高三英語典背誦文章

高三英語經(jīng)典背誦文1.TheFirst高三英語經(jīng)典背誦文1.TheFirstThefirstsnowcame.Howbeautifulitwas,fallingsosilentlyalldaylong,allnightlong,onthemountains,onthemeadows,ontheroofsontheliving,onthegravesofthedead!Allwhitesavetheriver,thatmarkeditscoursebeawindingblacklineacrossthelandscape;andtheleaflesstress,thatagainsttheleadenskynowrevealedmorefullythewonderfulbeautyandintricaciesoftheirbranches.Whatsilence,too,camewiththesnow,andwhatseclusion!Everysoundwasmuffled;everynoisechangedtosomethingsoftandmusical.Nomoretrampinghoofs,nomorerattlingwheels!Onlythechimingofsleigh-bell,beatingasswiftandmerrilyasthehearts(118ByHenryWadsworth2.TheHumming-Ofallanimalsbeingthisisthemostelegantinformandthemostbrilliantincolors.ThestonesandmetalspolishedbyourartsarenotcomparabletothisjewelofNature.Shehasplaceditleastinsizeoftheorderofbirds.“maximeMirandainminimis.”Hermasterpieceisthislittlehumming-bird,anduponitshehasheapedallthegiftswhichtheotherbirdsmayonlyshare.Lightness,rapidity,nimbleness,grace,andrichapparelallbelongtothislittlefavorite.Theemerald,theruby,andthetopazgleamuponitsdress.Itneversoilsthemwiththedustofearth,andinitsaeriallifescarcelytouchestheturfaninstant.Alwaysintheair,flyingfromflowerflower,ithastheirfreshnessaswellastheirbrightness.Itlivesupontheirnectar,anddwellsintheclimateswheretheyperennially(149FromNaturalByGeorgeLouise3.Thepine,placednearlyalwaysamongscenesdisorderedanddesolate,bringintothemallpossibleelementsoforderandprecision.Lowlandtreesmayleantothissideandthat,thoughitisbutameadowbreezethatbendsthemorabankofcowlipsfromwhichtheirtrunksleanaslope.Butletstormandavalanchedotheirworst,andletthepinefindonlyaledgeofverticalprecipicetoclingto,itwillneverthelessgrowstraight.Thrustarodfromitslastshootdownthestem;itshallpointtothecenteroftheearthaslongasthetreelives.Itmaybewellalsoforlowlandbranchestoreachhitherandthitherforwhattheyneed,andtotakeallkindsofirregularshapeandextension.Butthepineistrainedtoneednothingandendureeverything.Itisresolvedlywhole,self-contained,desiringnothingbutrightness,contentwithrestrictedcompletion.Tallorshort,itwillbestraight.FromModernByJohn4.ReadingGoodDevotesomeofyourleisure,IDevotesomeofyourleisure,Irepeat,tocultivatingaloveofreadinggoodbooks.Fortunateindeedarethosewhocontrivetomakethemselvesgenuinebook-lovers.Forbooklovershavesomenoteworthyadvantagesoverotherpeople.Theyneedneverknowlonelyhourssolongastheyhavebooksaroundthem,andthebetterthebooksthemoredelightfulthecompany.Fromgoodbooks,moreover,theydrawmuchbesidesentertainment.Theygainmentalfoodsuchasfewcompanionscansupply.Evenwhilerestingfromtheirlaborstheyare,throughthebookstheyread,equippingthemselvestoperformthoselaborsmoreefficiently.Thisalbeittheymaynotbedeliberatelyreadingtoimprovetheirmind.Allunconsciouslytheideastheyderivefromtheprintedpagedarestoredup,tobeworkedoverbytheimaginationforfutureprofit.(135FromSelf-ByHenryAddington5.OnEtiquettetosocietyiswhatapparelistotheindividual.Withoutapparelmenwouldgoinshamefulnuditywhichwouldsurelyleadtothecorruptionofmorals;andwithoutetiquettesocietywouldbeinapitiablestateandthenecessaryintercoursebetweenitsmemberswouldbeinterferedwithbyneedlessoffencesandtroubles.Ifsocietywereatrain,theetiquettewouldbetherailsalongwhichonlythetraincouldrumbleforth;ifsocietywereastatecoach,theetiquettewouldbethewheelsandaxisonwhichonlythecoachcouldrollforward.Thelackofproprietieswouldmakethemostintimatefriendsturnstobethemostdecidedenemiesandthefriendlyoralliedcountriesdeclarewaragainsteachother.Wecanfindmanyexamplesinthehistoryofmankind.ThereforeIadviseyoutostandonceremonybeforeanyoneelseandtotakepainsnottodoanythingagainstetiquettelestyougiveoffencesormakeenemies. (160words)ByWilliam6.AnHourbeforeAnhourbeforesunriseinthecitythereisanairofcold.Solitarydesolationaboutthenoiselessstreets,whichweareaccustomedtoseethrongedatothertimesbyabusy,eagercrowd,andoverthequiet,closelyshutbuildingswhichthroughoutthedayarewarmingwithlife.Thedrunken,thedissipated,andthecriminalhavedisappeared;themoresoberandorderlypartofthepopulationhavenotyetawakenedtothelaborsoftheday,andthestillnessofdeathisoverstreets;itsveryhueseemstobeimpartedtothem,coldandlifelessastheylookinthegray,somberlightofdaybreak.Apartiallyopenedbedroomwindowhereandtherebespeakstheheatoftheweatherandtheuneasyslumbersofitsoccupant;andthedimscantyflickerofalightthroughtheblindsyonderwindowsdenotesthechamberofwatchingandsickness.Saveforthatsadlight,thepresentnosignsoflife,northehousesof(166FromByCharles7.TheImportanceofScientificTheriseofmodernsciencemayperhapsbeconsideredtodateasfarasthetimeofRogerBacon,thewonderfulmonkandphilosopherofOxford,wholivedbetweentheyears1214and1292.Hewasprobablethefirstinthemiddleagestoassertthatwemustlearnsciencebyobservingandexperimentingonthethingsaroundus,andhehimselfmademanyremarkablediscoveries.Galileo,howeverwholivedmorethan300yearslater(1564to1642),wasthegreatestofseveralgreatmen,whoinItaly,France,GermanyorEngland,beganbydegreestoshowhowmanyimportanttruthscouldbediscoveredbywell-directedobservation.BeforethetimeofGalileo,learnedmenbelievedthatlargebodiesfallmorerapidlytowardstheearththansmallones,becauseAristotlesaidso.ButGalileo,goingtothetopoftheLeaningTowerofPisa,letfalltwounequalstones,andprovedtosomefriends,whomhehadbroughttheretoseehisexperiment,thatTheriseofmodernsciencemayperhapsbeconsideredtodateasfarasthetimeofRogerBacon,thewonderfulmonkandphilosopherofOxford,wholivedbetweentheyears1214and1292.Hewasprobablethefirstinthemiddleagestoassertthatwemustlearnsciencebyobservingandexperimentingonthethingsaroundus,andhehimselfmademanyremarkablediscoveries.Galileo,howeverwholivedmorethan300yearslater(1564to1642),wasthegreatestofseveralgreatmen,whoinItaly,France,GermanyorEngland,beganbydegreestoshowhowmanyimportanttruthscouldbediscoveredbywell-directedobservation.BeforethetimeofGalileo,learnedmenbelievedthatlargebodiesfallmorerapidlytowardstheearththansmallones,becauseAristotlesaidso.ButGalileo,goingtothetopoftheLeaningTowerofPisa,letfalltwounequalstones,andprovedtosomefriends,whomhehadbroughttheretoseehisexperiment,thatAristotlewasinerror.ItisGalileo’sspritofgoingdirecttoNature,andverifyingouropinionsandtheoriesbyexperiment,thathasledtoallthegreatdiscoveriesofmodern(196ByWilliamStanley8.AddressatFourscoreandsevenyearsagoourfathersbroughtforthonthiscontinentanewnationinliberty,anddedicatedtothepropositionthatallmenarecreatedequal.Nowweareengagedinagreatcivilwar,testingwhetherthatnation,oranynationsoconceivedandsodedicated,canlongendure.Wearemetonagreatbattlefieldofthatwar.Wehavecometodedicateaportionofthatfieldasafinalrestingplaceforthosewhoheregavetheirlivesthatthatnationmightlive.Itisaltogetherfittingandproperthatweshoulddothis.But,inalargersense,wecannotdedicate—wecannotconsecrate—wecannothallow—thisground.Thebravemen,livinganddead,whostruggledhere,heaveconsecrateditfaraboveourpoorpowertoaddordetract.Theworldwilllittlenotenorlongrememberwhatwesayhere,butitcanneverforgetwhattheydidhere.Itisforus,theliving,rather,tobededicatedheretotheunfinishedworkwhichtheywhofoughtherehavethusfarsonoblyadvanced.Itisratherforustobeherededicatedtothegreattaskremainingbeforeus—thatformthesehonoreddeadwetakeincreaseddevotiontothatcauseforwhichtheygavethelastfullmeasureofdevotion;thatweherehighlyresolvethatthesedeadshallnothavediedinvain;thatthisnation,underGod,shallhaveanewbirthoffreedom;andthatgovernmentofthepeople,bythepeople,fortheshallnotperishfromthe(268ByAbrahamRather,tobededicatedheretotheunfinishedworkwhichtheywhofoughtherehavethusfarsonoblyadvanced.Itisratherforustoheretothegreattaskremainingbeforeus—thatformthesehonoreddeadwetakeincreaseddevotiontothatforwhichtheygavethelastfullmeasureofdevotion;thatweherehighlyresolvethatthesedeadshallnothavediedinvain;thatthisnation,underGod,shallhaveanewbirthoffreedom;thatgovernmentofthepeople,thepeople,forthepeople,shallnotperishfromthe9.ALittleGirlSittingonagrassygrave,beneathoneofthewindowsofthechurch,wasalittlegirl.Withherheadbentbackshewasgazingupattheskyandsinging,whileoneofherlittlehandswaspointingtoatinycloudthathoveredlikeagoldenfeatheraboveherhead.Thesun,whichhadsuddenlybecomeverybright,shiningonherglossyhair,gaveitametallicluster,anditwasdifficulttosaywhatwasthecolor,darkbronzeorblack.Socompletelyabsorbedwasshiinwatching9.ALittleGirlSittingonagrassygrave,beneathoneofthewindowsofthechurch,wasalittlegirl.Withherheadbentbackshewasgazingupattheskyandsinging,whileoneofherlittlehandswaspointingtoatinycloudthathoveredlikeagoldenfeatheraboveherhead.Thesun,whichhadsuddenlybecomeverybright,shiningonherglossyhair,gaveitametallicluster,anditwasdifficulttosaywhatwasthecolor,darkbronzeorblack.Socompletelyabsorbedwasshiinwatchingthecloudtowhichherstrangesongorincantationandwenttowardsher.Overherhead,highupintheblue,alarkthatwassoaringtowardsthesamegauzycouldwassinging,asifinrivalry.AsIslowlyapproachedthechild,Icouldseebyherforehead,whichinthesunshineseemedlikeaglobeofpearl,andespeciallybyhercomplexion,thatsheuncommonlylovely.(15910.ALittleGirlHereyes,whichatonemomentseemedblue-gray,atanotherviolet,wereshadedbylongblacklashes,curvingbackwardinamostpeculiarway,andthesematchedinhuehereyebrows,andthetressesthatweretossedabouthertenderthroatandwerequiveringinthesunlight.AllthisIdidnottakeinatonce;foratfirstIcouldseenothingbutthosequivering,glittering,changefuleyesturnedupintomyface.Graduallytheotherfeatures,especiallythesensitivefull-lippedmouth,grewuponmeasIstoodsilentlygazing.Hereseemedtomeamoreperfectbeautythanhadevercometomeinmyloveliestdreamsofbeauty.Yetitwasnotherbeautysomuchastheshegavemethatfascinatedme,melted(12911.ChoosinganHodeslea,DearSir,Iamverysorrythatthepressureofotheroccupationshaspreventedmeformsendinganearlierreplytoyourletter.Inmyopinionaman’sfirstdutyistofindawayofsupportinghimself,therebyrelievingotherpeopleofthenecessityofsupportinghim.Moreover,thelearningtosoworkofpracticalvalueintheworld,inanexactandcarefulmanner,isofitself,averyimportanteducationtheeffectsofwhichmakethemselvesfeltinallotherpursuits.Thehabitofdoingthatwhichyoudonotdareaboutwhenyouwouldmuchratherbedoingsomethingelse,isinvaluable.ItwouldhavesavedmeafrightfulwasteoftimeifIhadeverhaditdrilledintomeinyouth.Successinanyscientificcareerrequiresanunusualequipmentofcapacity,industry,andenergy.Ifyoupossessthatequipment,youwillfindleisureenoughafteryourdailycommercialworkisover,tomakeanopeninginthescientificranksforyourself.Ifyoudonot,youhadbettersticktocommerce.Nothingislesstobedesiredthanthefateofayoungmanwho,astheScotchproverbsays,in‘tryingtomakeaspoonspoilsahorn,”andbecomesamerehanger-oninliteratureorinscience,whenhemighthavebeenausefulandavaluablememberofSocietyinotherIthinkthatyourfatheroughttoIthinkthatyourfatheroughttoseethis(244YoursFromLifeandLettersofThomasHenryByLeonard12.AnImportantAspectofCollegeItisperfectlypossibletoorganizethelifeofourcollegesinsuchawaythatstudentsandteachersalikewilltakepartinit;insuchawaythataperfectlynaturaldailyintercoursewillbeestablishedbetweenthem;anditisonlybysuchanorganizationthattheycanbegivenrealvitalityasplacesofserioustraining,bemadecommunitiesinwhichyoungsterswillcomefullytorealizehowinterestingintellectualworkis,howvital,howimportant,howcloselyassociatedwithallmodernachievement—onlybysuchanorganizationthatstudycanbemadetoseempartoflifeitself.Lecturesoftenseemveryformalandemptythings;recitationsgenerallyprovedverydullandunrewarding.Itisinconversationandnaturalintercoursewithscholarschieflythatyoufindhowlivelyknowledgeis,howittiesintoeverythingthatisinterestingandimportant,howintimateapartitisofeverythingthatisinterestingandimportant,howintimateapartitisofeverythingthatis“practical”andconnectedwiththeworld.Menarenotalwaysmadethoughtfulbybooks;theyaregenerallymadethoughtfulbyassociationwithmenwho(195ByWoodrow13.NightNighthasfallenoverthecountry.Throughthetreesrisestheredmoonandthestarsarescarcelyseen.Inthevastshadowofnightthecoolnessandthedewsdescend.Isitattheopenwindowtoenjoythem;andhearonlythevoiceofthesummerwind.Likeblackhulks,theshadowsofthegreattreesrideatanchoronthebillowyseaofgrass.Icannotseetheredandblueflowers,butIknowthattheyarethere.FarawayinthemeadowgleamsthesilverCharles.Thetrampofhorses’hoofssoundsfromthewoodenbridge.Thenallisstillsavethecontinuouswindorthesoundoftheneighboringsea.Thevillageclockstrikes;andIfeelthatIamnot14.NightHowdifferentitisinthecity!Itislate,andthecrowdisgone.Youstepoutuponthebalcony,andlieintheverybosomofthecool,dewynightasifyoufoldedhergarmentsaboutyou.Beneathliesthepublicwalkwithtrees,likeafathomless,blackgulf,intowhosesilentbelovedspiritclaspedinitsembrace.Thelampsarestillburningupanddownthelongstreet.Peoplegobywithgrotesqueshadows,nowforeshortened,andnowlengtheningawayintothedarknessandvanishing,whileanewonespringsupbehindthewalker,andseemstopasshimrevolvinglikethesailofawindmill.Theirongatesoftheparkshutwithajanglingclang.Therearefootstepsandloudvoices;--atumult;--adrunkenbrawl;--analarmoffire;--thensilenceagain.Andnowatlengththecityisasleep,andwecanseethenight.Thebelatedmoonlookstheroofs,andfindsnoonetowelcomeher.theroofs,andfindsnoonetowelcomeher.Themoonlightisbroken.Itlieshereandthereinsquaresandtheopeningofthestreets—angularlikeblocksofwhite(323(19515.AnOctoberSunriseIwasupthenextmorningbeforetheOctobersunrise,andawaythroughthewildandthewoodland.Therisingofthesunwasnobleinthecoldandwarmthofit;peepingdownthespreadoflight,heraisedhisshoulderheavilyovertheedgeofgraymountainandwaveringlengthofupland.Beneathhisgazethedew-fogsdippedandcrepttothehollowplaces,thenstoleawayinlineandcolumn,holdingskirtsandclingsubtlyattheshelteringcornerswhererockhungovergrass-land,whilethebravelinesofthehillscameforth,onebeyondothergliding.Thewoodsaroseinfolds,likedraperyofawakenedmountains,statelywithadepthofandmemoryofthetempests.Autumn’smellowhandwasuponthem,astheyownedalready,touchedwithgoldandredandolive,andtheirjoytowardsthesunwaslesstoabridegroomthana(15216.AnOctoberSunriseYetbeforethefloatingimpressofthewoodscouldclearitself,suddenlythegladsomelightleapedoverhillandvalley,castingamber,blue,andpurple,andatintofrichredrose,accordingtothescenetheyliton,andthecurtainflungaround;yetallalikedispellingfearandthecovenhoofofdarkness,allonthewingsofhopeadvancing,andproclaiming,“Godishere!”Thenlifeandjoysprangreassuredfromeverycrouchinghollow;everyflowerandbudandbirdhadaflutteringsenseofthem,andalltheflashingofGod’sgazemergedintosoftbeneficence.So,perhaps,shallbreakuponusthateternalmorning,whencragandchasmshallbemore,neitherhillandvalley,norgreatunvintagedocean;whengloryshallnotscarehappiness,neitherhappinessenvyglory;butallthingsshallarise,andshineinthelightoftheFather’scountenance,becauseitselfis(153ByRichardD.17.OfStudiesStudiesservefordelight,forornamental,andforability.Theirchiefusefordelight,inprivatenessandretiring;forornament,isindiscourse;andforability,isinthejudgmentanddispositionofbusiness.Forexpertmencanexecute,andperhapsjudgeofparticulars,onebyone;butthegeneralcounsels,andtheplotsandmarshallingofaffairs,comebestfromthosethatarelearned.Tospendtoomuchtimeinstudiesissloth;tousethemtoomuchforornament,isaffectation;tomakejudgmentwhollybytheirrules,isthehumourofascholar.Theyperfectnature,naturalplants,thatneedproyningbystudy;andstudiesthemselvesdogiveforthdirectionstoomuchatlarge,excepttheybeboundedinbyexperience.Craftymencontemnstudies,simplemenadmirethem,andwisemenusethem;fortheyteachnottheirownuse;butthatisawithoutthem,andabovethem,wonby(15718.OfStudiesReadnottocontradictandconfute;nortobelieveandtakeforgranted;nortofindtalkanddiscourse;butto18.OfStudiesReadnottocontradictandconfute;nortobelieveandtakeforgranted;nortofindtalkanddiscourse;buttoweighandconsider.Somebooksaretobetasted;otherstoswallowed,andsomefewtobechewedanddigested;thatis,somebooksaretobereadonlyinparts;otherstoberead,butnotcuriously;andsomefewtobereadwholly,andwithdiligenceandattention.Somebooksalsomaybereadbydeputy,andextractsmadeofthembyothers;butthatwouldbeonlyinthelessimportantarguments,andthemeanersortofbooks;elsedistilledbooksarelikecommondistilledwaters,flashythings.Readingmakethafullman;conferenceareadyman;andwritinganexactman.Andtherefore,ifamanwritelittle,hehadneedhaveagreatmemory;ifheconferlittle,hehadneedhaveapresentwit;anifhereadlittle,hehadneedhavemuchcunning,totoknowthathedoth(17019.OfStudiesHistoriesmakemenwise;poetswitty;themathematicssubtile;naturalphilosophydeep;moralgrave;logicandrhetoricabletocontend.Abeuntstudiainmores.Naythereisnostondorimpedimentinthewit,butmaybewroughtoutbyfitstudies:likeasdiseasesofthebodymayhaveappropriateexercises.Bowlingisgoodforthestoneandreins;shootingforthelungsandbreast;gentlewalkingforthestomach;ridingforthehead;andthelike.Soifaman’switbewandering,lethimstudythemathematics;fordemonstrations,ifhiswitbecalledawayneversolittle,hemustbeginagain.Ifhiswitbenotapttodistinguishorfinddifferences,lethimstudytheschoolmen;fortheyarecyminisectores.Ifhebenotapttobeatovermatters,andtocalluponethingtoproveandillustrateanother,lethimstudythelawyers’cases.Soeverydefectofthemayhaveaspecial(16320.BooksThegoodbooksofthehour