CHAPTER X. AIMING HIGH.
"What do you intend to do, Squire, with your two youngest boys?" saidMr. Slick to me to-day, as we were walking in the Park.
"I design them," I said, "for professions. One I shall educate for alawyer, and the other for a clergyman."
"Where?"
"In Nova Scotia."
"Exactly," says he. "It shews your sense; it's the very place for 'em.It's a fine field for a young man; I don't know no better one no wherein the whole univarsal world. When I was a boy larnin' to shoot, saisfather to me, one day, 'Sam,' sais he, 'I'll give you a lesson ingunnin' that's worth knowin'. "_Aim high_," my boy; your gun naterallysettles down a little takin' sight, cause your arm gets tired, andwabbles, and the ball settles a little while it's a travellin',accordin' to a law of natur, called Franklin's law; and I obsarve youalways hit below the mark. Now, make allowances for these things ingunnin', and "aim high," for your life, always. And, Sam,' sais he,'I've seed a great deal of the world, all mili_tary_ men do. 'I was toBunker's Hill durin' the engagement, and I saw Washington the day he wasmade President, and in course must know more nor most men of my age;and I'll give you another bit of advice, "Aim high" in life, and if youdon't hit the bull's eye, you'll hit the "fust circles," and that ain'ta bad shot nother.'
"'Father,' sais I, 'I guess I've seed more of the world than you have,arter all.'
"'How so, Sam?' sais he.
"'Why,' sais I, 'father, you've only been to Bunker's Hill, and that'snothin'; no part of it ain't too steep to plough; it's only a sizeablehillock, arter all. But I've been to the Notch on the White Mountain,so high up, that the snow don't melt there, and seed five States all toonce, and half way over to England, and then I've seed Jim Crow dance.So there now?' He jist up with the flat of his hand, and gave me a wipewith it on the side of my face, that knocked me over; and as I fell, helent me a kick on my musn't-mention-it, that sent me a rod or so afore Itook ground on all fours.
"'Take that, you young scoundrel!' said he, 'and larn to speakrespectful next time to an old man, a mili_tary_ man, and your father,too.'
"It hurt me properly, you may depend. 'Why,' sais I, as I picked myselfup, 'didn't you tell me to "aim high," father? So I thought I'd do it,and beat your brag, that's all.'
"Truth is, Squire, I never could let a joke pass all my life, withouthavin' a lark with it. I was fond of one, ever since I was knee high toa goose, or could recollect any thin' amost; I have got into a horridsight of scrapes by 'em, that's a fact. I never forgot that lessonthough, it was kicked into me: and lessons that are larnt on the righteend, ain't never forgot amost. I _have_ "aimed high" ever since, andsee where I be now. Here I am an Attache, made out of a wooden clockpedlar. Tell you what, I shall be "embassador" yet, made out of nothin'but an "Attache," and I'll be President of our great Republic, andalmighty nation in the eend, made out of an embassador, see if I don't.That comes of "aimin' high." What do you call that water near yourcoach-house?"
"A pond."
"Is there any brook runnin' in, or any stream runnin' out?"
"No."
"Well, that's the difference between a lake and a pond. Now, set thatdown for a traveller's fact. Now, where do you go to fish?"
"To the lakes, of course; there are no fish in the ponds."
"Exactly," said Mr. Slick, "that is what I want to bring you to; thereis no fish in a pond, there is nothin' but frogs. Nova Scotia is onlya pond, and so is New Brunswick, and such outlandish, out o' the way,little crampt up, stagnant places. There is no 'big fish' there, nornever can be; there ain't no food for 'em. A colony frog!! Heavens andairth, what an odd fish that is? A colony pollywog! do, for gracioussake, catch one, put him into a glass bottle full of spirits, and sendhim to the Museum as a curiosity in natur. So you are a goin' to makeyour two nice pretty little smart boys a pair of colony frogs, eh? Oh!do, by all means.
"You'll have great comfort in 'em, Squire. Monstrous comfort. It willdo your old heart good to go down to the edge of the pond on the fust ofMay, or thereabouts, accordin' to the season, jist at sun down, and hear'em sing. You'll see the little fellers swell out their cheeks, and roaraway like young suckin' thunders. For the frogs beat all natur there fornoise; they have no notion of it here at all. I've seed Englishmen thatcouldn't sleep all night, for the everlastin' noise these critters made.Their frogs have somethin' else to do here besides singin'. Ain't it asplendid prospect that, havin' these young frogs settled all round youin the same mud-hole, all gathered in a nice little musical familyparty. All fine fun this, till some fine day we Yankee storks will comedown and gobble them all up, and make clear work of it.
