casual quarrel over some childish game with his friend, into taking it away. And even so throughout his life, should some occasion come that stirs up his passions from their depths, a wild beast, as it were, awakens within him, and he loses his humanity for a time, until reason has reestablished her control. Short, however, of such a desperate crisis, though he could not for the world rob his friend or his neighbor, yet he might not be unwilling to triumph over him to his cost, for the sake of some exercise of signal ingenuity; while, from a hostile tribe or a foreign shore, or from the individual who has become his enemy, he will acquire by main force what he can, nor will he scruple to inflict on him by stratagem even deadly injury. 4. He must, however, give liberally to those who are in need; to the wayfarer, to the poor, to the suppliant who begs from him shelter and protection. On the other hand, should his own goods be wasted, the liberal and openhanded contributions of his neighbors will not be wanting to replace them. 5. His early youth is not solicited into vice by finding sensual excess in vogue, or the opportunities of it glaring in his eye and sounding in his ear. Gluttony is hardly known; drunkenness is marked only by its degrading character and by the evil consequences that flow so straight from it, and it is abhorred. But he loves the genial use of meals, and rejoices in the hour when the guests, gathered in his father's hall, enjoy a liberal hospitality, and the wine mantles in the cup. For then they listen to the strains of the minstrel, who celebrates before them the newest and the dearest of the heroic tales that stir their blood and rouse their manly resolution to be worthy, in their turn, of their country and their country's heroes. He joins the dance in the festivals of religion; the maiden's hand is upon his wrist, and the gilded knife gleams from his belt, as they course from point to point or wheel in round on round. That maiden in due time he weds, amidst the rejoicings of their families, and brings her home to cherish her, "from the flower to the ripeness of the grape," with respect, fidelity, and love. 6. Whether as a governor or as governed, politics bring him in ordinary circumstances no great share of trouble. Government is a machine, of which the wheels move easily enough; for they are well oiled by simplicity of usages, ideas, and desires; by unity of interest; by respect for authority and for those in whose hands it is reposed; by love of the common country, the common altar, the common festivals and games, to which already there is large resort. In peace he settles the disputes of his people; in war he lends them the precious example of heroic daring. He consults them and advises with them on all grave affairs; and his wakeful care for their interests is rewarded by the ample domains which are set apart for the prince by the people. Finally, he closes his eyes, delivering over the scepter to his son and leaving much peace and happiness around him. WILLIAM EWART GLADSTONE. All the forces of evil may come upon a soul from without, and fail to shake it. But the smallest evil within, that is loved and desired and continued in, will accomplish what the outside attack has failed in. V. ENERGY OF CHARACTER 1. "It is impossible!" said one of Napoleon's staff officers, in reply to his great commander's description of a plan for some daring enterprise. "Impossible is the adjective of fools!" cried the emperor, with indignation frowning on his brow. This may be an apocryphal anecdote of the imperial conqueror; but it is, at least, characteristic of him. Every young man who hopes to stand triumphant at the goal of life must possess a measure of this energy proportionate to the exigencies of his condition. 2. Energy is force of character inward power. It imparts such a concentration of the will upon the realization of an idea as enables the individual to march unawed over the most gigantic barriers, or to crush every opposing force that stands in the way of its triumph. Energy knows of nothing but success; it never yields its purpose. 3. Longfellow's "Excelsior" is a beautiful embodiment of the idea of energy. Its hero is a young man seeking genuine excellence; proving himself superior to the love of ease, the blandishments of passion, and the sternest outward difficulties. You behold him ascending the rugged steeps of the upper Alps at the dangerous hour of twilight. In his hand he bears a banner, whose strange device, "Excelsior," is the visible expression of his noble purpose to attain the height of human excellence. 4. His brow is sad; his eyes are gleaming with the light of lofty thought; his step is firm and elastic; while his deep, earnest cry, "EXCELSIOR!" rings with startling effect among the surrounding crags and glaciers. Ease, in the form of an enchanting cottage with its cheerful fire side, invites him to relax his effort. Danger frowns upon him from the brow of the awful avalanche, and from the pine tree's withered branch." Caution, in the person of an aged Alpine peasant, shouts in his ear and bids him beware; while Love, in the form of a gentle maiden with bewitching voice, woos him to her quiet bowers. 5. But vain are the seductions of love, the voice of fear, or the aspects of danger. Regardless of each and of all, animated by his sublime aims, intent on success, he only grasps his mysterious banner more firmly and bounds with . swifter step along the dangerous steep. Through falling snows, along unseen paths, amid intense darkness, beside the most horrible chasms, he pursues his way, cheering his spirit and startling the ear of night with his battle-cry, "EXCELSIOR!" 6. Thus energy is the soul of every great enterprise; while enervation only enfeebles the spirit, and dooms the man to obscurity and ill-success. Should any young man. desire a confirmation of these ideas, let him carefully study the history of every man who has written his name on the walls of the Temple of Fame. Let him view such minds in their progress toward greatness. He will see them rising, step by step, in the face of stubborn difficulties, which gave way before them only because their courage would not be daunted, nor their energy wearied. find no exception in the history of mankind. He will 7. Supine, powerless souls have always fainted before hostile circumstances, and sunk beneath their opportunities; while men of power have wrestled with sublime vigor, against all opposing men and things, and succeeded in their noble efforts, BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT BE DE FEATED. - Selected. EXCELSIOR! The shades of night were falling fast, His brow was sad; his eye beneath The accents of that unknown tongue, In happy homes he saw the light "Try not the Pass!" the old man said; "Dark lowers the tempest overhead, The roaring torrent is deep and wide!" And loud that clarion voice replied, Excelsior! "Oh stay, the maiden said, “and rest Excelsior! |
