WALKING ON SLOPES. 93 



see," and if we once do that we are independent 

 of the lessons of other people. 



But we farther see that there is, in the nature of 

 the surface over which we proceed, a tendency to 

 turn us from the purposed direction of our path ; 

 and if we do not observe the variations of surface 

 which act mechanically upon our centre of gravity, 

 and occasion these deviations from the straight 

 line, we never can get to our intended place 

 l)y the shortest road, and very often we cannot 

 get to it at all. The inequality of our steps in- 

 creases this tendency to deviate ; for if, upon level 

 ground, we take short steps with the. one leg, and 

 long steps with the other, it is altogether impos- 

 sible for us to keep the straight line ; and if we are 

 on a slope, it is just as impossible for us to prevent 

 ourselves from curving down that slope, if we do 

 not take short steps with the higher leg and long 

 steps with the lower ; and if we would gradually 

 climb the slope with the least exertion, the higher 

 leg must take little mincing paces while the lower 

 leg takes strides. Here there are some beautiful 

 morals ; but we have no time to bring them out ; 

 only we shall remark, that, as in walking, so in 

 living and in learning, there is a gravitation in us ; 

 and if we do not, by careful observation, adjust 

 it to the circumstances through which we have 

 to come, our path not only becomes crooked, but 

 we are always getting lower down ; and that the 

 grand cause of the crook and the descent is, over- 

 exertion of our higher foot : Our ambition strides 

 away ; our industry cannot keep pace with it ; and 

 down we come. 



Both those causes of deviation operate upon the 

 man who tries to cross the foggy moor ignorantly ; 



