An old man was once walking with a little boy. They came across
four shrubs. The old man said to his youthful companion:
“Pull up the least one.”
He obeyed with ease.
“Now the next.”
He obeyed, but it did not come so easily.
“And the third.”
It took all his strength to move its roots, but he succeeded.
“Now the fourth.”
In vain the lad put forth all his strength. He only made the
leaves tremble. He could not move the roots. They had gone
strongly into the earth, and no effort could dislodge them.
Then the wise old man said to the ardent youth:
“This, my son, is just what happens with our passions. When they
are young and weak one may by a little watchfulness over self
and the help of a little self-denial easily tear them up, but
if we let them cast their roots deep into our souls there is no
human power can uproot them. For this reason, my child, watch
well over the first movements of your soul and study by acts of
virtue to keep your passions well in check.” (Text.)
(2310)
=Passport, Value of a=--See TOKEN, VALUE OF A.
=Past and Present Compared=--See RELIGION DIFFUSED.