And that reminds us that it is well to take stock of ourselves every little while.  Even “hardy perennials” have to be looked after—­the ground kept fertile and watered against the draughts of forgetfulness and neglect.  And so it must be with our mental and physical processes in order that each day of our lives we may go forth with renewed forcefulness—­with every atom of character in full working order.

Having started off on the right foot, we are less likely to have trouble with our higher resolves during the lean and hungry years of our youth when we go plunging headlong toward the goal of our ambitions.  Usually it is not until we come into “Easy Street” that we find that we dropped something somewhere along the line which we must replace at once or we will be laid up for repairs.  But lo and behold!  “Easy Street” is fair to look upon.  It dazzles the eye—­it takes hold of the sensibilities.  Everybody wears “Sunday clothes” on this street and seems to be superlatively happy.  Surely it wouldn’t hurt to linger awhile and see what is going on.  Why, this is the most talked about street in the world!  Some of the people we have dealt with have told us about it.  They said it was the only street for a man of means, for there could be found the very things for which we strive in life.  They told us that the people we would meet represented the higher order of intelligence, brainy, alert, accomplished—­a grand thoroughfare for those who would know life in the fullness thereof.

Now it is a fact that “Easy Street” may be crossed and recrossed in safety every day of our lives if we do not tarry.  Financial competence might permit of it, but competent efficiency demands that we trot along—­keep moving—­get away before we settle down into its ways.  The action we need is not along this brilliant lane.

But suppose we do take a chance just to test the serene confidence which we think is so safely nailed down within us.  The very thought of it makes the “caution bell” tinkle in our ears—­but caution is a species of cowardice, after all, we say—­a man of courage may dare anything once.  And just at the moment we waver who comes along but our old friend Self-indulgence!—­the well dressed, carefree fellow who once told us all about “Easy Street” and invited us to look in on him sometime.  Nothing would please him more than to show us the whole works—­and here he is shaking us by the hand and pulling us along—­for he is an affable fellow and will not take “no” for an answer.

Our struggle is feeble—­a huge chunk of our strength of character falls off into space then and there.  Even at the gilded entrance we try again to beg off—­to slip away—­but Self-indulgence will not hear.  So together we go through the portals leading into a grandeur we had never known—­beyond our experience and power to believe. This is likely to become the turning point in our career.