Letters from a Father to His Son

seated upon a rock, above the rage of the fighting elements, and
inaccessible to all the malice of man. The rolling thunder breaks
below, and those more terrible instruments of human fury reach
not to so sublime a height." "The contented mind, while he
breathes that serene air, looks down with compassion on the
errors of mistaken mortals, who blindly seek for the true path of
life, and pursue riches, nobility, honor, and power for genuine
felicity. The greater part he beholds disappointed of their fond
wishes. Some lament, that having once possessed the object of
their desire, it is snatched from them by envious fortune. All
complain that even their own views, though granted, cannot give
them happiness, or relieve the anxiety of their distracted minds."
This is, perhaps, in one respect, and to a certain extent, too true a
portrait of humanity, and it is therefore I have quoted it for you,
not because I agree entirely in the somewhat exaggerated picture
which is drawn, nor concur in all the sentiments expressed. It is
quite possible, and indeed it is quite according to the instinct of
our nature, for men to pursue riches, nobility, honor and power
—all of which are laudable objects—and at the same time, not to
place all hopes of happiness in their attainment.
We must and ought to have views and prospects in the distance,
urging us forward, and yielding us motives for exertion, and by
preserving a serene mind and a contented spirit amid all our
aspirations—we shall not feel too elated should we reach the
summit of our ambition, nor too depressed should we fail or fall
short of our wishes and expectations.
In his own hands—within himself—under the control and
dominion of his own reason, the contented man holds to a great
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