,then,--Idonotspeakofthebadones—issimplytheusefulorpleasanttalkofsomepersonwhomyoucannototherwiseconversewith,printedforyou.Veryusefuloften,tellingyouwhatyouneedtoknow;verypleasantoften,asasensiblefriend’spresenttalkwouldbe.Thesebrightaccountsoftravels;good-humouredandwittydiscussionofquestions;livelyorpatheticstory—tellingintheformofnovel;firmfact-telling,bytherealagentsconcernedintheeventsofpassinghistory;--allthesebooksofthehour,multiplyingamongusaseducationbecomesmoregeneral,areapeculiarcharacteristicandpossessionofthepresentage:weoughttobeentirelythankfulforthem,andentirelyashamedofourselvesifwemakenogooduseofthem.Butwemaketheworsepossibleuse,ifweallowthemtousurptheplaceoftruebooks:for,strictlyspeaking,theyarenotbooksatall,butmerelylettersornewspapersingoodprint.Ourfriend’slettermaybedelightful,ornecessary,today:whetherworthkeepingornot,istobe21.BooksThenewspapermaybeentirelyproperatbreakfasttime,butassuredlyitisnotreadingforallday.Sothoughbound21.BooksThenewspapermaybeentirelyproperatbreakfasttime,butassuredlyitisnotreadingforallday.Sothoughboundupinavolume,thelongletterwhichgivesyousopleasantanaccountoftheinns,theroads,andweatherlastyearatsuchaplace,orwhichtellsyouthatamusingstory,orgivesyoutherealcircumstancesofsuchandsuchevents,howevervaluableforoccasionalreference,maynotbe,intherealsenseoftheword,a“book”atall,nor,intherealsense,tobe“read”.Abookisessentiallynotatalkedthing,butawrittenthing;andwritten,notwiththeviewofmerecommunication,butofpermanence.Thebookoftalkisprintedonlybecauseitsauthorcannotspeaktothousandsofpeopleatonce;ifhecould,hewould—thevolumeismeremultiplicationofhisvoice.YoucannottalktoyourfriendinIndia;ifyoucould,youwould;youwriteinstead:thatismereconveyanceofvoice.Butabookiswritten,nottomultiplythemerely,nottocarryitmerely,buttopreserve22.Books(190Theauthorhassomethingtosaywhichheperceivestobetrueanduseful,orhelpfullybeautiful.Sofarasheknows,noonehasyetsaidit;sofarasheknows,nooneelsecansayit.Heisboundtosayit,clearlyandmelodiouslyifhemay;clearly,atallevents.Inthesumofhislifehefindsthistobethething,orgroupofthings,manifesttohim;--thisthepieceoftrueknowledge,orsight,whichhisshareofsunshineandearthhaspermittedhimtoseize.Hewouldfainsetitdownforever;engraveitonrock,ifhecould;saying,“thisisthebestofme;fortherest,Iate,anddrank,andslept,lovedandhated,likeanother;mylifewasasthevapour,andisnot;butthisIsawandknew:this,ifanythingofmine,isworthyourmemory,”Thatishis“writing”;itis,inhissmallhumanway,andwithwhateverdegreeoftrueinspirationisinhim,hisinscription,scripture.Thatisa(18624.TheValueofTime“Time”saystheproverb“ismoney”.Thismeansthateverymomentwellspentmayputsomemoneyintoourpockets.Ifourtimeisusefullyemployed,itwilleitherturnoutsomeusefulandimportantpieceofworkwhichwillfetchitspriceinthemarket,oritwilladdtoourexperienceandincreaseourcapacitiessoastoenableustoearnmoneywhentheproperopportunitycomes.Therecanthusbenodoubtthattimeisconvertibleintomoney.Letthosewhothinknothingofwastingtime,rememberthis;letthemrememberthatanhourmisspentisequivalenttothelossofabank-note;anthatanhourutilizedistantamounttosomuchsilverorgold;andthentheywillprobablythinktwicebeforetheygivetheirconsenttothelossofanypartoftheirtime.Moreover,ourlifeisnothingmorethanourtime.TokilltimeisthereforeaformofWeareshockedwhenwethinkofdeath,andwesparenopains,notrouble,andnoexpensetopreservelife.Butwearetoooftenindifferenttothelossofanhourorofaday,