The way in which an unselfish example can inspire a like desire in others is seen in this incident:
We two students roomed over on the north side of the building where the sun never entered, and we were often chilled to discomfort and we would not stand it longer. The bishop beamed upon us with benevolent surprize, and said:
“Why, young gentlemen, this will never do; you are not going to leave the school. True, our mission is slow in providing better accommodations, but they will come soon. Meanwhile, we are bound to do the best we can for our students. We expect you young men in the future to become the bishops and leaders in the Japanese churches. As for yourselves in particular, I’ll tell you what we can do. I have a good warm room on the sunny side of the school; now you young gentlemen come over and occupy my room and I myself will go over and take yours.” “Oh, no!” we both exclaimed; “we would not have you do that; we did not mean that.” “But that’s what I mean,” said the bishop; “that’s what will be done.” We again remonstrated and my fellow student, a Christian boy, began to weep with chagrin and brokenness of heart, and soon I found I, too, was weeping. I never before had seen anything like that and my heart broke under it. Why, sir, there was a light in that good bishop’s face similar to that which I think Saul saw on the way to Damascus.—H. C. Mabie, “Methods in Evangelism.”
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Unsympathetic—See [Sympathy, Lack of].
UNTRUTHFULNESS
Dr. Edward Everett Hale said that once he dreamed of playing ball with a companion, and of throwing the ball through a large glass window, and that the owner of the house came out and asked him if he threw the ball, and he said, “No.” Then the man pounced upon his companion, saying, “Then it must have been you,” and dragged him into the house and gave him a tremendous whipping. Dr. Hale said he experienced a feeling of meanness and degradation that was inexpressible; he felt himself to be the most cowardly wretch on the face of the earth, and had not a single word to say in his own defense. He stood ashamed of himself before his own conscience. He said the impression was so vivid that he never got over the remembrance, and through life was given a loathing and abhorrence of all forms of deceit.—James T. White, “Character Lessons.”
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UNWORTHY AIMS
When asked by a friend how he managed to wear always such becoming and elaborate cravats a British dude is said to have answered, “Why, my dear fellah, I puts my whole mind on it.” Such an answer is the measure of such a man’s mind. The aim was wholly unworthy of the attention given to it.