Thethingisimpossible。
Y。M。ThereMUSTbeagenuinelyandutterlyselfsacrificingactrecordedinhumanhistorysomewhere。
O。M。Youareyoung。Youhavemanyyearsbeforeyou。
Searchoneout。
Y。M。Itdoesseemtomethatwhenamanseesafellowbeingstrugglinginthewaterandjumpsinattheriskofhislifetosavehim
O。M。Wait。DescribetheMAN。DescribetheFELLOWBEING。
StateifthereisanAUDIENCEpresent;oriftheyareALONE。
Y。M。Whathavethesethingstodowiththesplendidact？
O。M。Verymuch。Shallwesuppose，asabeginning，thatthetwoarealone，inasolitaryplace，atmidnight？
Y。M。Ifyouchoose。
O。M。Andthatthefellowbeingistheman’sdaughter？
Y。M。Well，nnomakeitsomeoneelse。
O。M。Afilthy，drunkenruffian，then？
Y。M。Isee。Circumstancesaltercases。Isupposethatiftherewasnoaudiencetoobservetheact，themanwouldn’tperformit。
O。M。ButthereishereandthereamanwhoWOULD。People，forinstance，likethemanwholosthislifetryingtosavethechildfromthefire;andthemanwhogavetheneedyoldwomanhistwentyfivecentsandwalkedhomeinthestormtherearehereandtheremenlikethatwhowoulddoit。Andwhy？Becausetheycouldn’tBEARtoseeafellowbeingstrugglinginthewaterandnotjumpinandhelp。ItwouldgiveTHEMpain。Theywouldsavethefellowbeingonthataccount。THEYWOULDN’TDOITOTHERWISE。
TheystrictlyobeythelawwhichIhavebeeninsistingupon。YoumustrememberandalwaysdistinguishthepeoplewhoCAN’TBEAR
thingsfrompeoplewhoCAN。Itwillthrowlightuponanumberofapparently\"selfsacrificing\"cases。
Y。M。Oh，dear，it’sallsodisgusting。
O。M。Yes。Andsotrue。
Y。M。Cometakethegoodboywhodoesthingshedoesn’twanttodo，inordertogratifyhismother。
O。M。HedoessevententhsoftheactbecauseitgratifiesHIMtogratifyhismother。Throwthebulkofadvantagetheotherwayandthegoodboywouldnotdotheact。HeMUSTobeytheironlaw。Nonecanescapeit。
Y。M。Well，takethecaseofabadboywho
O。M。Youneedn’tmentionit，itisawasteoftime。Itisnomatteraboutthebadboy’sact。Whateveritwas，hehadaspiritcontentingreasonforit。Otherwiseyouhavebeenmisinformed，andhedidn’tdoit。
Y。M。Itisveryexasperating。Awhileagoyousaidthatman’sconscienceisnotabornjudgeofmoralsandconduct，buthastobetaughtandtrained。NowIthinkaconsciencecangetdrowsyandlazy，butIdon’tthinkitcangowrong;ifyouwakeitup
ALittleStoryO。M。Iwilltellyoualittlestory:
OnceuponatimeanInfidelwasguestinthehouseofaChristianwidowwhoselittleboywasillandneartodeath。TheInfideloftenwatchedbythebedsideandentertainedtheboywithtalk，andheusedtheseopportunitiestosatisfyastronglonginginhisnaturethatdesirewhichisinusalltobetterotherpeople’sconditionbyhavingthemthinkaswethink。Hewassuccessful。Butthedyingboy，inhislastmoments，reproachedhimandsaid:
\"IBELIEVED，ANDWASHAPPYINIT;YOUHAVETAKENMYBELIEF
AWAY，ANDMYCOMFORT。NOWIHAVENOTHINGLEFT，ANDIDIE
MISERABLE;FORTHETHINGSWHICHYOUHAVETOLDMEDONOTTAKETHE
PLACEOFTHATWHICHIHAVELOST。\"
Andthemother，also，reproachedtheInfidel，andsaid:
\"MYCHILDISFOREVERLOST，ANDMYHEARTISBROKEN。HOW
COULDYOUDOTHISCRUELTHING？WEHAVEDONEYOUNOHARM，BUT
