ish is most
apt to mistake for something which it is not. Here, for instance, is a
cork bobber on the surface of the water of a lake, with the line
attached to it, and here, below, is the hook, nicely concealed from
view by the bait in the form of an angle worm. [Draw the lines to
follow the talk, completing Fig. 58.]

[Illustration: Fig. 58]

"It is evident that the fisherman who holds the line is not after the
kind of fish which are to be captured by trolling or casting, for he
is using the method known as still-fishing. And, sure enough, he has
attracted a victim, a blue gill, which is making straight for what he
thinks will mean more life to him but which probably means sure death
unless he succeeds in getting away again. [Draw fish, completing
Fig. 59.] So, the ingenuity of man is kept active in devising means of
capturing game of all kinds.

[Illustration: Fig. 59]

"And are we not like the fish? Haven't you bitten into any baited
hooks during the past year? Haven't you been fooled into thinking
something was good for you when it turned out to be bad? Hasn't some
alluring amusement or pastime brought disappointment or shame when you
thought it would bring delight and satisfaction? Ah, yes. All of us
have been fooled in one way or another, and when we come to this time
of the year and decide to start anew we find that it isn't so easy as
we thought, to get rid of many errors or vices which we would
eliminate from our lives. Perhaps some have fallen victims to habits
which grip us relentlessly, and if so we can doubtless agree with Pope
that

"'Vice is a monster of so frightful mien
As to be hated needs but to be seen:
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face.
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.'

"As Shakespeare says, 'There is no vice so simple, but assumes some
mark of virtue on his outward parts.' There's where the trouble
starts. We're completely fooled. And when we come to purify our lives
by eliminating this thing and that, we are discouraged with the
result, and in many instances we give up in despair.

"How, then, are we to make our resolutions good? How are we to be sure
that the new leaf which we turn over will not be blown back again by
the first wind of passion or discouragement which comes?

"I believe we can do it by making our resolutions positive and not
negative. Let me explain what I mean. We are normal human beings. We
demand activity. There must be