Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-06-24
DO THE REST yoU CAN.

1t is very usual and very natural thing fol
men-and women TOTO sink down discouraged
when obstacles present themsolVesin the way o!
easy progress through life. The apprentice the
mechanic, the clerk, the merchant and the profess
sional man, will star over what they find to be
either difficult or disagreeable in their rounds of
duties, without once thinking of the wrong they
| do themselves and others, and the ever aecruing
| evil which such habit engenders A constant
sef-watching is needed by all who would ado welI'
in the world, and they cannot get along without
it The apprentice and the clerk injure themselves
more than their employers when they give way to
slothful feelings and become mere eye-seryents: :
while, on the other hand, by constantly keeping in
mind and practising npon the motto, "Do the best
you can, they earn the good will of all around
them and the satisfaction afforded only by an ap-
proving conscience. Then, when time and oppor-
tunity arrives for advancement, they rarely want
helping hand
To do the best you can, young man, is not to
piod on, day by day, performing the allotted round
OF duty uncomplainingly, without once thinking of
better things or of independence for yourself and
for those in whose existence yours is bound up
Neither is it the other hand, to let the thought
ofyour own superior worth and the watchfulness
OF chances" predominant in all you say and do,
SO that it can only be said you do your duty
nothing more. Nor yet is it to think only of your
work as so much task to be rid of as quickly as DOS.
sible, so that you may spend every other moment
in idleness or mere amusement without aim or OBJ
iect beyond passing pleasure.
To ADO the best you can" is, SO far as possible,
to lay down course of life in your own mind to
which you will attain if possible, and then keen
your eye upon it, wherever your are and in what
ever you do. If you are determined to be master
mechanic, let every day of your apprenticeship show
that you have learned some new thing or principle
connected with your trade-no matter how little or
trifng the thing may be. Strive to make the work
which goes through your hands Just such IS you
would be proud of if you turned it out as EMPLOYER
Connect yoursefwith some library, or in other ways
obtain books descriptive of the art or trade in which
you are engaged Lose no opportunity to obtain
information upon every branch and minute detail
OF it. Relaxation you must have of course, but
while you seek and enjoy it see If you cannot adapt
even that to the aim you have chosen Il
Your first steps in such course will be hard
ones; You may feel terribly discouraged, but perse-
we're, and when you cannot do all you would, iaeu
do all you can, and be qontent herewith. But do
not give up the contest Renew it day by day and |
year by year. When You once get fairly started |
the progress you make will encourage you On, sud
difficulties will vanish like mist Soon you will |
gain confidence in your position. superior intel
hgence vii saow itself in your work. and as you |
compare yonrsefwith your fellow-work men-tbose
who work without thought or study--you will dis
cover little by ttle that the secret of real success
in life is perseverance and close appication.--M z |
Sun.