Take the case of the minister. It sometimes happens that for gen- eration after generation the son follows the father's profession, and sometimes there is really hereditary fitness for the work handed down and transmitted, like the ministerial dress, from one to another. This hereditary fitness is more frequent in the ministerial calling than in any other, for the simple reason that the minister is more at home than men of other occupations, and preserv^es the same stereotyped CHOICE OF OCCUPATION. I4I manner and conversation in private that he does in pubhc. He sees more, therefore, of his children, and impresses his habits and senti- ments, his dogmas and feehngs upon them more powerfully, because more constantly and seriously, than is the case with men of secular occupation, who converse with their boys only at long intervals and are separated from them the greater part of the day. The minister's son, therefore, acquiesces without a murmur when his father tells him that he is going to send him to a theological college that he may study for the ministry. Very often he is the more reconciled to a pro- fession which he would not himself have chosen if he had been per- fectly free, by the reflection that his father's and forefathers' names are so honored in the particular denomination that he is sure to get good positions and be made much of by the laity. In outward de- corum, solemnity of manner, the ready use of religious phrases and the like, he is to "the manner born," as it were, so familiar have these qualifications been to him from the nursery. In the Biblical and general knowledge required for the pulpit he can very easily array himself, but when it comes to originality of thought and power of moving others by extemporaneous discourse, the son is often a very poor successor to the father in the pulpit. Of course, if he preaches from manuscript, he may conceal his inefficiency for a time by preach- ing his father's or some other man's sermons. But he is pretty sure to be found out at last and to be estimated at his real figure. And then people will shrug their shoulders and say that he is a very well- meaning young man, but unfortunately is not gifted with the eloquence of his father ; that it is a pity he did not choose some other occupa- tion than that of the ministry ; that his manly form would have looked better in a soldier's uniform than in a preacher's gown ; or that he would have won a great deal more custom by his shallow affability behind a counter in the dry-goods business than stuck up to smirk and simper or show the whites of his eyes in a pulpit. Sometimes the unhappy man who becomes a minister to please his father or gratify the ambition of his doting mother and sisters is himself conscious of his being out of place in the pulpit, and longs 142 THE hearthstone; ok, life at home. to be delivered from a restraint and responsibilities for which he has no calling.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Take the case of the minister. It sometimes happens that for generation after generation the son follows the father's profession, and sometimes there is really hereditary fitness for the work handed down and transmitted, like the ministerial dress, from one to another. This hereditary fitness is more frequent in the ministerial calling than in any other, for the simple reason that the minister is more at home than men of other occupations, and preserves the same stereotyped manner and conversation in private that he does in public. He sees more, therefore, of his children, and impresses his habits and sentiments, his dogmas and feelings upon them more powerfully, because more constantly and seriously, than is the case with men of secular occupation, who converse with their boys only at long intervals and are separated from them the greater part of the day. The minister's son, therefore, acquiesces without a murmur when his father tells him that he is going to send him to a theological college that he may study for the ministry. Very often he is the more reconciled to a profession which he would not himself have chosen if he had been perfectly free, by the reflection that his father's and forefathers' names are so honored in the particular denomination that he is sure to get good positions and be made much of by the laity. In outward decorum, solemnity of manner, the ready use of religious phrases and the like, he is to "the manner born," as it were, so familiar have these qualifications been to him from the nursery. In the Biblical and general knowledge required for the pulpit he can very easily array himself, but when it comes to originality of thought and power of moving others by extemporaneous discourse, the son is often a very poor successor to the father in the pulpit. Of course, if he preaches from manuscript, he may conceal his inefficiency for a time by preaching his father's or some other man's sermons. But he is pretty sure to be found out at last and to be estimated at his real figure. And then people will shrug their shoulders and say that he is a very wellmeaning young man, but unfortunately is not gifted with the eloquence of his father ; that it is a pity he did not choose some other occupation than that of the ministry ; that his manly form would have looked better in a soldier's uniform than in a preacher's gown ; or that he would have won a great deal more custom by his shallow affability behind a counter in the dry-goods business than stuck up to smirk and simper or show the whites of his eyes in a pulpit. Sometimes the unhappy man who becomes a minister to please his father or gratify the ambition of his doting mother and sisters is himself conscious of his being out of place in the pulpit, and longs 142 THE hearthstone; or, life at home. to be delivered from a restraint and responsibilities for which he has no calling.

The hearthstone; or, Life at home