h stand in the way of a young man's success in life, not only
because they are providentially allowed to lie there, but because the
young man himself either carelessly or unwittingly has planted them in
his own path.

Selfishness is one of those obstacles. And by selfishness I do not mean
that gross form of it which secures for the man who gives way to it a
bad name, but those subtle phases of it which may possibly be allied
with much that is good, amiable, and attractive. It is not unfrequently
the consequence of that thoughtlessness which results in evil not less
than does want of heart.

Talking too much about oneself and one's own affairs, and being too
little interested in the affairs of others, is one aspect of the
selfishness to which I refer. Some men, the moment they meet you, begin
to talk energetically about what they have been doing, or thinking, or
about what they are going to do, and if you encourage them they will go
on talking in the same strain, totally forgetting that _you_ may chance
to be interested in other things. Such men, if they begin young, and
are not checked, soon degenerate into "bores," and no bore, however
well-meaning or even religious, ever succeeded in making the best of
life. The cure for this is to be found--as usual--in the Scripture:
"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto
according to thy word." And what says the word? "Look not (only) on
your own things, but upon the things of others."

I have a friend who was the confidant of a large number of his kindred
and of many other people besides. It was said of him that everybody
went to him for sympathy and advice. I can well believe it, for he
never spoke about himself at all that I can remember. He was not
unusually wise or superlatively clever, but he had "a heart at leisure
from itself to soothe and sympathise." The consequence was that, in
spite of a good many faults, he was greatly beloved. And it is certain,
reader, that to gain the affection of your fellow-men is one of the
surest steps in the direction of success in life. To be too much
concerned in conversation about yourself, your affairs and your opinions
will prove to be a mighty obstruction in your way. Perhaps one of the
best methods of fighting against this tendency is to resolve, when
meeting with friends, _never_ to begin with self, but _always_ with
them. But it is hard to crucify self! This mode of procedure, be it
ob