CONTRASTS.
THE history of this young man, as far as we have traced it, and much further beyond this point it is not our intention to go, exhibits the result of mere ambition, acting upon a mind unsustained by sound principle. To rise in the world was the end with him. Thousands start with that end, and rise to a certain height; but rarely attain a distinguished position, for the reason that they are met at almost every step with temptations to deviate more or less from strict rectitude, in order to rise faster than would otherwise be the case, and thus invariably defeat the object they have in view. There is in the public mind a certain degree of virtue, which will not tolerate known wrong actions. In fact, the public weal depends upon integrity in the community, and every man, therefore, instinctively condemns all departures from just principles in others, because he feels that such acts done to him would be wrong.
On the other hand, a virtuous man is esteemed by all, both good and bad, for all feel that their interests are safe in his hands. If he possess equal ability to serve the community with another man in whose principles no faith is had, he will, as a natural consequence, rise above that man. And there is no danger of his falling back from any eminence he may gain; because it is a real elevation from the force of internal principles acting upon his external conduct, and the force that elevated him is all-potent to sustain him in his elevation.
To rise truly in the world, is to rise internally as well as externally. If a man, while he is rising into eminence in any pursuit, be really growing corrupt and base—be admitting evil counsellors into his mind and acting from their suggestions—he is not truly rising, but is actually in the descending scale, and will, either in this life or the next, find his right position. No man is truly elevated who is not truly good. He may occupy an imaginary height; he may think himself great, and men who do not know what is really in him, may call him great; but true greatness is inseparable from that benevolence which regards the common good.
While Dunbar was fixing his mind upon the attainment of wealth and professional distinctions as ends, Doctor Hudson was seeking with untiring industry to perfect his knowledge of medical science by reading, observation, and experiment; not so much as the means of rising in the world as from a desire to increase his skill and gain a wider circle of influence. It would not do to say that he was free from selfish ends; no man is free from them. But he understood that to be governed by selfish considerations was wrong, and he never permitted himself, when he was conscious that such considerations were prominent in his mind, to act from them. Thus instead of coming more and more under the dominion of purblind selfishness, he was daily rising superior to its enticements. He was truly rising in the world—rising in intelligence and usefulness, and rising above the corrupt and debasing tendencies of our evil nature. And his family rose with him. No one was depressed that he might be elevated; no one pushed aside that his way might be clear.
Only three times did Lawrence Dunbar and Doctor Hudson meet, after they had started on their race for eminence. Once in the office of the student, as already related. The second time they met was a few weeks after the marriage of Dunbar with the heiress.
A large party was given by a wealthy family, in which Hudson had rendered eminent services in his profession. The doctor was highly esteemed by every member of this family, who knew his worth as a physician and as a man, and sought every opportunity to express the estimation in which they held him. His name and that of his lovely wife were among the first on the list, and the names of Dunbar and his wife among the last. Dunbar was invited for his wife's sake, who happened to be known to some members of the family. Doctor Baldwin and his lady were also in the number of guests.
Not long after Doctor Hudson and his wife had entered, they saw Dunbar come into the parlors with a lady richly dressed upon his arm, and walk in some state amid the gay company.
"Can that be his wife?" remarked Mrs. Hudson, when she at last got a fair view of the lady's face.
"I presume it is," replied her husband. "Did you ever see a more repulsive countenance?"