Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-08-20

oils. Being duly located at colToe.hou.e,
his first stepwas To make tour OF thi. won-
der Of the world, London the second, to
vi.i, some old college friends. who having
selected professions, were laboriou.ly pur.
suing them his last, to SEQ what he could
do fer himself. Tie had a high opinion Of
his own powers, and felt confident that he
could I'LL any position either in law, dNini-
ty, politics, or literature. lie had rccour.,
To the papcrs--eycry young man similarly
situated does tho Slme-and day after day
did he carefully pause those advertising
columns watch are 50 eloquen, an index to
the splendor, business, wants, and miseries,
Of the metropolis. Of the world.
At the end OF month he found nothing
that would have suited him. lie then adj
yertised his own wants, with, at the end Of
a month. no better result. lie began to be
alarmed, and took 10 authorship, that
tempting refuge for the friendess and cmbar.
rasscd, who fancy they have talent. II is
one Of the leading peculiaritic. Of large
class oI the young men Of the present day.
that IL they have received a tolcrabe educa-
tiOn. they rush 10 tho conclusion that they
are ceniuscs. Sonc aspire to the stage
Others to the p-ess-others To the high art
Of writing books. and astonishing the world
with new ideas. a few succeed. but they
are very few, and their success is purchased
by severe priyaiions and the most humillat.
ing notifications. The rest. after faint
struggle, fall back on less ambitious prcten-
slon., and seek livelihood in more humble
and profitable capacities.
Frank Webster. who really had ability.
belonged to ,hi. aspiring class, bat he had
no genius. lie possessed the machinery Of
thought, but not the tact. solid Judgment.
and keenncss Of perception necessary to give
It adequate motive power. lie therefore
wasted his time and abilities by not know.
ing, or earnestly striving to know wha, to
do with them, TO say nothing Of any power
TO keep on doing when he had made the
grand discovery. Ills continuous quorclous
complaint vas, " avn only shadow, use
lcssly travelling round the dial of misior.
tune" However. he did write book, full
Of Greek and Latin, and. in his own opin.
ion, very learned composition. by the
advice OF an acquaiutanee ho forwarded it
To an eminent, Publisher. and in due course
waited upon tha, worthy gentleman.
"Sir," said the latter, your book is a
very good book in i,s way, but il won't
take. The public don't want such books.
They wouli rather know something about
California. or Australia, or Borneo, or even
Kamscha,sa, than ancient Rou,c or Greece.
Good morning, sr."
Three weary months wasted" Frank
sighed, as be throw his manuscript into the
/ fire
/ Bu,yoush is ever hopeful, especially when
i, has few pounds in its pocket. 50 Frank
continued TO writo cheerful letters to Lucy,
and in return received the mos, agrctionate
ones but to her repeated inquiry "whether
he had settled down." hc always returned
an eva'ivc answer.
lis second literary elor. was a novel,
which me, the same fate as his learned com.
position. Then he betook himself 10 le.s
preten,ious sources, and failed in them all.
Occasionally be earned u lew pounds. which
inspired him with hope for u time bat at
the end Of couple Vi years he was almost
penniless. Ia despair Le accepted an offer
TO bc amanueusis to q blind author, but
the latter suddenly dying, in short time,
he was thrown on tho world homeless. tat.
tered and destitute. lie was seen no more
by any Of his metropolitan acquaintances.
So much for tho man who came to Lon.
don without profession or an aim, and not
possessed OF any experience or natural gii,
, Tor his selected calling; for authorship no,
|, only requires a preparatory special training.
I but u large share Of that commodity, which,
i, IL not precisely talent, Is blending OF abil.
iiy with unabashed confidence. But Frank
. WIS only one among thousands who ontor
the metropolis with bright hopes and high
aspirations. with the certainty Of having
them scorched and blighted. Sueces. in any
department OF lIfc requires capacity for it,
aud plant aiaptability to circumstances
as they rise. Genius will force its way any
where, but mediocrity must be trained to
follow some pccular calling, and that alone.
Like the shadow on the -un.dial, IL must
90 is allotted round.
Aud what Of Lucy all this whiIe' The
poor lonely girl had no very ambitious vis-
ions Of tho fu,urc. She was a practical lit
tie body; and instead of saying what she
was to do. or what she would hike TO DO,
she asked herself, What ran | do'" We
commend this wisdom to all young persons.
ID is one Of the secrets Of success in lie.
What can dor" she thought.
can teach children and | can sew-well,
what better can DO than this ?-l eau DO
it, aud will"
i So. smoothing ller.rish auburn hair, aud
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 more. She also took in
plain neetlewOrk. and having diligently