“Nor was this all. The people in those parts found out that Lis went to the island to consult the magician, and they imputed Loord’s conduct entirely to his interference in behalf of the beautiful girl. But the only real magician in the case was the brandy, for Lis did not find the magician at home; and, though she waited some days, she did not see him. However, when people are superstitious common things always grow mighty wonderful in their eyes. Superstition is like a pair of spectacles that I heard of once; they happened to have a musquito on one of the glasses when the owner put them on; so he thought he saw a flying bear skipping over the distant hills, when it was only the musquito upon his spectacles!”
Habit.
When we have performed any action once, it is easier to do the same or a similar act on a second occasion. Jugglers acquire great skill in using their hands and all parts of their bodies by this means. We can exercise our minds with less difficulty, the more frequently we attempt it. We call this the law of habit.
This law extends over our moral natures; so that morals consist very much in habits. We do right the more easily as we practise it, and wrong increases in our characters by every new violation of right. He who tells a small untruth to-day, will be likely to tell a larger one to-morrow; and that little girl who begins to obey her conscience when very young, may hope, through the power of habit, to obtain great goodness when she comes to be a woman.
If we wish to be good and happy, we must form correct moral habits; that is, we must do right always, so that it shall soon become easier to us than to do wrong. It would be very difficult for a lad, who had never used a profane word, to speak even one such word. Pure language would be as easy to him as to breathe. This is the state in which every person should keep himself; for if he does wrong but a single time, he knows not how soon he shall do it again and again, until he becomes utterly vicious.
Habit not only strengthens our active propensities, but also weakens the impression things make upon us. If we saw a man’s limb amputated by a surgeon, it would excite our feelings deeply. But those who perform those operations frequently, feel little sympathy with the sufferer. It is not only what we do, but what we see, and hear, and feel, therefore, that is to be regarded in the formation of our habits.
In regard to impressions, we should recollect, that, although we cannot prevent a thing from affecting us as it does, when actually before us, yet we can keep ourselves out of the sight and reach of objects that affect us unfavorably. In order to relieve others who are in pain, it is necessary we should feel a sympathy for their sufferings. But if we look on men, or even on animals, that are in pain, frequently, and from mere curiosity, we shall soon feel no sympathy for the distressed, nor desire to relieve them. It is therefore wrong to accustom ourselves to witness sufferings needlessly and without reflection.
Many bad objects may give us powerful impressions at first, but if we dwell upon them, and strive to resist their effects, we shall perhaps overcome them. So of good impressions; the young lady who is tempted to resort to public places of amusement, where health and morals are exposed—suppose it to be to spend the whole night in dancing and festivity—may think that pleasanter than to attend a useful lecture, or to engage in instructive conversation. But let her remember the force of habit. If she frequent public balls, her taste for valuable objects of pursuit will diminish; while the habit of preferring the lecture-room, or a profitable volume to read, or a useful conversation, when once formed, will make the employment more agreeable than scenes of dissipation.
Accustom yourself to contemplate the beauties of nature, and you will soon learn to associate all that is pure, elevating, and holy with the works of God. The glorious sun, once merely a convenient object, will now seem to you a teacher of the sublimest emotions. River, forest, flower, and field will teem in your mind with the choicest influences and impressions.