which can be acquired, and by means of them gain all
which is worth the gaining. Glory and greatness are good, but every one
cannot attain them; every one can be contented in himself and helpful
to others. Wealth is an instrument useful for many purposes, but only
when one knows how to use it. You cannot destroy the evils that are in
the world--hunger, sickness, and crime; but you must not fling away the
power that lies in your hand; the great duty is yours to beautify and
elevate the world. Rejoice in your possessions, for they enable you to
create beauty and to give joy. First of all, create in yourself beauty
and joy, the power of self-denial, pleasure in accomplishment; and be
ready to stand firm in yourself, if outward supports should be taken
away. He who places the centre of gravity of his being outside of
himself, on something upon which he leans, falls when that support is
removed. Be firm in yourself, keep your centre of gravity in yourself,
learn to know and to rightly value yourself and the world around you.
The present is a time of preparation; you have as yet no duties towards
others. Your only duty is to yourself. Bind together the powers within
you, and do not dissipate your being; and if you are your own master,
you are always rich; but if you have not control of yourself, you are
always poor, even were millions in your possession. If you possess
yourself, you are lord of your riches."

They were both silent for a long time. It is impossible to say in what
direction any given thought may lead, or what previous thoughts are
associated in its development.

"I should like to know," began Roland, "how it seemed when America was
first discovered."

Eric explained to the boy what a revolution in ideas the great
intellectual discoveries of the sixteenth century had made. There stood
a man in a little German town, who said, and proved, that the earth on
which we live is no fixed point; it turns continually on its axis and
in its orbit around the sun. The whole mode of thinking of mankind for
centuries was entirely changed. Man lives, then, on this ball that we
call earth; he harvests and builds, he travels by land and sea, upon a
ball which is constantly turning. When the heart of mankind first
learned that, a shudder must have passed through it; the heavens were
removed, there was no more sky, the whole old idea of a king of the
world, sitting enthroned thereon, was overthrown; what was called the
sky, was