Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-07-05
Do the Best You Can.

/ 1t is very usual and very natural thing
| for men-and women TOTO sink down dis
couraged when obstacles present themselves
in the way of easy progress through life.-
| The apprentice, the mechanic, the clerk, the
merchant, and the professional man, will slyr
over what they find to be either difficult OIL
disagreeable in their rounds of duties, with
out once thinking the wrong they do them
selves and Others and the ever-accruing evil
which such habit engenders. A constant
self-watching is needed by all who would "do
we'll" in the world, and they cannot get along
without it. The apprentice and the clerk in
jure themselves more than their employers
when they give way to slothful feelings anG
become mere eye-servants while, on the
other hand, by constantly keeping in mind
and practising upon the motto do the best
you can" they earn the good will of all
around them and the satisfaction afforded only
by an approving conscience. Then, when
time and opportunity arrive for advancement,
they rarely want helping hand.
To "Do the best you can" young man, is
not to plod on, day by day, performing the
allotted round fduty plainingly, with
out once thinking of better things or of indie
pendence for yourself and for those in whose
existence yours is bound up. Neither is it,
on the other hand TO let the thought of your
own superior worth, and the watchfulness for
" 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 possible, so that you may
spend every other moment in idleness or
mere amusement without aim or object be-
yond passing pleasure.
To do the best you cam" is, so far as pos
sible, to lay down course of life in you own
mind to which you will obtain if possible,
and then keep your eye upon it, wherever
you are, and in whatever 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 trihing the thing may be. Strive TO
make the work which goes through your
hands Just as you would be proud of if you
mad turned 1t out as employer. Connect your
sell with some library, or in other ways OBJ
tam books descriptive Of the art or trade in
whlch you are engaged. Lose no opportuni-
" 70 OBTAIN information upon every branch
and minute detail of it. Relaxation Won
must nave, OF course, but while you seek and
ENJOY IT. see II you cannot adapt even that to
the aim you have chosen.
Your first steps in such a course will he
nard ones; you may feel terribly discouraged
out persevere, and when you cannot do ali
you would, then do all you can, and be- con-
tent herewith. But do not give up the con-
test Renew it day by day, and year by year
When you once get fairly started, the pro-
gress you make will encourage you on, and
difficulties will vanish like mist Soon You
will gain confidence in your position. A SUI
perior intelligence will show itself in your
work, and as you compare yourself with your
fellow-workmen-those who work without
thought or study-you will discover, little
by little, that the secret of real success in life
is perseverance and close applicstion.-N r..
Sun.