FROM A NEW ENGLAND HILLSIDE. 271 



not germinate if they are dug up very often 

 to see whether they have yet sprouted. 

 But a good merchant occasionally takes 

 account of stock, and at all events he knows 

 that he must have a clear idea of the rela 

 tion in which he stands to the market, and 

 to his associates and competitors. The 

 mariner takes an observation when the sun 

 crosses the line. It is worth while for a 

 man to know whether or not he is out of 

 his course ; worth while to know whether 

 the light at his prow is playing the part of 

 a will-of-the-wisp and leading other craft 

 into dangerous waters. And, dropping the 

 simile, it is worth while to avoid being a 

 bore, a grumbler, a marplot, a busybody, 

 a burden or a nuisance of any kind ; worth 

 while to remember that there is much to be 

 done by all who can work, before the human 

 race shall be all that the human race might 

 be, before the inhabited world shall be all 

 compact of grace and loveliness. So though 



you and I are old ; 



Old age hath yet his honour and his toil ; 

 Death closes all : but something ere the end, 

 Some work of noble note, may yet be done, 

 Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods. 

 The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks : 

 The long clay wanes: the slow moon climbs: 

 the deep 



