Diverting elements. He decided, and he had long and carefully considered
it, that in the strife in which he was soon to enter, he should require
all his time, all his faculties. For this reason, he determined to
accept Mr. Eastman's offer of board and lodging at his house, albeit his
wife was shrewish and generally disagreeable. He no longer permitted the
gay throng in Broadway to move his nerves or excite his senses. And thus
all these secondary impulses and emotions and sentiments yielded to the
one main controlling purpose. Yes, Hiram Meeker, I feel a painful
interest in your situation. I see that, once entered on your career,
there will be no departure or deviation or pause in it. As in metal
poured into the mould, which, while it remains in a fluid state, is
capable of being converted into other forms, but which, after a time,
fixes and becomes unchangeable,--so, in the life of every human being,
there is a period when the aims and purposes are fixed and the character
is settled forever. With some, this comes earlier, with others later;
but it comes inevitably to all of us. It seems to me Hiram is fast
approaching this epoch,
|
