“Yes,” said his mother; “or rather not selfishness, but self-love. Selfishness means not only a desire for our own happiness, but injustice towards others. It would have been wrong for me to have appealed to Dwight's selfishness, as that would have been encouraging a bad passion; but it was right for me to appeal to his self-love, that is, to shew him how his own future enjoyment would depend upon his being a good boy that day.
“Now, Dwight, do you think that what I said had any influence over you that day?”
“Yes, mother,” said Dwight, “I think it did. I thought of it a good many times.”
“Would it have had as much influence if I had asked you to be a good boy only to please me?”
Dwight acknowledged that he did not think it would.
“Do you think it would have had as much influence if I had asked you to do right to please God?”
“No, mother,” said Dwight.
“Do you think that would have had any influence at all?”
Dwight seemed at a loss, and said he didn't know.
“Do you think it would?” said Caleb.