ONLYKINDNESS;WEMADEOURHOUSEYOURHOME，YOUWEREWELCOMETO
ALLWEHAD，ANDTHISISOURREWARD。\"
TheheartoftheInfidelwasfilledwithremorseforwhathehaddone，andhesaid:
\"ITWASWRONGISEEITNOW;BUTIWASONLYTRYINGTODOHIM
GOOD。INMYVIEWHEWASINERROR;ITSEEMEDMYDUTYTOTEACHHIM
THETRUTH。\"
Thenthemothersaid:
\"IHADTAUGHTHIM，ALLHISLITTLELIFE，WHATIBELIEVEDTO
BETHETRUTH，ANDINHISBELIEVINGFAITHBOTHOFUSWEREHAPPY。
NOWHEISDEAD，ANDLOST;ANDIAMMISERABLE。OURFAITHCAME
DOWNTOUSTHROUGHCENTURIESOFBELIEVINGANCESTORS;WHATRIGHT
HADYOU，ORANYONE，TODISTURBIT？WHEREWASYOURHONOR，WHERE
WASYOURSHAME？\"
Y。M。Hewasamiscreant，anddeserveddeath！
O。M。Hethoughtsohimself，andsaidso。
Y。M。Ahyousee，HISCONSCIENCEWASAWAKENED1！
O。M。Yes，hisSelfDisapprovalwas。ItPAINEDhimtoseethemothersuffer。HewassorryhehaddoneathingwhichbroughtHIMpain。Itdidnotoccurtohimtothinkofthemotherwhenhewasmisteachingtheboy，forhewasabsorbedinprovidingPLEASUREforhimself，then。Providingitbysatisfyingwhathebelievedtobeacallofduty。
Y。M。Callitwhatyouplease，itistomeacaseofAWAKENEDCONSCIENCE。Thatawakenedconsciencecouldnevergetitselfintothatspeciesoftroubleagain。AcurelikethatisaPERMANENTcure。
O。M。PardonIhadnotfinishedthestory。WearecreaturesofOUTSIDEINFLUENCESweoriginateNOTHINGwithin。
Wheneverwetakeanewlineofthoughtanddriftintoanewlineofbeliefandaction，theimpulseisALWAYSsuggestedfromtheOUTSIDE。RemorsesopreyedupontheInfidelthatitdissolvedhisharshnesstowardtheboy’sreligionandmadehimcometoregarditwithtolerance，nextwithkindness，fortheboy’ssakeandthemother’s。Finallyhefoundhimselfexaminingit。Fromthatmomenthisprogressinhisnewtrendwassteadyandrapid。
HebecameabelievingChristian。Andnowhisremorseforhavingrobbedthedyingboyofhisfaithandhissalvationwasbittererthanever。Itgavehimnorest，nopeace。HeMUSThaverestandpeaceitisthelawofnature。Thereseemedbutonewaytogetit;hemustdevotehimselftosavingimperiledsouls。Hebecameamissionary。Helandedinapagancountryillandhelpless。A
nativewidowtookhimintoherhumblehomeandnursedhimbacktoconvalescence。Thenheryoungboywastakenhopelesslyill，andthegratefulmissionaryhelpedhertendhim。Herewashisfirstopportunitytorepairapartofthewrongdonetotheotherboybydoingapreciousserviceforthisonebyundermininghisfoolishfaithinhisfalsegods。Hewassuccessful。Butthedyingboyinhislastmomentsreproachedhimandsaid:
\"IBELIEVED，ANDWASHAPPYINIT;YOUHAVETAKENMYBELIEF
AWAY，ANDMYCOMFORT。NOWIHAVENOTHINGLEFT，ANDIDIE
MISERABLE;FORTHETHINGSWHICHYOUHAVETOLDMEDONOTTAKETHE
PLACEOFTHATWHICHIHAVELOST。\"
Andthemother，also，reproachedthemissionary，andsaid:
\"MYCHILDISFOREVERLOST，ANDMYHEARTISBROKEN。HOW
COULDYOUDOTHISCRUELTHING？WEHADDONEYOUNOHARM，BUTONLY
KINDNESS;WEMADEOURHOUSEYOURHOME，YOUWEREWELCOMETOALLWE
HAD，ANDTHISISOURREWARD。\"
Theheartofthemissionarywasfilledwithremorseforwhathehaddone，andhesaid:
\"ITWASWRONGISEEITNOW;BUTIWASONLYTRYINGTODOHIM
GOOD。INMYVIEWHEWASINERROR;ITSEEMEDMYDUTYTOTEACHHIM
THETRUTH。\"
Thenthemothersaid:
