314 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



in his undertakings. . . . Write me about what you 

 are reading, and about your plans and projects, for 

 I can hardly believe that any one could exist with- 

 out forming them ; I, at least, could not." 



It is not strange that the watchful mother begins 

 to be anxious, for she hears nothing from her son 

 about her "project" of medicine. She writes him 

 that she detects in his letters " a certain sadness 

 and discontent." " How is it," she says, "that you 

 look forward only with distaste to the practice of 

 medicine ? Have you reflected seriously before 

 setting aside this profession ? Indeed, we cannot 

 consent to such a step ; you would lose ground in 

 our opinion, in that of your family, and in that of 

 the public you would pass for an inconsiderate, 

 fickle young fellow, and the slightest stain on your 

 reputation would be a mortal blow to us. ... Of 

 course you will not gather roses without thorns. 

 Life consists of pains and pleasures everywhere. 

 To do all the good you can to your fellow-beings, 

 to have a pure conscience, to gain an honorable 

 livelihood, to procure for yourself by work a little 

 ease, to make those around you happy, that is true 

 happiness; all the rest but mere accessories and 

 chimeras." 



And then the good Swiss minister adds, thus to 

 quiet his son's restless nature, " If it be absolutely 

 essential to your happiness that you should break 

 the ice of the two poles in order to find the hairs 

 of a mammoth, ... at least wait till your 

 trunk is packed and your passports are signed 



