lustration: A TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE. Page 39.]

"Some, if they were to hear you speak thus, James, might smile at what
they would consider a weak and vain assumption. But I know that you
have a mind capable of accomplishing great things; that you have only
to use the means, and take an elevated position as the natural result.
Still I must say, that I do not like the spirit in which you speak of
these things."

"Why not?"

"You seem to desire an elevated station more for the glory of filling
it, than for the enlarged sphere of usefulness that it must necessarily
open to you."

"I do not think, Harvey," his friend replied, "that I am influenced by
the mere glory of greatness to press forward. There is something too
unsubstantial in that. Look at the advantages that must result to me if
I attain a high place."

"In either case, I cannot fully approve your motive."

"Then, from what motive would you have me act, Harvey? I am sure that I
know of none other sufficiently strong to urge me into activity. Both
of these have their influence; and, in combination, form the impulse
that gives life to my resolutions."

"There is a much higher, and purer, and more powerful motive, James. A
motive to which I have just alluded."

"What is that?"

"The end of being useful to our fellow-men."

"You may act from that motive, if you can, Harvey, but I shall not
attempt the vain task. It is too high and pure for me."

"Do not say so. We may attain high motives of action, as well as
attain, by great intellectual efforts, high positions in the world."

"How so?"

"It is a moral law, that any peculiar tendency or quality of the mind
grows stronger by indulgence. The converse of the proposition is, of
course, true also. You feel, then, that your motives of action are
selfish--that they regard your own elevation and honour as first, and
good to your neighbour as only secondary. Now, by opposing instead of
indulging this propensity to make all things minister to self, it must
grow weaker, as a natural consequence. Is not that clear?"

"Why, yes, I believe it is; or at least, the inference is a logical
one, though I must confess that I do not see it as an unquestionable
truth."

"That is because your natural feelings are altogether opposed to it."

"Perhaps so--for undoubtedly they are. I cannot see any thing so very
desirable in the motive of which you speak, that I should seek to act
from it. There is something tame in the id