\"IHADTAUGHTHIM，ALLHISLITTLELIFE，WHATIBELIEVEDTO
BETHETRUTH，ANDINHISBELIEVINGFAITHBOTHOFUSWEREHAPPY。
NOWHEISDEADANDLOST;ANDIAMMISERABLE。OURFAITHCAME
DOWNTOUSTHROUGHCENTURIESOFBELIEVINGANCESTORS;WHATRIGHT
HADYOU，ORANYONE，TODISTURBIT？WHEREWASYOURHONOR，WHERE
WASYOURSHAME？\"
Themissionary’sanguishofremorseandsenseoftreacherywereasbitterandpersecutingandunappeasable，now，astheyhadbeenintheformercase。Thestoryisfinished。Whatisyourcomment？
Y。M。Theman’sconscienceisafool！Itwasmorbid。Itdidn’tknowrightfromwrong。
O。M。Iamnotsorrytohearyousaythat。IfyougrantthatONEman’sconsciencedoesn’tknowrightfromwrong，itisanadmissionthatthereareotherslikeit。Thissingleadmissionpullsdownthewholedoctrineofinfallibilityofjudgmentinconsciences。MeantimethereisonethingwhichIaskyoutonotice。
Y。M。Whatisthat？
O。M。Thatinbothcasestheman’sACTgavehimnospiritualdiscomfort，andthathewasquitesatisfiedwithitandgotpleasureoutofit。ButafterwardwhenitresultedinPAINtoHIM，hewassorry。Sorryithadinflictedpainupontheothers，BUTFORNOREASONUNDERTHESUNEXCEPTTHATTHEIRPAINGAVEHIM
PAIN。OurconsciencestakeNOnoticeofpaininflicteduponothersuntilitreachesapointwhereitgivespaintoUS。InALLcaseswithoutexceptionweareabsolutelyindifferenttoanotherperson’spainuntilhissufferingsmakeusuncomfortable。
ManyaninfidelwouldnothavebeentroubledbythatChristianmother’sdistress。Don’tyoubelievethat？
Y。M。Yes。YoumightalmostsayitoftheAVERAGEinfidel，Ithink。
O。M。Andmanyamissionary，sternlyfortifiedbyhissenseofduty，wouldnothavebeentroubledbythepaganmother’sdistressJesuitmissionariesinCanadaintheearlyFrenchtimes，forinstance;seeepisodesquotedbyParkman。
Y。M。Well，letusadjourn。Wherehavewearrived？
O。M。Atthis。Thatwe（mankind）haveticketedourselveswithanumberofqualitiestowhichwehavegivenmisleadingnames。Love，Hate，Charity，Compassion，Avarice，Benevolence，andsoon。ImeanweattachmisleadingMEANINGStothenames。
Theyareallformsofselfcontentment，selfgratification，butthenamessodisguisethemthattheydistractourattentionfromthefact。AlsowehavesmuggledawordintothedictionarywhichoughtnottobethereatallSelfSacrifice。Itdescribesathingwhichdoesnotexist。Butworstofall，weignoreandnevermentiontheSoleImpulsewhichdictatesandcompelsaman’severyact:theimperiousnecessityofsecuringhisownapproval，ineveryemergencyandatallcosts。Toitweoweallthatweare。Itisourbreath，ourheart，ourblood。Itisouronlyspur，ourwhip，ourgoad，ouronlyimpellingpower;wehavenoother。Withoutitweshouldbemereinertimages，corpses;noonewoulddoanything，therewouldbenoprogress，theworldwouldstandstill。Weoughttostandreverentlyuncoveredwhenthenameofthatstupendouspowerisuttered。
Y。M。Iamnotconvinced。
O。M。Youwillbewhenyouthink。
III
InstancesinPointOldMan。HaveyougiventhoughttotheGospelofSelf
Approvalsincewetalked？
YoungMan。Ihave。
O。M。ItwasIthatmovedyoutoit。ThatistosayanOUTSIDEINFLUENCEmovedyoutoitnotonethatoriginatedinyourhead。Willyoutrytokeepthatinmindandnotforgetit？
