and finally went to his rest, he left behind him a reputation for
practical wisdom, for genuine goodness, and for helpfulness in
every good work, which greater and richer men might have envied.

When Luther died, he left behind him, as set forth in his will,
"no ready money, no treasure of coin of any description." He was
so poor at one part of his life, that he was under the necessity
of earning his bread by turning, gardening, and clockmaking. Yet,
at the very time when he was thus working with his hands, he was
moulding the character of his country; and he was morally
stronger, and vastly more honoured and followed, than all the
princes of Germany.

Character is property. It is the noblest of possessions. It is
an estate in the general goodwill and respect of men; and they who
invest in it--though they may not become rich in this world's
goods--will find their reward in esteem and reputation fairly and
honourably won. And it is right that in life good qualities
should tell--that industry, virtue, and goodness should rank the
highest--and that the really best men should be foremost.

Simple honesty of purpose in a man goes a long way in life, if
founded on a just estimate of himself and a steady obedience to
the rule he knows and feels to be right. It holds a man straight,
gives him strength and sustenance, and forms a mainspring of
vigorous action. 'No man," once said Sir Benjamin Rudyard, "is
bound to be rich or great,--no, nor to be wise; but every man is
bound to be honest." (4)

But the purpose, besides being honest, must be inspired by sound