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maxim is well founded, that every beginning is arduous. Difl&cul- 

 ties unseen and unknown as well as such as are perceived, beset its 

 path, and do not always vanish when the novelty of the undertaking 

 is worn away. The wisest cannot at all times foresee everything 

 that is before them ; and the bravest may be unable to overcome 

 combinations whether anticipated by the efforts of reason or over- 

 looked by them. With all these possible dangers and obstacles, 

 there can be no doubt that an union of good qualities of head and 

 mind and heart, carried firmly into practical use, will not only always 

 deserve, but will in general command success. Clear intelligence, 

 sound morality, and benevolent feeling, animating the conduct, and 

 manifested with unaffected simplicity in outward deportment, will in 

 most instances, dispel difficulties however obstinate, and triumph 

 over the most formidable dangers. It is happy, not only for the 

 individual possessor of them, but for the best interests of social life, 

 with which he is surrounded, that these ingredients of character, 

 each of them of value in itself, but inestimable when combined in 

 spirit and practised together, are reflected by general esteem, respect, 

 and gratitude. 



To the honor of human nature it is sometimes seen, that success 

 has been almost uniformly the companion of merit during the career 

 of a long and active life. This companionship of desert and reward 

 may not always have attracted the observation of the unthinking 

 world, but the truth has nevertheless existed, although by the mass 

 of men unperceived, and the discerning few have known, that it 

 at least was hidden in the centre. The one has been the natural if 

 not the necessary consequence of the other, and not a mere acci- 

 dental coincident. Even commonplace attention to duties is pro- 

 ductive of obvious results. Why should not loftier habits be equally 

 fruitful in the accomplishment of great ends ? Industry is neces- 

 sary for the attainment of knowledge and skill. Warm friendships 

 must be for the most part a return for acts and feelings of kindness 

 and regard. Sympathy is the most grateful emotion of the heart. 

 Tokens of respect from the world are the result not merely of hero- 

 ism and other brilliant qualities, but more commonly of good con- 

 duct in the every-day intercourse of life, and especially of liberality 

 and kindness in word and action. Happily illustrations are not 

 wanting in familiar intercourse. The absence of them would be a 

 sorry proof of the degeneracy of the age. If they are rare, the fact 

 cannot justly be pleaded in extenuation of wilful error, or of an 

 under-estimate of the value of wisdom and virtue, or of determined 



