Give me of thyself, O Bigness:
Power to get more power!
Riches to get more riches!
Give me of thy sweat that I may sweat more!
Give me Bigness to get more Bigness to myself,
O Bigness, for Thine is the Power and the Glory! And
there is no end but Bigness, ever and for ever!



CHAPTER II

The Sheridan Building was the biggest skyscraper; the Sheridan Trust
Company was the biggest of its kind, and Sheridan himself had been the
biggest builder and breaker and truster and buster under the smoke.
He had come from a country cross-roads, at the beginning of the
growth, and he had gone up and down in the booms and relapses of
that period; but each time he went down he rebounded a little higher,
until finally, after a year of overwork and anxiety--the latter not
decreased by a chance, remote but possible, of recuperation from
the former in the penitentiary--he found himself on top, with solid
substance under his feet; and thereafter "played it safe." But his
hunger to get was unabated, for it was in the very bones of him and
grew fiercer.

He was the city incarnate. He loved it, calling it God's country, as
he called the smoke Prosperity, breathing the dingy cloud with relish.
And when soot fell upon his cuff he chuckled; he could have kissed it.
"It's good! It's good!" he said, and smacked his lips in gusto.