CHAPTER XIII.
TRIFLES.
In the elder days of Art Builders wrought with greatest care Each minute and unseen part, For the gods see everywhere.
-- LONGFELLOW.
Think naught a trifle, though it small appear, Small sands the mountain, moments make the year, And trifles, life.
-- YOUNG.
The smallest hair throws its shadow.
-- GOETHE.
He that despiseth small things shall fall little by little.
-- ECCLESIASTES.
It is the little rift within the lute, That by and by will make the music mute, And ever widening slowly silence all.
-- TENNYSON.
"A pebble in the streamlet scant Has turned the course of many a river: A dewdrop on the baby plant Has warped the giant oak forever." It is the close observation of little things which is the secret of success in business, in art, in science, and in every pursuit of life.
-- SMILES.
"Only!--But then the onlys Make up the mighty all." "My rule of conduct has been that whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well," said Nicolas Poussin, the great French painter.

When asked the reason why he had become so eminent in a land of famous artists he replied, "Because I have neglected nothing." "Do little things now," says a Persian proverb; "so shall big things come to thee by and by asking to be done." God will take care of the great things if we do not neglect the little ones.
A gentleman advertised for a boy to assist him in his office, and nearly fifty applicants presented themselves to him.

Out of the whole number he in a short time selected one and dismissed the rest.

"I should like to know," said a friend, "on what ground you selected that boy, who had not a single recommendation ?" "You are mistaken," said the gentleman, "he had a great many.

He wiped his feet when he came in, and closed the door after him, showing that he was careful.