Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-02-04
Getting Along Slowly.

pucn ID bne answer frequently Slfeu W III
quiries respecting the worldly prosperity of
our friends "How are you getting along 2"
"Well, don't know-getting along slowly
This question and the answer may be set
down as among the most familiar phrases,
asked and answered over and over again, just
as unthinkingly and unmeaningly as the salu-
tations given in passing, "Good-day-How
d'ye-do 2"
But, without stopping to quarrel with GUS
tom, we will suppose that the answer ismade,
as in many cases it may be, in all soberncss
and see if we can not draw from it some les
sons of practical utility. "Getting along
slowly" This is generally spoken, whenever
earnestly uttered, in regretful, fault-Anding
tone and yet contains an admission for which
the individual should feel grateful. 1t is
something, yea, it is great thing-it is de-
cidedly meritorious achievement to be get
ting along at all in this busy, crowding, self
ish world of trade, Do you say, reader, that
you are getting along slowly p? Then you
have much to be thankful for. BY getting
along you mean that you are advancing III
your worldly interests, that you are increas-
ing in prosperity, gaining riches: but you
say, sloUly. Very WE'LL "slow and sure
has been the maxim of the wisest and wealth.
lest men.
Getting along. Let the man who feels
that he is "just getting along" look around
him and scan closely the condition and cir.
cumstances of many whom he knows. Here
is Mr. A. and Mr. b., with others, who had
before seemed to him as model business mer
whom he supposed were getting along rap
idly. Now, he penetrates beneath the gilt
tering surface and finds them, instead of be.
ing firmly planted upon the high rounds Of
the ladder of fortune, merely held suspended
by specous promises to pay, and in moment.
airy dread of dropping into ruin. And still
others, whom he had once known as eminent
ly successful merchants he sees already suffer.
ing in the lowest vale of poverty. Let him
90 out from the circle of his own acquain.
lance and look upon thousands in the city
who are trying to get along in the world:
He will see that the large majority of them
arc incessantly wrestling against seeming fate
They try and strive, and contrive and study
struggle hard at one thing, then another; fail
begin again; work early and late; in fact
enter into perfect warfare against body
mind, and life itself in order as they term it
to get along And they can't get along
Fate is against them, friends are against then
fortune is against them, society is against
them, everything is against them, and they
can't get along! These toiling, struggling
unfortunate thousands would feel that new
life had come to them, and rejoice with un
lspeakable, joy if they were afforded the leas
cause for saying, we are getting along sowly
| While contemplating the two extremes, thu
ruin, that is likely to fall upon those whc
make haste to get rich, and the suffering con
dition of those who by misfortune. or iuca
pacity vainly strive for the necessities of lfi
do you not feel reproved for murmuring be
cause Of your slow progress in wealth.
Getting along szoaoly. If you really arr
getting along slowly in worldly prosperit,
and in honorable reputation, then you hav
abundant reason for rejoicing. All great
grand, and most durable things are of sloy
growth. The grand old trees of the forest
require centuries to perfect their majcsti
proportions. The noblest animals are of lon
life and slow Development; and from twenty
five to thirty years are requisite to the matur
growth of man in his physical and mental be
ing. Gradual development is the great lay
of nature, and is applicable to almost every
thing pertaining to human society. Spec
either debilitates or insures danger. Hot
house plants are comparatively puny, fragil
things and he who rides astride the locomc
tive may glory in the speed with which h
passes the poor pedestrian by the waysid'
and at the same time mediate on the chance
of having his name in print among the list
killed and wounded.
7 nv n