"No, Squire, take my advice now for once; jist go to your colonyminister when he is alone. Don't set down, but stand up as if you was inairnest, and didn't come to gossip, and tell him, 'Turn these ponds intoa lake,' sais you, my lord minister, give them an inlet and an outlet.Let them be kept pure, and sweet, and wholesome, by a stream, runnin'through. Fish will live there then if you put them in, and they willbreed there, and keep up the stock. At present they die; it ain't bigenough; there ain't room. If he sais he hante time to hear you, and asksyou to put it into writin', do you jist walk over to his table, take uphis lignum vitae ruler into your fist, put your back to the door, andsay 'By the 'tarnal empire, you _shall_ hear me; you don't go out ofthis, till I give you the butt eend of my mind, I can tell you. I am anold bull frog now; the Nova Scotia pond is big enough for me; I'll getdrowned if I get into a bigger one, for I hante got no fins, nothin' butlegs and arms to swim with, and deep water wouldn't suit me, I ain't fitfor it, and I must live and die there, that's my fate as sure as rates.'If he gets tired, and goes to get up or to move, do you shake the bigruler at him, as fierce as a painter, and say, 'Don't you stir for yourlife; I don't want to lay nothin' _on_ your head, I only want to putsomethin' _in_ it. I am a father and have got youngsters. I am a native,and have got countrymen. Enlarge our sphere, give us a chance in theworld.' 'Let me out,' he'll say, 'this minute, Sir, or I'll put you incharge of a policeman.' 'Let you out is it,' sais you. 'Oh! you feelbein' pent up, do you? I am glad of it. The tables are turned now,that's what we complain of. You've stood at the door, and kept us in;now I'll keep you in awhile. I want to talk to you, that's more than youever did to us. How do you like bein' shut in? Does it feel good? Doesit make your dander rise?' 'Let me out,' he'll say agin, 'this moment,Sir, how dare you.' Oh! you are in a hurry, are you?' sais you. 'You'vekept me in all my life; don't be oneasy if I keep you in five minutes.'
"'Well, what do you want then?' he'll say, kinder peevish; 'what do youwant?' 'I don't want nothin' for myself,' sais you. 'I've got all Ican get in that pond; and I got that from the Whigs, fellers I've beenabusin' all my life; and I'm glad to make amends by acknowledging thisgood turn they did me; for I am a tory, and no mistake. I don't wantnothin'; but I want to be an _Englishman_. I don't want to be anEnglish _subject_; do you understand that now? If you don't, this is themeanin', that there is no fun in bein' a fag, if you are never to have afag yourself. Give us all fair play. Don't move now,' sais you, 'for I'mgettin' warm; I'm gettin' spotty on the back, my bristles is up, and Imight hurt you with this ruler; it's a tender pint this, for I've rubbedthe skin off of a sore place; but I'll tell you a gospel truth, and mindwhat I tell you, for nobody else has sense enough, and if they had, theyhante courage enough. If you don't make _Englishmen of us_, the force ofcircumstances will _make Yankees_ of us, as sure as you are born.' He'llstare at that. He is a clever man, and aint wantin' in gumption. Heis no fool, that's a fact. 'Is it no compliment to you and yourinstitutions this?' sais you. 'Don't it make you feel proud that evenindependence won't tempt us to dissolve the connexion? Ain't it a nobleproof of your good qualities that, instead of agitatin' for Repeal ofthe Union, we want a closer union? But have we no pride too? We would beonworthy of the name of Englishmen, if we hadn't it, and we won't standbeggin' for ever I tell _you_. Here's our hands, give us yourn; let'sbe all Englishmen together. Give us a chance, a
nd if us, young Englishboys, don't astonish you old English, my name ain't Tom Poker, that'sall.' 'Sit down,' he'll say, 'Mr. Poker;' there is a great deal in that;sit down; I am interested.'
