It is possible to take a walk of ten miles, and have nothing to report concerning it at the end of the journey. I should much fear for the improvement of one whose eyes could be so careless, whose knowledge was so slight, or whose mind was so vacant as this supposes. Better were it to loiter a little, if loitering were needful; to stop, and contemplate, and watch, and gather; unless speed were absolute duty. Endeavour to gain a habit of observing. Something to observe, will not be wanting to a mind so disposed. Conceive that journey, that company, that machinery, that conversation, lost, which does not give you some new idea; something which may be esteemed worth the recollecting, something which may force you to reason, which may enable you to talk, if suitable opportunity should invite. Something similar may be roused from your memory, something totally different shall be elucidated by the opposition. Some metaphor shall be explained at a glance, or furnished with appropriateness, and facility, when next needed. An anecdote picked up, may guide your own conduct; a hint dropped accidentally, may add much value to your own stores. The actual fact occuring, will clear away a thousand misapprehensions, or give a true idea, as to what the case may require. What does navigation owe to observing the tides, to reasoning on the unknown property given by the loadWhat stores indeed of science, wealth, and enjoyment, have been opened by the careful observation of some accidental occurrence. stone. It may be proper here to caution, the young especially, against refusing to receive a hint ; or even allow a fact; which at first glance seems to be different from the notions already imbibed. The pride which conceives it already knows, does not sit well on any, and certainly appears very awkward on the young. If suffered to operate, it will shut the window against the light of day, and prefer the lamp. Should the hint obtruded seem even to be condemnatory of past practice, or of present system, do not on that account refuse to examine it thoroughly. There can be no danger in finding out the truth; it is at all times better than error. The only danger in the case sup posed is the too easily, too suddenly, giving up one notion for another; often merely because it is newer, or because it has not been sufficiently examined. This is not to gain the habit of observation, but to pervert, and soon to lose it. We should never part with our notions, or our money, unless we obtain something better by the exchange. CHAP. V. ON THINKING. THINKING, not growth, makes manhood. There are some, who, though they have done growing, are still only boys. The constitution may be fixed, when the judgment is immature; the limbs may be strong, while the reasoning is feeble. Many who can run, and jump, and bear any fatigue, cannot observe, cannot examine, cannot reason or judge, contrive, or execute they do not think. Accustom yourself then to thinking. Set yourself to understand whatever you see or read. To run through a book is not a difficult task, nor is it a very profitable one. To understand a few pages only, is far better than to read the whole, where mere reading it is all. If the work does not set you to thinking, either you or the author must be very deficient. Great stores of knowledge are in some cases accumulated, without making the man. wise; because, though he has read, and remembers, he has never duly considered. It is most conducive to health to let one meal digest, before we take another: it might be equally beneficial not to take up another book, perhaps not to pass to another page, till we have by reflection securely made that our own which we have just been reading.. To join thinking with reading, is one of the first maxims, and one of the easiest operations. There is something to work upon; the mind has only to shape, to square, to polish it, which may be done with comparative ease. But he is not to be called a thinking man, who reasons only while he reads; whose mind is vacant, unless some one else fill it. Be not content, therefore, to think merely as some author, or some circumstance may bid you, but try to think from yourself. Let loose your cogitations, I might say, perhaps with more propriety, watch them, train them, and keep |