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LESSONS IN LIFE.

A SERIES OF FAMILIAR ESSAYS.

BY

TIMOTHY TITCOMB,AUTHOR OF "LETTERS TO THE YOUNG," "GOLD-FOIL," ETC.

PREFACE.

The quick and cordial reception which greeted the author's"Letters to the Young," and his more recent series of essaysentitled "Gold Foil," and the constant and substantial friendshipwhich has been maintained by the public toward those productions,must stand as his apology for this third venture in a kindredfield of effort. It should be—and probably is—unnecessary forthe author to say that in this book, as in its predecessors, hehas aimed to be neither brilliant nor profound. He has endeavored,simply, to treat in a familiar and attractive way a few of themore prominent questions which concern the life of everythoughtful man and woman. Indeed, he can hardly pretend to havedone more than to organize, and put into form, the averagethinking of those who read his books—to place before the peoplethe sum of their own choicer judgments—and he neither expects norwishes for these essays higher praise than that which accords tothem the quality of common sense.

SPRINGFIELD, MASS., November, 1861.

CONTENTS.

LESSON I. MOODS AND FRAMES OF MINDLESSON II. BODILY IMPERFECTIONS AND IMPEDIMENTSLESSON III. ANIMAL CONTENTLESSON IV. REPRODUCTION IN KINDLESSON V. TRUTH AND TRUTHFULNESSLESSON VI. MISTAKES OF PENANCELESSON VII. THE RIGHTS OF WOMANLESSON VIII. AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATIONLESSON IX. PERVERSENESSLESSON X. UNDEVELOPED RESOURCESLESSON XI. GREATNESS IN LITTLENESSLESSON XII. RURAL LIFELESSON XIII. REPOSELESSON XIV. THE WAYS OF CHARITYLESSON XV. MEN OF ONE IDEALESSON XVI. SHYING PEOPLELESSON XVII. FAITH IN HUMANITYLESSON XVIII. SORE SPOTS AND SENSITIVE SPOTSLESSON XIX. THE INFLUENCE OF PRAISELESSON XX. UNNECESSARY BURDENSLESSON XXI. PROPER PEOPLE AND PERFECT PEOPLELESSON XXII. THE POETIC TESTLESSON XXIII. THE FOOD OF LIFELESSON XXIV. HALF-FINISHED WORK

LESSONS IN LIFE.

LESSON I.

MOODS AND FRAMES OF MIND.

                "That blessed mood
   In which the burden of the mystery,
   In which the heavy and the weary weight
   Of all this unintelligible world
   Is lightened." WORDSWORTH.

  "Oh, blessed temper, whose unclouded ray
   Can make to-morrow cheerful as to-day."
   POPE.

  "My heart and mind and self, never in tune;
   Sad for the most part, then in such a flow
   Of spirits, I seem now hero, now buffoon."
   LEIGH HUNT.

It rained yesterday; and, though it is midsummer, it isunpleasantly cool to-day. The sky is clear, with almost asteel-blue tint, and the meadows are very deeply green. Theshadows among the woods are black and massive, and the wholeface of nature looks painfully clean, like that of a healthylittle boy who has been bathed in a chilly room with very coldwater. I notice that I am sensitive to a change like this, andthat my mind goes very reluctantly to its task this morning.I look out from my window, and think how delightful it would beto take a seat in the sun, down under the fence, across thestreet. It seems to me that if I could sit there awhile, and getwarm, I could think better and write better. Toasting in thesunlight is conducive rather to reverie than thought, or I shouldbe inclined to t

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