The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-06-30
A True story.

Mr.. CARLYLE is famous for laying great
stress, in everything he writes and in. every
thing he says-whether in speeches, essays,
or 10 private talk-upon the necessity In this
world of resolute endeavor-of downright
honest work. The maxim under which he
has fought has been wise one: whatsoever
tbv hand fndeth to do, do it with. all thy
might" And when we reflect upon what
continuous labor has acbieved-when we see
how it has, more than once, .expunged the
words "failure" and impossible from the
pages of the lexicon-we need no admonltlon
from the wise thinkers of this, or any other
generation, to impress us with the importance
Of honest, downright work. 1t creates all
values 1t attains all eycellences. 1t is the
solid Insurance Company which indemnthes
against loss. So noble is this capacity for
labor esteemed, that great man has even
gone to the extremity of saying that 'labor,
systematically applied, becomes genius" IT
is certainly high and noble development OF
courage; and it is equally as true that it Is
rare virtue, $50 ~ la saias -
These reflections have been excited by q
survey of the field on which our municipal
battle for office has been fought out, The
result has been to disappoint many aspirants
What then? Shall there be llo more work
done unless it be of the official sort ? Corn
bread and spring water can be had, when
CAKES and ale are forbidden; and an honest
determination to do something will, of neces-
,ity. be crowned with ultimate success. 1t is
the continuity of labor that compels success
It is the endurance of the runner that wins
III the race of life, where the prizes, though
they may not be crowns of laurel, or statues
OF bronze, or verses of Piudar, have signif-
cance-a practical meat-and-bread meaning
which no man dare despse. But the disap-
pointed aspirants for Office are not the only
men who are in search of work Only let
none OF us be too fastidious. Let us try,
and the results will often astound us. We
are as ignorant Of our strength as we are of
our weakness. It is only in the, Crucial
exueriment-that we measure either the one
or the other
Few inen will deny the justice of these gen.
eral reflections Work is the very thing that
they are in search of it is in the mode Of the
search that the biunder is made. We sre5all
TOO fastidious. We could drive dray, or
wheel barrow in San Francisco, just as many
man bred to some liberal protest. has
done with composure; but at home we pause
and hold back from occupations at which we
would not shrink among strangers; and yet,
SO false is this pride, which calls itself logical,
that it is precisely where we are known that
the extent and nobility of our efforts must in
spire respect. Now we have had a case
steadily in our mind all the while The story
is very simple, and is worth the telling; nay,
more, it is one at which every thoughtful man
will feel respect for its hero. Our tale is of
an officer, who, failing to obtain pardon, re-
cover property, or obtain any position where
he thought he had claims upon the South for
his sacrifices, trampled all lis visions Of prefer
ment under foot, and determined to go reso-
utely to work. He proceeded as follows:
With one horse and yoke of oxen he went
to the plough handle, on hired land and with
borrowed gear. He secured, at the beginning,
one freedman, who deserted him in a very
short time, and undismayed be toiledlson
through theEspring, his face blistered by the
sun, and his hands blistered by the plough.
Now he is surrounded by comforts of his own
creation. He has crop pitched which does
honor to his skill aud courage. He has
light heart, good stomach, he sleeps, in
peace, and has deservedly now the homage Of
all who knew him.
This is the story Of man who has collect
eel pictures in Florence; unused before that
marvellous head in the Barbarini palace; and
dreamed amid the ruins of the temple of Jup-
ter where GIBBoN listened to the channts of
the friars. +sss
Here is true story with moral; let us,
think it over. ~ aaa