THE FOREMAN. 81 



bent his excellent natural parts to the study of his pro- 

 fession ; and he became so skilful in it as to be intrusted 

 with the superintendence of a party of workmen while 

 yet an apprentice. His early proficiency was a subject 

 of wonder to his less gifted companions ; he was much 

 gratified by their admiration, and acquired that appetite 

 for praise which is of so general experience, and which 

 in many instances becomes more keen the more it is 

 supplied with. food. He had too much sense to be open 

 to the direct flatteries of other people, but he was not 

 skilful in detecting his own ; and having attained, in the 

 limited circle to which circumstances confined him, the 

 fame of being talented, he set himself to acquire the 

 reputation of being generous and warm-hearted; and 

 this perhaps, for he was naturally of a cold temperament, 

 from that singular weakness incident to human nature, 

 which has so frequently the effect of making even men 

 of reflection derive more pleasure from the praise of the 

 qualities or talents of which they are destitute, than of 

 those which they really possess. When treating his 

 companions, he was rendered happy by believing they 

 entertained an opinion of him similar to that with which 

 he regarded himself ; and that they would describe him 

 to others as one whose head and heart were the warmest 

 and clearest they had ever met with. A few years expe- 

 rience of the world convinced him that his expectations 

 were miserably unfounded. He saw, or at least thought 

 he did, that every man he came in contact with had 

 himself for his centre; and though unacquainted with 

 the maxims of Rochefoucault, he concluded with that 

 philosopher that the selfish principle is the spring of all 

 human action. The consequence of this conclusion was 

 a misanthropy of the most sincere and unaffected kind. 

 So sincere was it that he made no profession of it ; unlike 



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