Dissatisfaction With Life

Much of tbc dissatisfactiou of life ariscs from a doubly false estímate of life. Vfe underrate our own position in it ; we overrate tho positions of others. Out of this doubly false estímate spring corresponding falso contrusts and dcsircs. The man of bodily labor longs for mental labor ; and, contrasted with his own condition, he thiiiks it one of perfect case. And yet, with this is oftou connectcd niucb that is strango and inconsistent. Yon will sometimos hear a man whose toilis physical expatiate, with emphasis, upon the comparativo idloness which the man enjoya whosc avocation is ual. Yet tho man who thus expatiates on tho scholar's indolence finds it a painfnl task to writo a simple letter on the plainest incidonts of douiestic history; not becauso hc wants ability or intelligence, but becauso the use of his mind in this way is unfamiliar to him. The fact is, tho scholar would havo as much reason to dwoll on the caso of the farmer as tho farmer on tho caso of the scholar ; and so he constantly does, and with just as much falsehood. Tho scholar contrasts his position falsoly with the farnier's by looking from his own confinoïnent to the farmer's exerciso. The farmer contrasta his position falsely with that of the scholar by looking from his own muscular exertion to tho scholar's muscular repose. But ho hceds not the palcnoss of tho studeut's chcek, or tho glistcn of his oye, which shows that his rotreat has been no fair Elysian bowcr. Hc heeds not the anxioties, the fears, tho lèudon hours qf prolonged exertion which tho library door shuts in. The man of private life dosires tho distinotions of public office ; but ho tliinks of its power, separato from its danger ; of tho glory of success, separate from tho shamo of dofoat ; and of tho brilliancy of its outward show, separato from the gnawings of its concealed texations. He soes not those agitatcd hours that are hidden from the world : and ho foels not thoso trcubles that, though nover uttered, cause tho sick heart to heave with unoasy palpitations. He does not consider that to widen a man's relations is frequcntly to multiply his enemios ; that to placo him in a state which many desire to obtain is to place him in a position which many will endeavorto ombarrass, which many will endeavor to Tender miserable ; that it is to place him in a position exposed to envy, jealousy, misinterpretations and strife ; and that all tho tormenta will haunt it which it is in the power of ambitious rivalry or disappointcd competition to invoko.