Life and Literature Part 107

1476

_Didn't Know the Place._--A young man who left his native city to study medicine in Paris, and had been applying his time and the paternal remittances to very different purposes, received a visit from his father, who intended making a short stay in the capital to inspect its wonders. During an afternoon stroll together, the day after the elder's arrival, the father and son happened to pa.s.s in front of a large colonnaded building. "What is that?" said the senior, carelessly. "I don't know, but we'll inquire," answered the student. On the query being put to an official, he shortly replied: "That? It is the School of Medicine."

1477

The opportunity is often lost by deliberating.

--_Syrus._

1478

We must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.

--_Shakespeare._

1479

Four things come not back.

The spoken word, The sped arrow, The past life, And the neglected opportunity.

1480

To-day is the opportunity for enjoyment and work; knowest thou where thou wilt be to-morrow? Time flies swiftly away, and we with it.

--_Gleim._

1481

OPPRESSORS--EVERYWHERE.

There are sharks in the ocean, and wolves in the forest, and eagles in the air, and tyrants on thrones, and tormentors in cottages.

--_Dr. J. Hamilton._

1482

All orators are dumb when beauty pleadeth.

--_Shakespeare._

P

1483

Ambitious parents sometimes try to make lawyers, doctors, preachers and statesmen out of boys nature meant for plowmen. How often do we find misfits! There is nothing more pitiable than to see a man whose mind and heart are completely wrapped up in one thing and yet condemned by circ.u.mstances to do another.

1484

The cavalry captain Kurtzhagen was invited to dine with King Frederick II. "From what n.o.ble house are you descended?" asked the king. "From none whatever," replied Kurtzhagen. "My parents are only poor country people, but I would not exchange them for any other parents in the world." "Well said," replied the king. "Woe to him who is so mean as to be ashamed of his parents."

1485

"Father," said a young man on his death-bed, "you have been very good to me. You have given me a fine education, and you have placed me in a fine social position; you have done everything for me in a worldly sense; but, dear father, you never told me much of a hereafter. Now I am dying."

1486

If any one toil for a parent, it is not fitting to bear remembrance of the toil.

1487

The good conduct of the father and mother is the blessing of the children.

1488

ALL FOOLS NOW.

A little Boston girl was encouraged by her parents to study so much that her brain gave way, and she is now an idiot. This is a sad result, but the parents must find some consolation in the thought that they have made their daughter like themselves.

1489

It so falls out, that, What we have we prize, not to the worth, While we enjoy it; but being lack'd and lost, Why, then, we rack the value, then we find The virtue that possession would not show us, Whilst it was ours.

--_Shakespeare._

Note: Applicable to one's parents.

1490

PARTING.

We twain have met like the ships upon the sea, Who hold an hour's converse, so short, so sweet; One little hour! and then, away they speed On lonely paths, through mists, and cloud, and foam, To meet no more.