I have loved the thoughts of the great thinkers and
the poems of the great poets, and the devout lines of the great
religious souls. I have not looked afar off for my joy and
entertainment, but in things near at hand, that all may have
on equal terms. I have been a loving and dutiful son, and a
loving and dutiful father, and a good neighbor. I have got much
satisfaction out of life; it has been worth while.
I have not been a burden-bearer; for shame be it said, perhaps,
when there are so many burdens to be borne by some one. I have
borne those that came in my way, or that circumstances put upon
me, and have at least pulled my own weight. I have had my share
of the holiday spirit; I have had a social holiday, a moral
holiday, a business holiday. I have gone a-fishing while others
were struggling and groaning and losing their souls in the great
social or political or business maelstrom. I know, too, I have
gone a-fishing while others have labored in the slums and given
their lives to the betterment of their fellows. But I have been
a good fisherman, and I should have made a poor missionary, or
reformer, or leader of any crusade against sin and crime. I am
not a fighter, I dislike any sort of contest, or squabble, or
competition, or storm. My strength is in my calm, my serenity,
my sunshine.
Pages:
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145