forgettingthatourlifeisthesumtotalofthedaysandofthehourswelive.Adayofanhourwastedisthereforesomuchlifeforfeited.Letusbearthisinmind,andwasteoftimewillappeartousinthelightofcrimeasculpableassuicide(25025.TheValueofTimeThereisathirdconsiderationThereisathirdconsiderationwhichwillalsotendtowarnusagainstlossoftime.Ourlifeisabriefspanmeasuringsomesixtyorseventyyearsinall,butnearlyonehalfofthishastobespentinsleep;someyearshavetobespentoverourmeals;someoverdressingandundressing;someinmakingjourneysonlandandvoyagesbysea;someinmerry-making,eitheronourownaccountorforthesakeofothers;someincelebratingreligiousandsocialfestivities;someinwatchingoverthesick-bedsofournearestanddearestrelatives.Nowifalltheseyearsweretobedeductedfromtheternoverwhichourlifeextendsweshallfindaboutfifteenortwentyyearsatourdisposalforactivework.Whoeverremembersthiscanneverwillinglywasteasinglemomentofhislife.“Itisastonishing”saysLordChesterfield“thatanyonecansquanderawayinabsoluteidlenessonesinglemomentofthatportionoftimewhichisallottedtousinthisworld.Knowtruevalueoftime;snatch,seize,andenjoyeverymomentof(18726.TheValueofTimeAlltimeisprecious;butthetimeofourchildhoodandofouryouthismorepreciousthananyotherportionofourexistence.Forthosearetheperiodswhenalonewecanacquireknowledgeanddevelopourfacultiesandcapacities.Ifweallowthesemorninghoursoflifetoslipawayunutilized,weshallneverbeabletorecouptheloss.Aswegrowolder,ourpowerofacquisitiongetsblunted,sothattheartorsciencewhichisnotacquiredinchildhoodoryouthwillneverbeacquiredatall.Justasmoneylaidoutatinterestdoublesandtreblesitselfintime,sotheprecioushoursofchildhoodandyouth,ifproperlyused,willyieldusincalculableadvantages.“Everymomentyoulose”saysLordChesterfield“issomuchcharacterandadvantagelost;asontheotherhand,everymomentyounowemployusefullyissomuchtimewiselylaidoutatprodigiousinterest.”Aproperemploymentoftimeisofgreatbenefittousfromamoralpointofview.IdlenessisjustlysaidtobetherustofthemindandanidlebrainissaidtobeSatan’sworkshop.Itismostlywhenyoudonotknowwhattodowithyourselfthatyoudosomethingillorwrong.Themindoftheidlerpreysuponitself.AsWatthassaid:InworksoflabourorofskillLetmebebusytoo;ForSatanfindssomemischiefForidlehandsto27.SpelloftheRisingAsthemoonliftedofftheridgeitgatheredfirmnessandauthority.Itscomplexionchangedfromred,toorange,togold,toimpassiveyellow.Itseemedtodrawlightoutofthedarkeningearth,forasitrose,thehillsandvalleysbelowgrewdimmer.Bythetimethemoonstoodclearofthehorizon,fullchestedandroundandthecolorofivory,thevalleyweredeepshadowsinthelandscape.Thedogs,reassuredthatthiswasthefamiliarmoon,stoppedbarking.Thedramatookanhour.Moonriseisslowandserriedwithsubtleties.Towatchit,wemustslipintoanolder,morepatientsenseoftime.Towatchthemoonmoveinexorablyhigheristofindanunusualstillnesswithinourselves.Ourimaginationsbecomeawareofthevastdistancesspace,theimmensityofspace,theimmensityoftheearthandthehugeimprobabilityofourownexistence.Wefeelsmallbutprivileged.Moonlightshowsusnoneoflife’sharderedges.Hillsidesseemsilkenandsilvery,theoceansstillandblueinitslight.Inmoonlightwebecomelesscalculating,moredrawntoourfeelings.(18428.TheEnchantmentofCreeksNearlyeverybodyhasacreekinhispast,aconfidingwaterwaythatroseinthespringofMycreekwoundbetweenGrandfather’sapricotorchardandaneighbor’shillsidepasture.Itbankswereshadedbycottonwoodsandredwoodtreesandathicktangleofblackberriesandwildgrapevines.Onhotsummerdaysthequietwaterflowe