Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-11-18
He padded his own Canoe" )"

well, he paddled his own canoe 2 said
gentleman to US the other day, while speak
ing of a mutual friend
Yes We answered, 'and he has padded
il well, too
The gentleman spoken OF we remember
years ago, when we were little hoy. He
was commencing business, and we were
thinking what we should follow for our own,
tor we had the blessing of iuheriIing IN en-
tire independence of wealth and went to
work in our thirteenth year. The Young
man had just launched his c1noe on the
tide of business. 1t was frail one, and
launched upon an eddy at that. But he pad
died with strong arm and stout heart,
headed always up the stream. Pull away !!
sounded in his ears, and the echoes from the
irownlng rocks came back upon him. pull
away! until the eddy was escaped and the
rocks were behind him.
tie went from The city. A few years after
he returned OH visit, and gave a noble
story OF his success. He had ESCAPED the
eddy. aud the rocks were behind, b,it he had
nothing but his canoe when he wen, from
! New York. lie had sailed in il down the
| OHIO. and in western city had made his
home. He had padded ever since and was
now on broad stream, with the current in
his favor, and such paddle Never a red
skin could show a broader or stronger one,
and as 10 that arm and will the exercise had
made them stronger than before.
For some years we lost sight of him
But not long since we run right across his
track as he was passing along the street one
morning, and we shouted ship ahoy = and
he cast anchor, and spoke US. He had
been padding ever since we saw him last,
and was now in The open sea, with stiff
breeze, all sails set, and with valuable car.
go OF specie on board. He was Just fetching
up al the desired haven, and quite recently
has dropped his anchor, and finds himself at
| home.
| He has padded his canoe well. He has
now an ample fortune, and an unbemished
character. He started with the maxim that
he must do right, and pull away In the
modesty of an unassiimins diffidence, but
with the courage aud boldness OF a man who
knows he is right. he pushed along, and his
whole career has been a series of triumphs
lie was elected mayor of western city 10y
the unanimous vote of The people, although
there were two other candidates in the field
and has won for himself everywhere the sin
cere admiration and respect Of all his assu
ciares.
Young man you must paddle your owl
canoe! 1t is, on the whole. better that yot
should. See that young man who gets int
canoe, housht with the money of his pa
rents or his friends. When the gny vesse
is launched, he must have il pad,lled b,
hired hands, while he Tolls back and perhap
sees nothing but an unsubsGanlial shadow q
himself IN the smooth waters. By and b,
the canoe, through his careless and pre-
sumptuous steering, is dashed among til,
rapids, and he goes down. Should he com,
up again, he finds that lie is abandoned b,
all, ard that he has made wreck, where BIZ
might have made fortune.
Young man or woman! Paddle your owl
canoe! Paddle your own canoe! Even
you are favored with parents or friends wht
can give you one, he sure to earn it by the
worlhiness of your lives. In high purposes
in noble resolves, in generous deeds, in pu
rity, and virtuous endurance, and blameles
conversation, lei your endenvors TO paddle
your own canoe he seen by all. Pull away
If the paddle breaks while striving agans
the rapids, have another ready. If you have
but one, pull with the stump OF the old one
Don't relax one effort. One stroke lost and
it may be The fatal one Pull away! your
canoe, if you have built it, like your friend
the right material in your character, will
hold out as long as yourself will. Pull away!
And before long you may find yourself in as
fair haven as the man that padded his
own canoe.'-N Y. Reformer.