A Scottish youth learned, with a pious mother, to sing the old psalms
that were then as household words to them in the kirk (church) and by
the fireside. When he had grown up he wandered away from his native
country, was taken captive by the Turks, and made a slave in one of the
Barbary States. But he never forgot the songs of Zion, although he sang
them in a strange land and to heathen ears.
One night he was solacing himself in this manner when the attention of
some sailors on board of a British man-of-war was directed to the
familiar tune of "Old Hundred" as it came floating over the moonlit
waves.
At once they surmised the truth that one of their countrymen was
languishing away his life as a captive. Quickly arming themselves, they
manned a boat and lost no time in effecting his release. What joy to him
after eighteen long years passed in slavery! Is it strange that he ever
afterwards cherished the glorious tune of "Old Hundred?"
--_Old Magazine._
I
951
The I is worthy of aversion when it is principally confined to the
person who uses it.
--_Pascal._
952
What am I?
Naught! But the effluence of Thy light divine
Pervading worlds, hath reached my bosom too.
Yes, in my spirit doth Thy spirit shine,
As shines the sunbeam in a drop of dew.
Naught! But I live, and on Hope's pinions fly
Eager toward Thy presence; for in Thee,
I live, and breathe, and dwell, aspiring high,
Even to the throne of Thy divinity.
I am, O God, and surely Thou must be!
--_Sir John Bowring's translation of
Derzhavin's "Ode to God."_
953
Ideas are like beards; men do not have them until they grow up.
954
A young man idle, an old man needy.
955
Labor is the divine law of our existence; repose is desertion and
suicide.
956
If you want anything done, go to a busy man;
Man of leisure never has time to do anything.
957
Lose this day loitering--'twill be the same story
To-morrow, and the next more dilatory.
--_Goethe._
958
If any man wish to escape idleness let him fall in love.
959
Better lose your labor than your time in idleness.
--_Dutch._
960
Idleness must thank itself if it go barefoot.
--_From the German._
961
I would not waste my spring of youth
In idle dalliance; I would plant rich seeds,
To blossom in my manhood and bear fruit
When I am old.
--_Hillhouse._
962
Never remain ignorant for the want of asking questions.
963
Ignorance is often a voluntary misfortune.
--_From the French._
964
Rather bear the ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of.
--_Shakespeare._
965
Man's ills are in the main of his own seeking.
966
Those who imitate us we like much better than those who endeavor to
equal us. Imitation is a sign of esteem, competition of envy.
967