ell-disciplined mind, of acquired firmness of
character, such a resolution might have effect. The individual will
really devote more time and attention to his pursuits. But, for one
of you to make such a resolution, would do no sort of good. It
would only be a source of trouble and disquiet. You perceive there
is nothing definite,--nothing fixed about it. You have not decided
what amount of additional time or attention to give to your
studies, or, when you will begin, or when you will end. There is no
one time when you will feel that you are breaking your resolution,
because there were no particular times when you were to study more.
You waste one opportunity and another, and then, with a feeling of
discouragement, and self-reproach, conclude to abandon your
resolution. "Oh! it does no good to make resolutions," you say; "I
never shall keep them."

Now, if you would have the business of making resolutions a
pleasant and interesting, instead of a discouraging, disquieting
one, you must proceed in a different manner. Be definite and
distinct in your plan,--decide exactly what you will do, and how
you will do it--when you will begin and when you will end. Instead
of resolving to "rise earlier," resolve to rise at the ringing of
the sunrise bells, or at some other definite time. Resolve to try
this, as an experiment, for one morning, or for one week, or
fortnight. Decide positively, if you decide at all, and then, rise
when the time comes, sleepy or not sleepy. Do not stop to repent of
your resolution, or to consider the wisdom or folly of it, when the
time for acting under it, has once arrived.

In all cases, little and great, make this a principle,--to consider
well before you begin to act, but after you have begun to act,
never stop to consider. Resolve as deliberately as you please; but
be sure to keep your resolution, whether a wise one or an unwise
one, after it is once made. Never allow yourself to re-consider the
question of getting up, after the morning has come, except it be,
for some unforeseen circumstance. Get up for that time, and be more
careful how you make resolutions again.

17. TOPICS. c. The plan of the Topic Exercise, as we called it, is this.
Six or seven topics are given out, information upon which is to be
obtained from any source, an