Could that father have given his little son an object-lesson such as an
aged monk once, while walking through a forest, gave his scholar, John
might have been spared much suffering. The monk, stepping before four
plants that were close by, pointed to the first, a plant just beginning
to peep above the ground; to the second, one well-rooted in the earth;
to the third, a small shrub; and to the fourth, a full-sized tree.

Then turning to his young companion, he said, "Pull up the first." This
the boy easily did.

"Now, pull up the second." The youth obeyed, but not with so much ease.

"And now the third." This time before the boy succeeded in uprooting the
plant, he had to put forth all his strength and to use both his arms.

"And now," said his master, "try your hand on the fourth." But although
the lad grasped the trunk of the tree in his arms, he scarcely shook its
leaves; and he found it impossible to tear its roots from the earth.
Then the wise old man explained the meaning of the four trials.

"This, my son," he said, "is just what happens to our bad habits and
passions. When they are young and weak, we can by a little watchfulness
and by a little discipline, easily tear them up; but if we let them cast
their roots deep down into our souls, no human power can uproot them.
Only the almighty hand of the Creator can pluck them out. For this
reason, my boy, watch your first impulses."

Or, could John have heard the story of the giant who fell in with a
company of pigmies, he might have taken a different course. The giant
roared with laughter at the insignificant stature and wonderful