At various periods of his youthful career nearly every boy has an ambition to be an Indian fighter, or a pirate, or a locomotive engineer, or a fireman and save people from burning buildings at the risk of his own life, or to be a hunter of ferocious wild animals.  Grenfell had dreamed of a romantic and adventurous career.  Now he realized that these ambitions must give place to a sedate profession that would earn him a living and in which he would be contented.

All of his people had been literary workers, educators, clergymen, or officers in the army or navy.  There was Charles Kingsley and “Westward Ho.”  There was Sir Richard Grenvil, immortalized by Tennyson in “The Revenge.”  There was his own dear grandfather who was a master at Rugby under the great Arnold, whom everybody knows through “Tom Brown at Rugby.”

It was the wish of some of his friends and family that he become a clergyman.  This did not in the least suit his tastes, and he immediately decided that whatever profession he might choose, it would not be the ministry.  The ministry was distasteful to him as a profession, and he had no desire or intention to follow in the footsteps of his ancestors.  He wished to be original, and to blaze a new trail for himself.

Grenfell was exceedingly fond of the family physician, and one day he went to him to discuss his problem.  This physician had a large practice.  He kept several horses to take him about the country visiting his patients, and in his daily rounds he traveled many miles.  This was appealing to one who had lived so much out of doors as Grenfell had.  As a doctor he, too, could drive about the country visiting patients.  He could enjoy the sunshine and feel the drive of rain and wind in his face.  He rebelled at the thought of engaging in any profession that would rob him of the open sky.  But he also demanded that the profession he should choose should be one of creative work.  This would be necessary if his life were to be happy and successful.

Observing the old doctor jogging along the country roads visiting his far-scattered patients, it occurred to Grenfell that here was not only a pleasant but a useful profession.  With his knowledge of medicine the doctor assisted nature in restoring people to health.  Man must have a well body if he would be happy and useful.  Without a well body man’s hands would be idle and his brain dull.  Only healthy men could invent and build and administer.  It was the doctor’s job to keep them fit.  Here then was creative work of the highest kind!  The thought thrilled him!

Every boy of the right sort yearns to be of the greatest possible use in the world.  Unselfishness is a natural instinct.  Boys are not born selfish.  They grow selfish because of association or training, and because they see others about them practicing selfishness.  Grenfell’s whole training had been toward unselfishness and usefulness.  Here was a life calling that promised both unselfish and useful service and at the same time would gratify his desire to be a great deal out of doors, and he decided at once that he would study medicine and be a doctor.