's a fact. There
has been _no good scholars since birch rods went out o' school, and
sentiment went in_."

"But you know," I said, "Mr. Slick, that those high prizes in the
lottery of life, can, in the nature of things, be drawn but by few
people, and how many blanks are there to one-prize in this world."

"Well, what's to prevent your boys gettin' those prizes, if colonists
was made Christians of, instead of outlawed, exiled, transported,
oncarcumcised heathen Indgean niggers, as they be. If people don't put
into a lottery, how the devil can they get prizes? will you tell
me that. Look at the critters here, look at the publicans, taylors,
barbers, and porters' sons, how the've rose here, 'in this big lake,'
to be chancellors and archbishops; how did they get them? They 'aimed
high,' and besides, all that, like father's story of the gun, by 'aiming
high,' though they may miss the mark, they will be sure to hit the
upper circles. Oh, Squire, there is nothing like 'aiming high,' in this
world."

"I quite agree with you, Sam," said Mr. Hopewell. "I never heard you
speak so sensibly before. Nothing can be better for young men than
"Aiming high." Though they may not attain to the highest honours,
they may, as you say, reach to a most respectable station. But surely,
Squire, you will never so far forget the respect that is due to so high
an officer as a Secretary of State, or, indeed, so far forget yourself
as to adopt a course, which from its eccentricity, violence, and
impropriety, must leave the impression that your intellects are
disordered. Surely you will never be tempted to make the experiment?"

"I should think not, indeed," I said. "I have no desire to become an
inmate of a lunatic asylum."

"Good," said he; "I am satisfied. I quite agree with Sam, though.
Indeed, I go further. I do not think he has advised you to recommend
your boys to 'aim high enough.'"

"Creation! said Mr. Slick, "how much higher do you want provincial frogs
to go, than to be 'Chancellor' and 'Primate?'

"I'll tell you, Sam; I'd advise them to 'aim higher' than earthly
honours. I would advise them to do their duty, in any station of life in
which it shall please Providence to place them; and instead of striving
after unattainable objects here, to be unceasing in their endeavours to
obtain that which, on certain conditions, is promised to all hereafter.
In their worldly pursuits, as men, it is right for them to '_aim high_;'
but as Christ