Life and Literature Part 130

_Johnson_:--"Sir, your levellers wish to level down as far as themselves; but they cannot bear levelling up to themselves. They would all have some people under them; why not then have some people above them?"

--_Boswell's Johnson._

1809

The true art of being agreeable is to appear well pleased with all the company, and rather to seem well entertained with them, than to bring entertainment to them.

1810

LONGING FOR SOLITUDE.

Oh, for a lodge in some vast wilderness, Some boundless contiguity of shade, Where rumor of oppression and deceit, Might never reach me more! my ear is pain'd, My soul is sick, with every day's report Of wrong and outrage, with which earth is fill'd.

--_Cowper._

1811

_Something._--To do something, however small, to make others happier and better, is the highest ambition, the most elevating hope, which can inspire a human being.

--_Lord Avebury._

1812

TO MY DEAR SON.

_On his 21st Birthday, with a Silver Lamp, "Fiat Lux."_ --_Lady Dufferin, 1807-1867._

How shall I bless thee? Human love Is all too poor in pa.s.sionate words; The heart aches with a sense above All language that the lip affords: Therefore a symbol shall express My love,--a thing not rare or strange, But yet--eternal--measureless-- Knowing no shadow and no change.

Light! which of all the lovely shows To our poor world of shadows given, The fervent prophet-voices chose Alone, as attribute of heaven!

At a most solemn pause we stand, From this day forth, for evermore, The weak but loving human hand Must cease to guide thee as of yore.

Then, as thro' life thy footsteps stray, And earthly beacons dimly s.h.i.+ne, "Let there be light" upon thy way, And holier guidance far than mine!

"Let there be light" in thy clear, clear soul, When pa.s.sion tempts and doubts a.s.sail; When grief's dark tempests o'er thee roll, "Let there be light" that shall not fail!

So, angel-guarded, may'st thou tread The narrow path which few may find, And at the end, look back, nor dread To count the vanished years behind!

And pray that she, whose hand doth trace This heart-warm prayer,--when life is past-- May see and know thy blessed face, In G.o.d's own glorious light at last!

--_From the Victorian Anthology_, --_by Sir M. E. Grant Duff_.

1813

A clever man once said to his son: "John, when you chase the dollars, all right; but look out, my boy, when the dollars chase you."

1814

Send your son into the world with good principles, a good education, and industrious habits, and he will find his way in the dark.

1815

TO MY SON.

Some of the rarest gems and most beautiful flowers are often found in out-of-the-way places. Here is one.

Do you know that your soul is of my soul, such part, That you seem to be fibre and core of my heart?

None other can pain me as you, dear, can do; None other can please me or praise me as you.

Remember the world will be quick with its blame If shadow or stain ever darken your name.

"Like mother, like son," is a saying so true, The world will judge largely of "mother" by you.

Be yours then the task, if task it shall be, To force this proud world to do homage to me; Be sure it will say, when its verdict you've won.

"She reaps as she sowed, lo, this man is her son."

--_Author Unknown._

1816

HIS FATHER'S ABILITY.

At ten years of age a boy thinks his father knows a great deal;

At fifteen he knows as much as his father;

At twenty he knows twice as much;

At thirty he is willing to take his advice;

At forty he begins to think his father knows something, after all;

At fifty he begins to seek his advice;

And at sixty, after his father is dead, he thinks he was the smartest man that ever lived.

1817

A son who loves his home is a joy to his parents.

1818

A man who has got a good son-in-law, has gained a son; but he who has found a bad one, has lost a daughter.