Y。M。Yes。Why？
O。M。Becausebyandbyinoneofourtalks，Iwishtofurtherimpressuponyouthatneitheryou，norI，noranymaneveroriginatesathoughtinhisownhead。THEUTTEREROFA
THOUGHTALWAYSUTTERSASECONDHANDONE。
Y。M。Oh，now
O。M。Wait。Reserveyourremarktillwegettothatpartofourdiscussiontomorrowornextday，say。Now，then，haveyoubeenconsideringthepropositionthatnoactiseverbornofanybutaselfcontentingimpulse（primarily）。Youhavesought。
Whathaveyoufound？
Y。M。Ihavenotbeenveryfortunate。Ihaveexaminedmanyfineandapparentlyselfsacrificingdeedsinromancesandbiographies，but
O。M。Undersearchinganalysistheostensibleselfsacrificedisappeared？Itnaturallywould。
Y。M。Buthereinthisnovelisonewhichseemstopromise。
IntheAdirondackwoodsisawageearnerandlaypreacherinthelumbercampswhoisofnoblecharacteranddeeplyreligious。AnearnestandpracticallaborerintheNewYorkslumscomesupthereonvacationheisleaderofasectionoftheUniversitySettlement。Holme，thelumberman，isfiredwithadesiretothrowawayhisexcellentworldlyprospectsandgodownandsavesoulsontheEastSide。HecountsithappinesstomakethissacrificeforthegloryofGodandforthecauseofChrist。Heresignshisplace，makesthesacrificecheerfully，andgoestotheEastSideandpreachesChristandHimcrucifiedeverydayandeverynighttolittlegroupsofhalfcivilizedforeignpauperswhoscoffathim。Butherejoicesinthescoffings，sinceheissufferingtheminthegreatcauseofChrist。YouhavesofilledmymindwithsuspicionsthatIwasconstantlyexpectingtofindahiddenquestionableimpulsebackofallthis，butIamthankfultosayIhavefailed。Thismansawhisduty，andforDUTY’SSAKE
hesacrificedselfandassumedtheburdenitimposed。
O。M。Isthatasfarasyouhaveread？
Y。M。Yes。
O。M。Letusreadfurther，presently。Meantime，insacrificinghimselfNOTforthegloryofGod，PRIMARILY，asHE
imagined，butFIRSTtocontentthatexactingandinflexiblemasterwithinhimDIDHESACRIFICEANYBODYELSE？
Y。M。Howdoyoumean？
O。M。Herelinquishedalucrativepostandgotmerefoodandlodginginplaceofit。Hadhedependents？
Y。M。Wellyes。
O。M。InwhatwayandtowhatextenddidhisselfsacrificeaffectTHEM？
Y。M。Hewasthesupportofasuperannuatedfather。Hehadayoungsisterwitharemarkablevoicehewasgivingheramusicaleducation，sothatherlongingtobeselfsupportingmightbegratified。Hewasfurnishingthemoneytoputayoungbrotherthroughapolytechnicschoolandsatisfyhisdesiretobecomeacivilengineer。
O。M。Theoldfather’scomfortswerenowcurtailed？
Y。M。Quiteseriously。Yes。
O。M。Thesister’smusiclessenshadtostop？
Y。M。Yes。
O。M。Theyoungbrother’seducationwell，anextinguishingblightfelluponthathappydream，andhehadtogotosawingwoodtosupporttheoldfather，orsomethinglikethat？
Y。M。Itisaboutwhathappened。Yes。
O。M。Whatahandsomejobofselfsacrificinghediddo！ItseemstomethathesacrificedeverybodyEXCEPThimself。Haven’tItoldyouthatnomanEVERsacrificeshimself;thatthereisnoinstanceofituponrecordanywhere;andthatwhenaman’sInteriorMonarchrequiresathingofitsslaveforeitheritsMOMENTARYoritsPERMANENTcontentment，thatthingmustandwillbefurnishedandthatcommandobeyed，nomatterwhomaystandinthewayandsufferdisasterbyit？ThatmanRUINEDHISFAMILYtopleaseandcontenthisInteriorMonarch
