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
circumstances to do another.
1484
The cavalry captain Kurtzhagen was invited to dine with King Frederick
II. "From what noble 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