But she, always wishing to look at the bright, instead of the dark side of
the question, called in turn to his recollection a number of very
excellent and very worthy members of the church, whom they knew to be most
amiable, charitable, and truly religions characters.

Thus ended this conference upon a subject which appeared to be so very
important to my parents. My mother certainly had a great leaning to the
desire of seeing me a clergyman, and I believe it would have been the
summit of her happiness and ambition to have seen me zealously enforcing
those principles of christianity, which she had so faithfully practised.
My father dropped the subject at that time; but he took an early
opportunity of seriously going into the matter in private, and he exhorted
me to give the question a deliberate consideration, as it most materially
concerned my future welfare; adding, "he that sets out wrong is more than
half undone. If," said he "you intend to lead a quiet, easy life, that of
a clergyman will exactly suit you. If you are disposed to make one of the
common herd of mankind, and pass your time away in enjoying the sports of
the field, and the recreations of a social country life, you may live and
die a clergyman, and a very happy man. But if you have any ambition to be
a shining character in the world, that is the very last profession I would
recommend; as I am firmly persuaded that you will have no chance of
becoming eminent, or exalted in rank, unless you will condescend to obtain
it by the most prostituted sycophancy, and a total dereliction of every
manly noble feeling of independence."

If I had been wavering in my decision, or had entertained any doubts
before, this would have turned the scale; but I had already made up my
mind to be a farmer, which determination I seriously and firmly
communicated to my father. "Well then," said he, "you are young enough to
learn, and if you will manfully set your shoulder to the wheel, I have no