Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-10-21
THE FAMILY CIRCLE.
THE ENDS OF LIFE.
BY ,. q. ARTHUR.

hlnto, JOuln OtlWeen seventeen an
eighleen, io his friend and companion
Charles Carpenter, as the two were wen
ding their way honewdrd, after havin
finished their studies for the day.
H Aud ] expect To do the same yer
soon,' CHARLES said, with evident pleas
ure at the idea.
| Whal business or profession do yo
intend learning ? asked Edward.
Il Il have determined TO 60 into u store
i wan. tG he merchant. But wha
have you chosen, Edward 7 Not one O
the learned professions, hope9 But
suppose YOU have. You will he law
H yer, ] have not the least doubt
| yes Charles, have determined Il
80 into MIR Bakers ofhce, and read law.
We'll, | am sorry to hear it, Edward
/ 'Why are you sorry, CharlesP
\ Because you've got hard, dull wa,
before you, and your final success is un
certain. Few, Edward, have heard
my old uncle say, can gam ernlnence IN
loyal pursuits; and without distinction,
Il is but poor business. The field ior
merchandising Is broader, and promises
to industry aud carefuIness more certain
returns.
'That may be true, Charles; and mer-
chandizing is as honorable and useful n
calling rs any other; but have been
taught by my iahter to believe that ouI
success and usefulness in any business
will depend very much upon the motives
with winch we enter it, and our hap
piness IN that business much moie. II
we have only regard to ourselves-if if
the only motive we have for choosing a
profession be the selfish one Of getting
wealth or honor-then, we may be sue
cessiul, but cannot be happy in our sue
cess. But il, in choosing among those
to which our inclinatons lead us, we
choose that in which we think we can
at the same time that we beneti ourselves,
render most Important services 10 others,
then we are in the road to honorable
success, unite to calm cortoniment.'
'Then | would advise you TO be min
ister, Charles said, half ironically y-'you
can certainly Go more good us minis
ter than as lawyer
Il do not think so,' Edward replied
There are callings many and various
that are all useful, as my father has lre-
quently impressed upon my mind, while
talking to me about choosing u proles.
sion; and there are as great varieties of
capacities for filling these. The man
whose peculiarly OF mind fits him to be
successful lawyer, would not, in all pro-
bability, make good minister; nor ould
the individual who has preference for
medical science make a good merchant;
and so though all the varied callings Of
life. Each ofthen, is use ful md honora-
bic, as | have before said, if they are
made useful and honorable
well, maybe you are right Charles
said-'but ! am no philosopher, and can
no; pretend to look so deeply into matters
and things. My old uncle, whose opin-
ions am bound 10 respect, because he
IS kind to me, and has been quite sue
cessiul in the world, says that he would
rather see me sailor or soldier than
doctor, lawyer, or preacher. lie don't
seem TO have much opinion, you see, OF
the learned profe ssions; aud am pref
ty much like him in that respect. But
he thinks ] am the very one for trade,
in which, he says, will be sure TO be
successful, If l am only prudent at first
tie prophecies that i will be rich; and all |
can say is, that hope he is a true
prophet
Father says to me- Edward remar-
ked to this, that il would be wrong in
me to set riches before me as an end -
That if do so, will look to riches rs
The one thing in life desirable ! |
will be restless until ! have gained my
end, and then discover that wealth has
no power to make me happy. But,
that if | will endeavor to give The idea
Of riches its true subordinate place, and |
make usefulness to Others, as far as
:an, the end which have in view, then
will be happy as well as successful,
ust so far as i can elevate usefulness as
IN end above riches
You have a strange way Of talking,
Charles said, 'but | don't /
pretend TO see things with your eyes, and
am sure don't wish to- am going
o learn my business with the same mo-
ives that others do, that | may get the
ability TO make money. Money, you
,now is power. Our teacher says,
and so does the proverb: but
my old uncle says money, and believe
lim.' \
The two boys parted In due time
Zach left school, and Charles Carpenter
vent into a whole sale store to learn the
business Of merchandising, while Ed
ward Mayo entered the Office OF Mr.
Barker to read law. Charles found II
much easier to keep his end Of life in
Jew, than did Edward But whenever
he laltcr's perceptions Of right were OBJ
cured, or his ardor in his studies dunn
she'd, he went to the one competent and
udicious friend, his father, who always
Ielped him to clear and satisfactory
Jews Of his duty. II must not be sup.
'osed that the desire to be- useful was the
'nly one that Influenced Edward in perse-
'ering in his studies. That would have
'een too feeble a principle in his mind
o have carried him through successfully
The desire for wealth and fame, also,
It's share oi incile ment to per-
everance. Still, the great good vas,
lnt he could acknowledge the end oil
selIluess So To be n hiuhet aud boi,e, ono