The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-05-06
For the MinnesotiAn.
Perseverance

L
| "What is there worth living for" exclaimi
the pale student. "What is there worth living
for? Here lam toiling away, working night
and day, month in and month out, and what
the better forit! am very slave, combining
myself to musty books, shutting myself out from
the society of every one, taking no recreation
no pleasure like Others,-what do l care for
lifer Why not die at once! have not money
Il cannot go into the world of gaiety and
pleasure. l am poor-there is no rest or hap.
piness for the poor" And with that he ran
his fingers through his long careless locks, and
clasped his hand tightly over his brow, and bit
ter wicked thoughts came through his brain,
of the broad river that rolled before his door,
and how quickly he might end his career The
dampness gathered on the polished forehead
and tears began to steal down his cheek and
drop upon the page before him. Hour after
hour passed by, and still he sat there motion
less. with his hand clenched over his brows and
his head bent upon his breast. The clock struck
three,-roused by the sound, he sprung from his
seat and began pacing the ground hurriedly
his form was no longer bent, but firm and erect
his eye flashed with stern resolve, and bright
triumphant smile passed over his whole fea-
lures, as he exclaimed 80 What is there worth
living for? Why, everything. Have not
youth.-have not industry. and have not ia
lent, which if cultivate as ought will raise
me to wealth and station? Why should COM
plain-why repine that can't apply my mind
that have not time to do SO? Why man ne.
yer did what man can't do, and no man ever
lacked time or opportunity to do thing. and
no obstacle ever hindered one, when he had de-
termined to do it. Only keep steady, only
work, only do my best, and the end is certain.
Always be busy at something-never be idle
continued and untring eXertion can accomplish
anything. The ever-dropping water will wear
away the hardest stone. Never look backward
upon the past, unless the hours have been we'll
spent; never look forward to the future unless
determined to improvcit Make the best of the
present while it lasts. and time, faith and en-
ergy,' these will do the rest. What ifI do miss
few hours sleep? What if do not enjoy the
luXuries and idleness of life,-am not as hap
Ply, as well off? What do the vOtaries of plea
sure gain but the qualification of the present
hour? How much far superior the enjoy ment
l take in reading the grand old books of the
masters, and mingling my thoughts, humble
though they are with the great minds and the
great hearts that have gone before. Cannot
my breast burn with the same fires that Animal
ed the sages and poets of old, and unite in their
sorrows and their joys? Far better this than
vulgar pleasures.-far better to feel that you
are improving the time allotted to you-that
you are becoming wiser and better-that you
are arriving nearer to God, for God is-Wis-
DOM"
The student replaced bis candle upon the
stand, and with kindlng eye resumed his Ia
bors, and the morning sun, as it stole through
the shutters. found him still at his task.
Month after month rolled by, and still with
patience. with energy, with untiring industry,
he studied on. Sometimes indeed, as of old,
dark thoughts would crowd to his mind, of his
youth wasted over the midnight lamp-of his
absence from all social pleasure, from society,"
from the revel and gay gatherings of his fellow
students; but these moments lasted not long
and when they were over, they but added fire
to his zeal. True his sleep was short, and his
form bent and forehead seamed,-the face pale,
and the cheek sunkcn and hectic while the eve
burned with unnatural fire. These symptoms
he needed not. The eXertion of mind deter
mined and resolutc-the principle implanted
within him to suffer and to live-the anticipa-
ton OF the glorious morning that would crown
his efforts, prevailed over poverty, conquered
despair, and infused hope. In the future he
saw fame, and wealth. and station, and honor,
and resolved to win them-frmly pressing the
foot of the ladder, and fixing his gaze upon the
topmost round, he determined to mount up
ward steadily and firmly.
Twenty years, big with change, have rolled
by, and the poor student boy, where he is now
Have poverty and neglect overwhelmed him
Has the rapid stream OF circumstance borne him
downward in its swift current? Has he sunk
into an unknown and unhonored grave! &c
to your crowded Senate chamber and behold
him. There, before the mighty multitude he
stands. in the full pride of his manly beauty
lie has changed somewhat since VIC saw hin
last. His stature is taller and more command
ing, and the forehead more massive and knit
and the face more settled in manly outline, but
there is the same depth of thought in that clear
blue eye-the same wild, unframed genius
He speaks: Rich and varied language, gained
from researches of classic lore fall like fire from
MS lips. Now his voice is heard in playful bad
image; now satirical and whitening with scorr
as he scathes his opponent-now deep and
strong as he lays his arguments of solid reason.
lng,-now passionate, irregular and terrible as
the bolsterOus occan.-and now as gently and
softly musical as the whisper of the mother
over her sleeping babe. The mighty crowd
bend forward anxiously to catch every word
and at his close remain unconscious in the same
position still. Need l saw that be has beer
raised to emincnce and power-that he is
known throughout the wide land for eloquence
and talent?
Lille is what we make it. Every one, whether
born IN the palace or the howell. has his OWL
destlnles to work out, his own triumph to
achieve. To every one knowledge unfolds hel
ample page, and each, who has the desire to ex
eel, and the energy to achieve, may make him
self what he will. This busting American
world ofours is one in which every man may
play his part. knowledge is power, the power
that raises man above his species, the power by
which the man rules the mass, and that power
is within the grasp of all. will not say it can
be gained without labor-it will need lifetime
OF hard, earnest toll. Drawbacks and obstacles
will beset us, and the path will be stony and
hard, but the steady soul can surmount them
all. Despair not despair not. Be not awed or
discouraged by the thought of life of labor
There are mines of wealth in those old volumes
through which you will have to struggle, that
will add pleasure to your labors and make you
wiser and better man. Then brace boldly
up-strain every nerve. Fortium est doloren,
torfifer patti" The well directed and balanced
mind can triumph over all obstacles and con-
quer all difficulties. The world is wide and
VIII afford the most grasping and aspiring in
tellect all it asks. God has placed us upon this
earth and endowed US with qualifications to
make ourselves if we will, useful to one another