Y。M。AndhelpChrist’scause。
O。M。YesSECONDLY。Notfirstly。HEthoughtitwasfirstly。
Y。M。Verywell，haveitso，ifyouwill。ButitcouldbethathearguedthatifhesavedahundredsoulsinNewYork
O。M。ThesacrificeoftheFAMILYwouldbejustifiedbythatgreatprofituponthethewhatshallwecallit？
Y。M。Investment？
O。M。Hardly。HowwouldSPECULATIONdo？HowwouldGAMBLE
do？Notasolitarysoulcapturewassure。Heplayedforapossiblethirtythreehundredpercentprofit。ItwasGAMBLING
withhisfamilyfor\"chips。\"Howeverletusseehowthegamecameout。Maybewecangetonthetrackofthesecretoriginalimpulse，theREALimpulse，thatmovedhimtosonoblyself
sacrificehisfamilyintheSavior’scauseunderthesuperstitionthathewassacrificinghimself。Iwillreadachapterorso……Herewehaveit！Itwasboundtoexposeitselfsoonerorlater。HepreachedtotheEastSiderabbleaseason，thenwentbacktohisolddull，obscurelifeinthelumbercamps\"HURTTO
THEHEART，HISPRIDEHUMBLED。\"Why？WerenothiseffortsacceptabletotheSavior，forWhomalonetheyweremade？Dearme，thatdetailisLOSTSIGHTOF，isnotevenreferredto，thefactthatitstartedoutasamotiveisentirelyforgotten！Thenwhatisthetrouble？Theauthoressquiteinnocentlyandunconsciouslygivesthewholebusinessaway。Thetroublewasthis:thismanmerelyPREACHEDtothepoor;thatisnottheUniversitySettlement’sway;itdealsinlargerandbetterthingsthanthat，anditdidnotenthuseoverthatcrudeSalvationArmyeloquence。ItwascourteoustoHolmebutcool。Itdidnotpethim，didnottakehimtoitsbosom。\"PERISHEDWEREALLHIS
DREAMSOFDISTINCTION，THEPRAISEANDGRATEFULAPPROVAL\"Ofwhom？TheSavior？No;theSaviorisnotmentioned。Ofwhom，then？Of\"HisFELLOWWORKERS。\"Whydidhewantthat？BecausetheMasterinsideofhimwantedit，andwouldnotbecontentwithoutit。Thatemphasizedsentencequotedabove，revealsthesecretwehavebeenseeking，theoriginalimpulse，theREAL
impulse，whichmovedtheobscureandunappreciatedAdirondacklumbermantosacrificehisfamilyandgoonthatcrusadetotheEastSidewhichsaidoriginalimpulsewasthis，towit:withoutknowingitHEWENTTHERETOSHOWANEGLECTEDWORLDTHELARGE
TALENTTHATWASINHIM，ANDRISETODISTINCTION。AsIhavewarnedyoubefore，NOactspringsfromanybuttheonelaw，theonemotive。ButIprayyou，donotacceptthislawuponmysay
so;butdiligentlyexamineforyourself。Wheneveryoureadofaselfsacrificingactorhearofone，orofadutydoneforDUTY’S
SAKE，takeittopiecesandlookfortheREALmotive。Itisalwaysthere。
Y。M。Idoiteveryday。Icannothelpit，nowthatIhavegottenstarteduponthedegradingandexasperatingquest。Foritishatefullyinteresting！infact，fascinatingistheword。AssoonasIcomeacrossagoldendeedinabookIhavetostopandtakeitapartandexamineit，Icannothelpmyself。
O。M。Haveyoueverfoundonethatdefeatedtherule？
Y。M。Noatleast，notyet。Buttakethecaseofservant
tippinginEurope。YoupaytheHOTELforservice;youowetheservantsNOTHING，yetyoupaythembesides。Doesn’tthatdefeatit？
