is an easy matter to create a strong
will, or strengthen that which we have, to a marvelous extent, yet he
who would do this must first give his _Attention_ firmly and fixedly
to his intent or want, for which purpose it is absolutely necessary
that he shall first _know his own mind regarding what he means to do_,
and therefore meditate upon it, not dreamily, or vaguely, but
earnestly. And this done he must assure himself that he takes a real
interest in the subject, since if such be the case I may declare that
his success is well nigh certain.

And here it may be observed that if beginners, _before_ taking up
any pursuit, would calmly and deliberately consider the virtues of
Attention and Interest, and how to acquire them, or bring them to bear
on the proposed study or work, we should hear much less of those who
had "begun German" without learning it, or who failed in any other
attempt. For there would in very truth be few failures in life if
those who undertake anything first gave to it long and careful
consideration by leading observation into every detail, and, in fact,
becoming familiar with the idea, and not trusting to acquire interest
and perseverance in the future. Nine-tenths of the difficulty and
doubt or ill-at-easeness which beginners experience, giving them the
frightened feeling of "a cat in a strange garret," and which often
inspires them to retreat, is due entirely to not having begun by
training the Attention or awakened an Interest in the subject.

It has often seemed to me that the reason for failure, or the ultimate
failing to attain success, in a vast number of "Faith cures," is
simply because the people who seek them, being generally of a gushing,
imaginative nature, are lacking in deep reflection, application, or
earnest attention. They are quick to take hold, and as quick to let
go. Therefore, they are of all others the least likely to seriously
reflect _beforehand_ on the necessity of preparing the mind to
patience and application. Now it seems a simple thing to say, and it
is therefore all the harder to understand, that before going to work
at anything which will require perseverance and repeated effort we can
facilitate the result amazingly by thinking over and anticipating it,
so that when the weariness comes it will not be as a discouraging
novelty, but as something of course, even as a fisherman accepts his
wet feet, or the mosquitoes. But how this disposition to grow weary of
work or to