2. For rising to eminence in any intellectual pursuit, there is not a rule of more essential importance than that of doing one thing at a time; avoiding distracting and desultory occupations, and keeping a leading object habitually before the mind, as one in which it can at all times find an interesting resource when necessary avocations allow the thoughts to recur to it. If, along with this habit, there be cultivated the practise of constantly writing such views as arise, we perhaps describe that state of mental discipline by which talents of a very moderate order may be applied in a conspicuous and useful manner to any subject to which they are devoted. Such writing need not be made at first with any great attention to method, but merely put aside for future consideration, and in this manner the different departments of a subject will develop and arrange themselves as they advance, in a manner equally pleasing and wonderful. "Qualities of a Well Regulated Mind." ABERCROMBIE. 3. To live content with small means, to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable; and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony. "My Symphony." WILLIAM HENRY CHANNING. 4. Genius is only the power of making continuous efforts; the line between failure and success is so fine that we are often on the line and do not know it. How many a man has thrown up his hands at a time when a little more effort, a little more patience, would have achieved success. As the tide goes clear out, so it comes clear in. In business, sometimes, prospects may seem darkest when really they are on the turn. A little more patience, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success. There is no failure except in no longer trying. There is no defeat except from within, no really insurmountable barrier save our own weakness of purpose. LOW 1. It thunders! Sons of dust, in reverence bow! I hear thy awful voice,-alarmed, afraid, 2. To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, "Macbeth." SHAKESPEARE. 3. In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. Then a spirit passed before my face, the hair of my flesh stood up; it stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof; an image was before mine eyes; there was silence, and I heard a voice saying, Shall mortal man be more just than God! Shall a man be more pure than his Maker? VERY LOW 1. 'Tis midnight's holy hour,-and silence now The still and pulseless world. Hark! on the winds Of the departed year. "The Closing Year." GEORGE D. PRENTICE. 2. Night, sable goddess! from her ebon throne, 3. Now o'er the one half-world YOUNG. Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace "Macbeth." SHAKESPEARE. 4. It must be so-Plato, thou reasonest well!— "Cato." Or whence this secret dread, and inward horror, 'Tis heaven itself that points out an hereafter, Eternity! thou pleasing, dreadful thought! Through what new scenes and changes must we pass! ADDISON. HIGH 1. Cry Holiday! Holiday! let us be gay, And share in the rapture of heaven and earth; To welcome the Spring on the day of her birth; 2. "Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!" I shrieked, upstarting; "Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore! Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken! Leave my loneliness unbroken! quit the bust above my door! Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door." "The Raven." Quoth the raven: "Nevermore!" POE. 3. Freedom calls you! Quick, be ready,- On, and let the watchword be, "Polish War Song.” JAMES G. PERCIVAL. 4. I come, I come! ye have called me long, "The Voice of Spring." HEMANS. 5. Then sing, ye birds, sing, sing a joyous song! As to the tabor's sound! We in thought will join your throng, Ye that through your hearts to-day Feel the gladness of the May! What tho the radiance which was once so bright Tho nothing can bring back the hour Of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower; Strength in what remains behind; In the primal sympathy Which having been must ever be; In the faith that looks through death, In the years that bring the philosophic mind. "Intimations of Immortality." WORDSWORTH. 6. O come, let us sing unto Jehovah; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, let us make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For Jehovah is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are two deep places of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, and he made it; and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before Jehovah our Maker. For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. "Ninety-fifth Psalm." THE BIBLE. |