6–12 November 1837

Fuller/ at Providence, explained to me his plans, "That he was to keep the school five years — income so much, outlay so much ; then he should be able to go to Europe," etc., etc. When I repeated all this to Alcott he expressed chagrin and contempt. For Alcott holds the school in so high regard that he would scorn to exchange it for the presidency of the United States. The school is his Europe, and this is a just example of the true rule of Choice of Pur- suit.* You may do nothing to get money which is not worth your doing on its own account. This is the sense of " He that serves at the altar shall live by it." Every vocation is an altar. There must be injury to the constitution from all faults, from all half action, nor will the ing other people's estimate of us" (^Essays, First Series, pp. 147 and 157).

Yesterday William Channing and John S. Dwight came here, and found me just ready to go to Lowell to read the first Lecture of my Course. As they seemed to be bearers of the right Promethean fire, I hated the contretemps. To Lowell also went wife and child.