O。M。Inwhatway？
Y。M。YouarenotOBLIGEDtodoit，thereforeitssourceiscompassionfortheirillpaidcondition，and
O。M。Hasthatcustomevervexedyou，annoyedyou，irritatedyou？
Y。M。Well，yes。
O。M。Stillyousuccumbedtoit？
Y。M。Ofcourse。
O。M。Whyofcourse？
Y。M。Well，customislaw，inaway，andlawsmustbesubmittedtoeverybodyrecognizesitasaDUTY。
O。M。ThenyoupayfortheirritatingtaxforDUTY’Ssake？
Y。M。Isupposeitamountstothat。
O。M。ThentheimpulsewhichmovesyoutosubmittothetaxisnotALLcompassion，charity，benevolence？
Y。M。Wellperhapsnot。
O。M。IsANYofit？
Y。M。IperhapsIwastoohastyinlocatingitssource。
O。M。Perhapsso。Incaseyouignoredthecustomwouldyougetpromptandeffectiveservicefromtheservants？
Y。M。Oh，hearyourselftalk！ThoseEuropeanservants？
Why，youwouldn’tgetanyofall，tospeakof。
O。M。Couldn’tTHATworkasanimpulsetomoveyoutopaythetax？
Y。M。Iamnotdenyingit。
O。M。Apparently，then，itisacaseofforduty’ssakewithalittleselfinterestadded？
Y。M。Yes，ithasthelookofit。Buthereisapoint:
wepaythattaxknowingittobeunjustandanextortion;yetwegoawaywithapainattheheartifwethinkwehavebeenstingywiththepoorfellows;andweheartilywishwewerebackagain，sothatwecoulddotherightthing，andMOREthantherightthing，theGENEROUSthing。Ithinkitwillbedifficultforyoutofindanythoughtofselfinthatimpulse。
O。M。Iwonderwhyyoushouldthinkso。WhenyoufindservicechargedintheHOTELbilldoesitannoyyou？
Y。M。No。
O。M。Doyouevercomplainoftheamountofit？
Y。M。No，itwouldnotoccurtome。
O。M。TheEXPENSE，then，isnottheannoyingdetail。Itisafixedcharge，andyoupayitcheerfully，youpayitwithoutamurmur。Whenyoucametopaytheservants，howwouldyoulikeitifeachofthemenandmaidshadafixedcharge？
Y。M。Likeit？Ishouldrejoice！
O。M。EvenifthefixedtaxwereashadeMOREthanyouhadbeeninthehabitofpayingintheformoftips？
Y。M。Indeed，yes！
O。M。Verywell，then。AsIunderstandit，itisn’treallycompassionnoryetdutythatmovesyoutopaythetax，anditisn’ttheAMOUNTofthetaxthatannoysyou。YetSOMETHING
annoysyou。Whatisit？
Y。M。Well，thetroubleis，youneverknowWHATtopay，thetaxvariesso，alloverEurope。
O。M。Soyouhavetoguess？
Y。M。Thereisnootherway。Soyougoonthinkingandthinking，andcalculatingandguessing，andconsultingwithotherpeopleandgettingtheirviews;anditspoilsyoursleepnights，andmakesyoudistraughtinthedaytime，andwhileyouarepretendingtolookatthesightsyouareonlyguessingandguessingandguessingallthetime，andbeingworriedandmiserable。
O。M。Andallaboutadebtwhichyoudon’toweanddon’thavetopayunlessyouwantto！Strange。Whatisthepurposeoftheguessing？
Y。M。Toguessoutwhatisrighttogivethem，andnotbeunfairtoanyofthem。
O。M。Ithasquiteanoblelooktakingsomuchpainsandusingupsomuchvaluabletimeinordertobejustandfairtoapoorservanttowhomyouowenothing，butwhoneedsmoneyandisillpaid。
Y。M。Ithink，myself，thatifthereisanyungraciousmotivebackofititwillbehardtofind。
O。M。Howdoyouknowwhenyouhavenotpaidaservantfairly？
