DISCONTENT A BLESSING. 135 



birds and the bursting sumac buds about the 

 Walden cabin. 



I have been, to some extent, content, and he 

 who is content accomplishes little, grows little, 

 betters the world little. Only the man inspired 

 with discontent of his surroundings inspired 

 with a longing or an ambition for better 

 things works to an end, thinks noble thoughts, 

 leads in the great struggle forever going on. 

 For that reason poverty is oftentimes a blessing 

 to a man with brains. 



All of us enjoy leisure, especially in our 

 younger days ; but if that leisure is too extended 

 and we rest content, we lose that energy, that 

 ambition, that inspiration to lofty ideals which 

 alone can make us leaders, not followers in the 

 battle of life. As we grow in years and "get the 

 habit' ' some of us become slaves to labor. Leis- 

 ure is a possession we will have none of. We 

 are not content with plenty, we desire a surfeit. 

 Such a condition brings not the pleasure that 

 the small earnings of old brought to us. Then 

 the spirit of discontent becomes a demon and 

 forever rules us, soul and body. Is it better to 



