The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-12-21

the papers-evary young man similarly sit
uated does the same-and day after day
did he carefully pursue the advertising COL
uronA which arc 90 eloquent an index to
the splendor, business wants and miseries
OF the world.
At the end Of month he found moth
ing that would have suited him. He then
advertised his own wants, with, at the end
of month, no better result. He began
to be alarmed, and took to authorship,
that tempting refuge for the friendless and
embarrassed, who fancy they have talent.
II is one Of the leading peculiarities of a
large class of the young men of the pres
ent day, that If they have received tol.
cradle education, they rush to tho conclu-
sion that they are geniuses. Some aspire
to the stage-others TO the press-others
to the high art of writing books, and as
tonishing the world with new IDEAS A
few succeed, but they are few, and their
success is purchased by severe privations
and the most humiliating notifications.
They rest after faint struggle, fall back,
on less ambitious pretensions, and seek
livelihood in more humble and profitable
capacities.
Frank Webster, who really had ability,
belonged to this aspiring class; but he had
no genius. He possessed the machinery
Of thought, but not the tact, solid judg-
ment, and keen perception necessary to
give it adequate motive power. He there
fore wasted his time and abilities by not
knowing, or earnestly striving to know
what to do with them, to say nothing of
any power to keep On doing when he had
made the grand discovery. His continu-
Gus querrulous complaint was, i am only
shadow uselessly travelling round tho
dial of MISFORTUNE However, he did write
a book, fufi Of Greek and Latin, and, in
his own opinion, a very learned compost
ton. BY the advice of an acquaintance,
he forwarded il to an eminent publisher,
and in due course waited upon that worthy
gentleman.
Sir said the latter, your book is very
good book in its own way, but il wont
take. The public don't want such books.
They would rather know something about
California, or Australia, or Borneo, even
Kamsckatka, than ancient Rome or Greece.
Good morning, SIR
Three weary months wasted Frank
sighed, as he threw his manuscripts into
the fire.
But youth ia ever hopeful, especially
when it has few pounds in its pocket
So Frank continued to write cheerful let
ters to Lucy, and in return received the
most affectionate ones; but to her repeat
ed inquiry, whether he had settled down.
he always returned an evasive answer.
His second literary effort was a novel,
which met the same fate az his learned
composition. Then he betook himself to
less protentious sources, and failed in them
Which nspsd Em he sf66 6opd S D0sands
but at the end Of couple Of years he was
almost penniless. In despair bo accepted
an offer to be An arnanuensis to blind
author, but the latter suddenly dying, in
a short time he was thrown on the world
homeless, tattered and destitute. He was
seen no more by his metropolitan acquain-
tances.
So much for the man who came to Lon.
uOu WI'HOut d pfOlcrsiOu VI alIii, duu
not possessed Of any experience or natural
gift for his selected calling, for authorship
not only requires preparatory special train
ing, but large share of that comodity,
which, if not precisely talent, is blend
ing Of ability with unabashed confidence.
But Frank was only one among thousands
who enter tho metropolis with bright aspi-
rations, with the certainty Of having them
scorched and blighted. Success in any de-
partment Of life requires capacity for it,
and a plant adaptability to circumstances
as they rise. Genius will force its way
anywhere, but mediocrity must be trained
to follow some peculiar calling, and that
alone, Like the shadow on the sun dial,
it must 90 it's allotted round.
And what of Lucy all this while! The
poor girl had no ambitious visions Of tho
future. She was practical little body,
and instead Of saying what she was to do,
or what she should like to do. she asked
herself, what can / dop We commend
this wisdom to all young persons. 1t is
one of the secrets Of success in life.
'What can / do?' she thought. Il can
teach children and can sew-wcll, what
better can do than this Al can do it,
and l will
So, smoothing her rich auburn hair, and
arraying herself in her neatest attire, she
waited upon the rector's wife, and to her
joy was promised every assistance. Tho
good lady went round among the villagers,
and in less than month Lucy had twenty
chubby faced little children for scholars
and the promise of moro. She also took
in plain needle work, and having dilligent-
ly studied the higher branches Of the art,
soon began to have orders from ladies in
the neighborhood, who admired her for
her industry and propriety Of conduct. In
the course of year business increased, and
at the end Of two years moro was so -four
ishing that she was obliged to have assis-
tance, and transfer her school to young
woman, who, like herself, had been left
to make her own way in the world.
allow rich I am getting" sho inncently
exclaimed one summer evening. What
nice surprise for Frank! l wonder he
don't write. I hopo he is not i'll; but he
would have been sure TO let me know if hc
was. Perhaps he is so busy that hc has
not time 70 write to me. I will send him |