Old Christmas . e is allthis—how is the world to be made wiserby this talk? Alas! is there not wisdomenough extant for the instruction of the world ?And if not, are there not thousands of ablerpens labouring for its improvement?—Itis so much pleasanter to please than toinstruct—to play the companion rather thanthe preceptor. What, after all, is the mite of wisdom that Icould throw into the mass of knowledge; orhow am I sure that my sagest deductions may besafe guides for the opinions of others? But inwriting to amuse, if I fail, the only evil is in myown disappointment. If, however, I can byan
Old Christmas . e is allthis—how is the world to be made wiserby this talk? Alas! is there not wisdomenough extant for the instruction of the world ?And if not, are there not thousands of ablerpens labouring for its improvement?—Itis so much pleasanter to please than toinstruct—to play the companion rather thanthe preceptor. What, after all, is the mite of wisdom that Icould throw into the mass of knowledge; orhow am I sure that my sagest deductions may besafe guides for the opinions of others? But inwriting to amuse, if I fail, the only evil is in myown disappointment. If, however, I can byany lucky chance, in these days of evil, rub outone wrinkle from the brow of care, or beguilethe heavy heart of one moment of sorrow; ifI can now and then penetrate through the gath-ering film of misanthropy, prompt a benevolent Zhc Cbriatmas Dinner 115 view of human nature, and make my readermore in good humour with his fellow beings andhimself, surely, surely, I shall not then havewritten entirely in
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