Y。M。Why，heissilent;doesnotthankyou。Sometimeshegivesyoualookthatmakesyouashamed。Youaretooproudtorectifyyourmistakethere，withpeoplelooking，butafterwardyoukeeponwishingandwishingyouHADdoneit。My，theshameandthepainofit！Sometimesyousee，bythesigns，thatyouhaveitJUSTRIGHT，andyougoawaymightilysatisfied。
SometimesthemanissoeffusivelythankfulthatyouknowyouhavegivenhimagooddealMOREthanwasnecessary。
O。M。NECESSARY？Necessaryforwhat？
Y。M。Tocontenthim。
O。M。HowdoyoufeelTHEN？
Y。M。Repentant。
O。M。ItismybeliefthatyouhaveNOTbeenconcerningyourselfinguessingouthisjustdues，butonlyincipheringoutwhatwouldCONTENThim。AndIthinkyouhaveaselfdeludingreasonforthat。
Y。M。Whatwasit？
O。M。Ifyoufellshortofwhathewasexpectingandwanting，youwouldgetalookwhichwouldSHAMEYOUBEFOREFOLK。
ThatwouldgiveyouPAIN。YOUforyouareonlyworkingforyourself，notHIM。IfyougavehimtoomuchyouwouldbeASHAMED
OFYOURSELFforit，andthatwouldgiveYOUpainanothercaseofthinkingofYOURSELF，protectingyourself，SAVINGYOURSELFFROM
DISCOMFORT。YouneverthinkoftheservantonceexcepttoguessouthowtogetHISAPPROVAL。Ifyougetthat，yougetyourOWN
approval，andthatisthesoleandonlythingyouareafter。TheMasterinsideofyouisthensatisfied，contented，comfortable;
therewasNOOTHERthingatstake，asamatterofFIRSTinterest，anywhereinthetransaction。
FurtherInstancesY。M。Well，tothinkofit;SelfSacrificeforothers，thegrandestthinginman，ruledout！nonexistent！
O。M。Areyouaccusingmeofsayingthat？
Y。M。Why，certainly。
O。M。Ihaven’tsaidit。
Y。M。Whatdidyousay，then？
O。M。Thatnomanhaseversacrificedhimselfinthecommonmeaningofthatphrasewhichis，selfsacrificeforanotherALONE。Menmakedailysacrificesforothers，butitisfortheirownsakeFIRST。TheactmustcontenttheirownspiritFIRST。
Theotherbeneficiariescomesecond。
Y。M。Andthesamewithdutyforduty’ssake？
O。M。Yes。Nomanperformsadutyformereduty’ssake;theactmustcontenthisspiritFIRST。HemustfeelbetterforDOINGthedutythanhewouldforshirkingit。Otherwisehewillnotdoit。
Y。M。TakethecaseoftheBERKELEYCASTLE。
O。M。Itwasanobleduty，greatlyperformed。Takeittopiecesandexamineit，ifyoulike。
Y。M。ABritishtroopshipcrowdedwithsoldiersandtheirwivesandchildren。Shestruckarockandbegantosink。Therewasroomintheboatsforthewomenandchildrenonly。Thecolonellineduphisregimentonthedeckandsaid\"itisourdutytodie，thattheymaybesaved。\"Therewasnomurmur，noprotest。Theboatscarriedawaythewomenandchildren。Whenthedeathmomentwascome，thecolonelandhisofficerstooktheirseveralposts，themenstoodatshoulderarms，andso，asondressparade，withtheirflagflyingandthedrumsbeating，theywentdown，asacrificetodutyforduty’ssake。Canyouviewitasotherthanthat？
O。M。Itwassomethingasfineasthat，asexaltedasthat。
Couldyouhaveremainedinthoseranksandgonedowntoyourdeathinthatunflinchingway？
Y。M。CouldI？No，Icouldnot。
O。M。Think。Imagineyourselfthere，withthatwaterydoomcreepinghigherandhigheraroundyou。
Y。M。Icanimagineit。Ifeelallthehorrorofit。Icouldnothaveenduredit，Icouldnothaveremainedinmyplace。
Iknowit。
O。M。Why？
