Habit in a child is at first like a spider's web; if neglected it becomes a thread of twine; next, a cord of rope; finally, a cable--then who can break it? There are habits contracted by a bad example, or bad management, before we have judgement to discern their approaches, or because the eye of reason is laid asleep, or has not compass of view sufficient to look around on every quarter.
O, the Tyranny, the despotism of a bad habit! Coleridge, one of the subtlest intellects and finest poets of his time, battled for 20 years before he could emancipate himself from his tyrant, opium. He went into voluntary imprisonment. He hired a man to watch him day and night and keep him by force from tasting the pernicious drug. He formed resolution after resolution. Yet, all the best years of his life, he wasted his substance and his health, neglected his family, and live degraded and accursed because he had not resolution to abstain. He would lay plans to cheat the very man whom he paid to keep the drug from him, bribe the jailer to whom he had voluntarily surrendered himself.
Terrible, is the despotism of a bad habit. The case courage is an extreme one of course. But there are many, whose eyes these lines will meet, who are as truly the slaves of a perverted appetite as he. Their despot may be opium, tobacco, drink, or worse; but they are so completely under the dominion of their master, but nothing short of a moral war of independence, which should task all their own strength, and all they could borrow from others, would suffice to deliver them. J.B.Gough uses the following as a powerful illustration: I remember once riding from Buffalo to Niagara Falls. I said to a gentleman, "What river is that, sir?"
"That," he said, "is Niagara river."
"Well, it is a beautiful stream," said I. "bright and fair and glassy; how far off are the rapids?”
“Only a mile or two,” was the reply.
“Is it possible that only a mile from us we shall find the water in the turbulence which it must show near to the falls?”
“You will find it so, sir.” And so I found it; and the first sight of Niagara I shall never forget. Now, launch your bark on that Niagara River; it is bright, smooth, beautiful and glassy. There is a ripple at the bow; the silver wave you leave behind add to the enjoyment. Down the stream you Glide, oars, sails and helm in proper trim, and you set out on your pleasure excursion. Suddenly someone cries out from the bank.
“Young men, ahoy!”
“What is it?”
“The rapids are below you.”
“Ha! ha! we have heard of the Rapids, but we are not such fools as to get there. If we go too fast, then we shall end up with the helm and steer to the shore, we will set the mast in the socket, hoist the sail, and speed to the land. Then on, boys; don't be alarmed--there is no danger.”
“Young men, ahoy there!”
“What is it?”
“The rapids are below you!”
“Ha! ha! we will laugh and quaff; all things to light us. What care we for the future! No man ever saw it. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof. We will enjoy life while we may; will catch pleasure as it flies. This is enjoyment; time enough to steer out of danger when we are sailing swiftly with the current.”
“Young men, ahoy there!”
“What is it?”
“Beware! Beware! The Rapids are below you!”
Now you see the water foaming all around. See how fast you passed that point! Up with the helm! Now turn! Pull hard! quick! quick! quick! pull for your lives! pull till the Blood starts from the nostrils, and the veins stand like whip-cords upon the brow!--fasten the socket! Hoist the sail! ah! ah! it is too late! Shrieking, cursing, howling, blaspheming, over they go.
Thousands go over the rapids every year, through the power of habit, crying all the while, “When I find out that is injuring me I will give it up!” Few people form habits of wrong-doing deliberately or willfully; they glide into them by degrees and almost unconsciously, and before they are aware of the danger, the habits are confirmed and require resolute and persistent effort to effect a change. “Resist beginning.” was a maxim of the ancients, and should be preserved as a landmark in our day. those who are prodigal or passionate, or indolent, or visionary, soon make a shipwreck of themselves, and drift about the sea of life, the prey of every wind and current, vainly shrieking for help, till at last they drift away into darkness and death.