"The instant he sais that, take your ruler, lay it down on the table,pick up your hat, make a scrape with your hind leg, and say, 'I regretI have detained you so long, Sir. I am most peskily afraid my warmthhas kinder betrayed me into rudeness. I really beg pardon, I do uponmy soul. I feel I have smashed down all decency, I am horrid ashamed ofmyself.' Well, he won't say you hante rode the high hoss, and done theunhandsum thing, because it wouldn't be true if he did; but he'll say,'Pray be seated. I can make allowances, Sir, even for intemperate zeal.And this is a very important subject, very indeed. There is a monstrousdeal in what you say, though you have, I must say, rather a peculiar,an unusual, way of puttin' it.' Don't you stay another minit though,nor say another word, for your life; but bow, beg pardon, hold in yourbreath, that your face may look red, as if you was blushin', and backout, starn fust. Whenever you make an impression on a man, stop; yourreasonin' and details may ruin you. Like a feller who sais a good thing,he'd better shove off, and leave every one larfin' at his wit, than stopand tire them out, till they say what a great screw augur that is. Well,if you find he opens the colonies, and patronises the smart folks, leaveyour sons there if you like, and let 'em work up, and work out of it, ifthey are fit, and time and opportunity offers. But one thing is sartain,_the very openin' of the door will open their minds_, as a matter ofcourse. If he don't do it, and I can tell you before hand he won't--forthey actilly hante got time here, to think of these things--send yourboys here into the great world. Sais you to the young Lawyer, 'Bob,'sais you, '"aim high." If you don't get to be Lord Chancellor, I shallnever die in peace. I've set my heart on it. It's within your reach, ifyou are good for anything. Let me see the great seal--let me handle itbefore I die--do, that's a dear; if not, go back to your Colony pond,and sing with your provincial frogs, and I hope to Heaven the fustlong-legged bittern that comes there will make a supper of you."
"Then sais you to the young parson, 'Arthur,' sais you 'Natur jistmade you for a clergyman. Now, do you jist make yourself 'Archbishop ofCanterbury.' My death-bed scene will be an awful one, if I don't see you'the Primate'; for my affections, my hopes, my heart, is fixed on it.I shall be willin' to die then, I shall depart in peace, and leave thisworld happy. And, Arthur,' sais you, 'they talk and brag here till oneis sick of the sound a'most about "Addison's death-bed." Good peoplerefer to it as an example, authors as a theatrical scene and hypocritesas a grand illustration for them to turn up the whites of their coldcantin' eyes at. Lord love you, my son,' sais you, 'let them brag of it;but what would it be to mine; you congratulatin' me on goin' to a betterworld, and me congratulatin' you on bein' "Archbishop." Then,' sais you,in a starn voice like a boatsan's trumpet--for if you want things to beremembered, give 'em effect, "Aim high," Sir,' sais you. Then like myold father, fetch him a kick on his western eend, that will lift himclean over the table, and say 'that's the way to rise in the world, youyoung sucking parson you. "Aim high," Sir.'
"Neither of them will ever forget it as long as they live. The hit doesthat; for a kick is a very _striking_ thing, that's a fact. Therehas been _no good scholars since birch rods went out o' school, andsentiment went in_."
"But you know," I said, "Mr. Slick, that those high prizes in thelottery of life, can, in the nature of things, be drawn but by fewpeople, and how many blanks are there to one-prize in this world."
"Well, what's to prevent your boys gettin' those prizes, if colonistswas made Christians of, instead of outlawed, exiled, transported,oncarcumcised heathen Indgean niggers, as they be. If people don't putinto a lottery, how the devil can they get prizes? will you tellme that. Look at the critters here, look at the publicans, taylors,barbers, and porters' sons, how the've rose here, 'in this big lake,'to be chancellors and archbishops; how did they get them? They 'aimedhigh,' and besides, all that, like father's story of the gun, by 'aiminghigh,' though they may miss the mark, they will be sure to hit theupper circles. Oh, Squire, there is nothing like 'aiming high,' in thisworld."
"I quite agree with you, Sam," said Mr. Hopewell. "I never heard youspeak so sensibly before. Nothing can be better for young men than"Aiming high." Though they may not attain to the highest honours,they may, as you say, reach to a most respectable station. But surely,Squire, you will never so far forget the respect that is due to so highan officer as a Secretary of State, or, indeed, so far forget yourselfas to adopt a course, which from its eccentricity, violence, andimpropriety, must leave the impression that your intellects aredisordered. Surely you will never be tempted to make the experiment?"
"I should think not, indeed," I said. "I have no desire to become aninmate of a lunatic asylum."
"Good," said he; "I am satisfied. I quite agree with Sam, though.Indeed, I go further. I do not think he has advised you to recommendyour boys to 'aim high enough.'"
"Creation! said Mr. Slick, "how much higher do you want provincial frogsto go, than to be 'Chancellor' and 'Primate?'
"I'll tell you, Sam; I'd advise them to 'aim higher' than earthlyhonours. I would advise them to do their duty, in any station of life inwhich it shall please Providence to place them; and instead of strivingafter unattainable objects here, to be unceasing in their endeavours toobtain that which, on certain conditions, is promised to all hereafter.In their worldly pursuits, as men, it is right for them to '_aim high_;'but as Christians, it is also their duty to '_aim higher_.'"