Y。M。Thereisnowhyaboutit:Iknowmyself，andIknowI
couldn’tDOit。
O。M。ButitwouldbeyourDUTYtodoit。
Y。M。Yes，IknowbutIcouldn’t。
O。M。Itwasmorethanthousandmen，yetnotoneofthemflinched。Someofthemmusthavebeenbornwithyourtemperament;iftheycoulddothatgreatdutyforduty’sSAKE，whynotyou？Don’tyouknowthatyoucouldgooutandgathertogetherathousandclerksandmechanicsandputthemonthatdeckandaskthemtodieforduty’ssake，andnottwodozenofthemwouldstayintherankstotheend？
Y。M。Yes，Iknowthat。
O。M。ButyourTRAINthem，andputthemthroughacampaignortwo;thentheywouldbesoldiers;soldiers，withasoldier’spride，asoldier’sselfrespect，asoldier’sideals。TheywouldhavetocontentaSOLDIER’Sspiritthen，notaclerk’s，notamechanic’s。Theycouldnotcontentthatspiritbyshirkingasoldier’sduty，couldthey？
Y。M。Isupposenot。
O。M。ThentheywoulddothedutynotfortheDUTY’Ssake，butfortheirOWNsakeprimarily。TheDUTYwasJUSTTHESAME，andjustasimperative，whentheywereclerks，mechanics，rawrecruits，buttheywouldn’tperformitforthat。Asclerksandmechanicstheyhadotherideals，anotherspirittosatisfy，andtheysatisfiedit。TheyHADto;itisthelaw。TRAININGispotent。Trainingtowardhigherandhigher，andeverhigheridealsisworthanyman’sthoughtandlaboranddiligence。
Y。M。Considerthemanwhostandsbyhisdutyandgoestothestakeratherthanberecreanttoit。
O。M。Itishismakeandhistraining。Hehastocontentthespiritthatisinhim，thoughitcosthimhislife。Anotherman，justassincerelyreligious，butofdifferenttemperament，willfailofthatduty，thoughrecognizingitasaduty，andgrievingtobeunequaltoit:buthemustcontentthespiritthatisinhimhecannothelpit。Hecouldnotperformthatdutyforduty’sSAKE，forthatwouldnotcontenthisspirit，andthecontentingofhisspiritmustbelookedtoFIRST。Ittakesprecedenceofallotherduties。
Y。M。Takethecaseofaclergymanofstainlessprivatemoralswhovotesforathiefforpublicoffice，onhisownparty’sticket，andagainstanhonestmanontheotherticket。
O。M。Hehastocontenthisspirit。Hehasnopublicmorals;hehasnoprivateones，wherehisparty’sprosperityisatstake。Hewillalwaysbetruetohismakeandtraining。
IV
TrainingYoungMan。Youkeepusingthatwordtraining。Byitdoyouparticularlymean
OldMan。Study，instruction，lectures，sermons？Thatisapartofitbutnotalargepart。ImeanALLtheoutsideinfluences。Thereareamillionofthem。Fromthecradletothegrave，duringallhiswakinghours，thehumanbeingisundertraining。IntheveryfirstrankofhistrainersstandsASSOCIATION。Itishishumanenvironmentwhichinfluenceshismindandhisfeelings，furnisheshimhisideals，andsetshimonhisroadandkeepshiminit。Ifheleavethatroadhewillfindhimselfshunnedbythepeoplewhomhemostlovesandesteems，andwhoseapprovalhemostvalues。Heisachameleon;bythelawofhisnaturehetakesthecolorofhisplaceofresort。Theinfluencesabouthimcreatehispreferences，hisaversions，hispolitics，histastes，hismorals，hisreligion。Hecreatesnoneofthesethingsforhimself。HeTHINKShedoes，butthatisbecausehehasnotexaminedintothematter。YouhaveseenPresbyterians？
Y。M。Many。
