A CHECK So many things now began to open upon me, to do and to think of, that I scarcely knew which to begin with.

I used to be told how much wiser it was not to interfere with any thing--to let by-gones be by-gones, and consider my own self only.

But this advice never came home to my case, and it always seemed an unworthy thing even to be listening to it.

And now I saw reason to be glad for thanking people who advised me, and letting them go on to advise themselves.

For if I had listened to Major Hockin, or even Uncle Sam for that part, where must I have been now?
Why, simply knowing no more than as a child I knew, and feeling miserable about it.