Prev | Current Page 114 | Next

Arnold, Matthew, 1822-1888

"Celtic Literature"

One must think on the end to be
attained without counting trouble, and learn to wait."
'Perceiving a colt, which looked eagerly at him, the little boy cried
out: "Jane, why is the colt not in the fields with the labourers
helping to draw the carts?"
'"The colt is young," replied Jane, "and he must lie idle till he
gets the necessary strength; one must not sacrifice the future to the
present."'
The reader will say that is most mean and trivial stuff, the vulgar
English nature in full force; just such food as the Philistine would
naturally provide for his young. He will say he can see the boy fed
upon it growing up to be like his father, to be all for business, to
despise culture, to go through his dull days, and to die without
having ever lived. That may be so; but now take the German story
(one of Krummacher's), and see the difference:-
'There lived at the court of King Herod a rich man who was the king's
chamberlain. He clothed himself in purple and fine linen, and fared
like the king himself.
'Once a friend of his youth, whom he had not seen for many years,
came from a distant land to pay him a visit. Then the chamberlain
invited all his friends and made a feast in honour of the stranger.
'The tables were covered with choice food placed on dishes of gold
and silver, and the finest wines of all kinds.


Pages:
102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126