Shade of Character (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1851 edition. Excerpt: ... nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest,"--is a maxim of wisdom and truth which none can controvert. The present, and the present only, is in any sense our own; for "The morrow is a space of time to be found only in the fool's calendar." "It will do to-morrow." This belief, if it really amounted to any feeling of the kind, was the bane of Edward Col linson from his earliest youth. Whatever depended upon himself was invariably deferred; in consequence of which he was, what he termed himself to be, "the most unfortunate fellow in the world, always out of luck's way,"--but one whom wiser persons than he looked upon only as the just victim of procrastination. At school he never distinguished himself, though he had very fair abilities; and when he became a clerk in a mercantile house he never gained a step but as he rose by regular rotation, and that simply because he failed in promptitude. His family were respectable, but far from affluent, all the members of it being called upon to exert themselves for their own maintenance as soon as they were able. Himself and his two next brothers were provided for; it was now a great point to dispose of the fourth son suitably. Many disappointments had occurred, and but few real opportunities of success presented themselves. At length a vacancy took place in the house of Williams & Co., where Edward had now been fixed two or three years. His father was well known to the parties; and as he himself bore the character of a very steady young man, and in consequence stood well with his superiors, an application in favour of his brother seemed very promising. As no time was to be lost, and Mr. Collinson was unable to call upon Mr. Williams, he wrote a letter to that gentleman, ...