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Show V T Three Kinds of People. There are three kinds of people in the world. You may, of course, subdivide them as much as you like, but in one or other of 'these three great classes everybody must be. 'The same person also may be in different classes, at different times, but at any given time he can be in only one of them: The first class is made up of those who think; they are made for their own convenience. In all things it is their own ease or comfort or pleasure or worldly profit that they seek. These are the people peo-ple who really never saw "Xo" to a temptation, who always drift down the current of their natural inclinations. I do not say they commit every kind of evil, for many wrong things lead to personal discomfort and inconvenience; but I say that, when they do resist, their motive is their own self and that alone. The second class is that of those Avho know that they were made for duty, but who try to always make tl-.e path of duty as pleasant, as possible for themselves. Theso are half-an-half Christians,- the former being Christians only in name. For the greater part of their lives most Catholics belong to this second class; they will keep the commandments command-ments and so save their souls, but they want to have these commandments cushioned with softness of pleasure, and murmur if ever they come in contact con-tact with one of them in its native hardness. The third class is that of those who welcome duty under any shape, and instead of trying to smooth their own path try to smooth the path of duty for others. It is wonderful what a difference it makes, this unselfish view. We are so constructed by God that the attempt to procure pleasure for ourselves usually ends in defeating itself, while the, attempt to procure pleasure for others is always crowned with success. Moreover, one who thus thinks for others will find that others are moved to think of .him . in . return, so that without any effort of his own his path of duty becomes delightful an I so without striving for it he gains the end which both the other classes aim at happiness all around him wherever he goes. Let this then be our rule in life to watch the paths f those around us, and, whenever difficulties arise in their ivay, try and remove them, and, instead of pleasure to ourselves, to take for our motto: "Duty for ourselves, pleasure pleas-ure for others." F. C. K. in Irish Monthly. |
