side. It is the gravitation of the soul faculties toward their Maker. The other is the bestial side which gravitates downward. It does not aspire, it grovels; it wallows in the mire of sensualism. Like the beast, it knows but one law, and is led by only one motive, self-indulgence, self-gratification. When neither hungry nor thirsty, or when gorged and sated by over-indulgence, it lies quiet and peaceful as a lamb, and we sometimes think it subdued. But when its imperious passion accumulates, it clamors for satisfaction. You cannot reason with it, for it has no reason, only an imperious instinct for gratification. You cannot appeal to its self-respect, for it has none. It cares nothing for character, for manliness, for the spiritual. These two natures are ever at war, one pulling heavenward, the other, earthward. Nor do they ever become reconciled. Either may conquer, but the vanquished never submits. The higher nature may be compelled to grovel, to wallow in the mire of sensual indulgence, but it always rebels and enters its protest. It can never forget that it bears the image of its Maker, even when dragged through the slough of sensualism. The still small voice which bids man look up is never quite hushed. If the victim of the lower nature could only forget that he was born to look upward, if he could only erase the image of his Maker, if he could only hush the voice which haunts him and condemns him when he is bound in slavery, if he could only enjoy his indulgences without the mockery of remorse, he thinks he would be content to remain a brute. the ghost of his better self rises as he is about to partake of his delight, and robs him of the expected pleasure. He has sold his better self for pleasure which is poison, and he cannot lose the consciousness of the fearful sacrifice he has made. The banquet may be ready, but the hand on the wall is writing his doom. Give me that soul, superior power, That conquest over fate, Which sways the weakness of the hour, Rules little things as great: That lulls the human waves of strife With words and feelings kind, And makes the trials of our life The triumphs of our mind. But CHARLES SWAIN. Ah, silly man, who dream'st thy honor stands BURNS In ruling others, not thyself. Thy slaves PHINEAS FLETCHER "Not in the clamor of the crowded street, Not in the shouts and plaudits of the throng, CHAPTER XVII. NATURE'S LITTLE BILL. Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small; Though with patience He stands waiting, with exactness grinds He all. FREDERICK VON LOGAU. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. - ECCLESIASTES. Cease to think that the decrees of the gods can be changed by prayers. - VIRGIL. Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. ECCLESIASTES. Man is a watch, wound up at first, but never To live long it is necessary to live slowly. CICERO. HERRICK. Old age seizes upon an ill-spent youth like fire upon a rotten house. SOUTH. Last Sunday a young man died here of extreme old age at twenty-five. -JOHN NEWTON. If you will not hear Reason, she 'll surely rap your knuckles. — POOR RICHARD'S SAYINGS. 'Tis the sublime of man, Our noontide majesty, -to know ourselves, 66 COLERIDGE. "what have I "EH! oh! ah!" exclaimed Franklin; done to merit these cruel sufferings?" Many things," replied the Gout; "you have eaten and drunk too freely, and too much indulged those legs of yours in your indolence." Nature seldom presents her bill on the day you |