Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV. WILL AND CIRCUMSTANCE. "' I "O be right in great memorable moments is, perhaps, the thing we need most wish for ourselves," says George Eliot; and "great moments" are the sudden test of long-forming character. The decision then will tell what the training has been. Emergency is the surest test of character. It is not difficult to forecast what some persons will do when the hour of trial comes, "come it slow or come it fast." They will act with promptitude and decision, action being the outcome of formed. character; while others will hesitate, waver, compromise, until action is no longer possible DEGREESand sometimes act hastily when too late. There are many people from whom prompt decision in the hour of trial can no more be expected than we can hope to see an eclipse the occurrence of which has not been predicted. In what lies the difference? In the preparation of the mind, the development of the character; in which "will," it has been said before, is the first numeral. The self-cultivation it is which decides when the supreme time comes, when amidst contending interests, conflicting emotions, the decision has to be made. "It is one thing to be tempted, It is another thing to fall," no matter whether it is man's honesty, or woman's honour which is involved. A man does not commit a great act of dishonesty without previous toying with crime. A virtuous chaste-minded girl does not sacrifice her honour on a sudden; the girl who falls before a quick flash of opportunity has previously allowed passion to mix too freely among her thoughts. We may not be able to trace the antecedents of the particular act; but depend upon it, it had a past in which the act was foreseen, and had been speculatively considered. The man has had hours of...
