Under these circumstances, I assure you, I would not exchange the moss on which I sat for the greatest throne in Christendom." "But surely you do not call such a poetical exordium a profession ?" remarked Becker.
"It must be admitted," said Wolston, "that the sun and trees have their uses, especially when the one protects us from the other; the sun, for example, dries up the moisture that falls from the trees, and the trees shelter us from the burning rays of the sun.

Still, I am at a loss myself to connect these things with a profession in a social point of view." "What would you have thought," inquired Ernest, "if you had seen Newton and Kepler gazing at the sky, before the one had determined the movements of the celestial bodies, and the other the laws of gravitation?
What would you have thought of Parmentier passing hours and days in manipulating a rough-looking bulb, that possessed no kind of value in the eyes of the vulgar, but which afterwards, as the potato, became the chief food of two-thirds of the population of Europe?
What would you think of Jenner, with his finger on his brow, searching for a means of preserving humanity from the scourge of the small-pox ?" "But these men had an object in view." "Jenner, yes; but not the other two.

They thought, studied, contemplated, and reflected, satisfied that one day their thoughts, calculations, and reflections would aid in disclosing some mystery of Nature; but it would have perplexed them sorely to have named beforehand the nature and scope of their discoveries." "According to you, then," said Jack, "there could not be a more dignified profession than that of the scarecrow.

The greatest dunderhead in Christendom might simply, by going a star-gazing, pass himself off as an adept in the occult sciences, and claim the right of being a benefactor of mankind in embryo." "At all events," replied Ernest, "you will admit that, so long as I am ready to bear my share of the common burdens, and take my part in providing for the common wants, and in warding of the common dangers, it is immaterial whether I occupy my leisure hours in reflection or in rifle practice." "Well," said Jack, "when you have made some discovery that will enrol your name with Descartes, Huygens, Cassini, and such gentlemen, you will do us the honor of letting us know." "With the greatest pleasure." "It is a pity that Herschell has invented the telescope: he might have left you a chance for the glory of that invention." "If I have not discovered a new star, brother, I discovered long ago that you would never be one." "Well, I hope not; their temperature is too unequal for me--they are either freezing or boiling: at least, so said Fritz the other day, whilst we were--all, what were we doing, Willis ?" "We were supposed to be hunting." "Ah, so we were." "Now, Master Jack, it is your turn to enlighten us as to your future career." "It is quite clear, Mr.Wolston, that, since my brothers are to be so illustrious, I cannot be an ordinary mortal; the honor of the family is concerned, and must be consulted.

I am, therefore, resolved to become either a great composer, like Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven; a renowned painter, like Titian, Carrache, or Veronese; or a great poet, like Homer, Virgil, Shakspeare, Dante, Milton, Goethe, and Racine." "That is to say," remarked Mrs.Wolston, "that you are resolved to be a great something or other." "Decidedly, madam; on reflection, however, as I value my eyesight, I must except Homer and Milton." "But have you not determined to which of the muses you will throw the handkerchief ?" "I thought of music at first.