THE PROFESSOR MORALIZES. 191 



on the plain of life, an object which he thirsts to grasp. 

 Taxing every muscle in pursuit, panting after it over 

 the smooth country below the 40th mile-post, he 

 crosses there the ravine where rheumatism and 

 straggling gray hairs lurk, and with these clinging 

 to him, starts up the hill of later life. Half-way to 

 its summit, on which the three-score stone marking 

 the down-hill grade looks uncomfortably like that 

 over a tomb, he seizes the object of pursuit only to 

 be flung back by it bruised. If of the proper metal, 

 he falls but to rise again, and should the first wish 

 be out of reach, fastens on one of its companions. 

 There is where blood tells. If the least taint of cur 

 is in it the first blow sends its recipient yelling to 

 his kennel, there to whine for the remainder of life 

 over bruised ribs." 



Muggs thought a single toss was sufficient, and 

 retreat then only prudence. If the bones on one side 

 were broken, he saw no reason to expose the other. 

 Dying successful was only procuring meat for others 

 to enjoy. 



The Professor was developing a remarkable talent 

 for finding not only the stones of the past written all 

 over with a wonderful and translatable history, but 

 also the moral connected with each incident of our 

 journey. Had any of us broken our necks he would 

 doubtless have improved the occasion to draw a com- 

 parison and have made it the text of a philosophic 

 disquisition 



