Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-07-06
The True Hero.

| OhaA may iOuIIy uIcdlu VI d udue
and fame above the blight of earthly
breath; but unless he exerts the ne.
cessary energies and puts forth his
whole zeal, to stem the opposing cur
rent, his dreams will be but idle vaga-
ries, and his fame-loving strains, but
empty sounds.
The pages of history, both ancient
and modern, plainly teach US, that the
greatest men the world has ever
known,-those who have stood out
conspicuously in the civil and political
world, were men who won their way
to distinction through struggles stern
and long, and carved their names on
the Temple of Fame" by persistent
effort and mremitting toll.
Life is a field of contest, and he,
who would conquer, must expect to
brave ito POI no and endure it's hord
ships; Demosthenes' action, action ac-
tion, alone, will bring to our anxious
gaze, the hero's crown. 1t must be
personal effort, and selfsacrifce; as
we cannot be transplanted to bliss,
on the pinions Of others, so none can
be truly great, by the struggles of an
other, laurels that can be purchased
with sordid wealth, are but trash, and
make no part of the gems of true glory.
He, who would sport in the honors
won by others, while his OWN arm is
unwearied by exertion,-who would
bask in the sunshine of 'peace, j
bought with the blood of slaughtered
millions, while his own hand has nev-
er held a musket, or his feet wearied
with the toilsome march, is at best
but walking shadow, fit only to grace
the by-paths, and arid deserts Of the
worlds history, and close his life, as
best he must, without leaving a trace,
that once he lived.
The man who would swell the list
Of the true, and the brave, must be
ready, waiting for the great work Of
life. If be would catch the breeze in
fortunes sail, he must place himself
within its reach; but he who sits nod
ding, when propitious fateS pass by
will awaken to find only the receding
footsteps Of their departing blessings
One writer has said, 'heroes are
born not made; thus erecting an i'm
passable barrier in the way Of him
who seeks to make of himself, (by un
ceasing endeavor,) a name among the
great men of the nation.
But the results of the past few years
have fully proved, that the selfmadt
heroes, have borne off the highes
laurels from the field, and made oul
nation, at once the pride and terror
of the world
; Do discouragements obstruct tn,
way? they have their purpose. Doe
povertys CHASTITY form stalk in, anC
} pinch, with its gripping hands? Tha
too can be surmounted; others hav
overcome all these, and greater, even
and what has been done, can be don
l again.
3 The greatest hero, is the man VIII
!, ever seeks the path of right-wh
J, searches for truth, and dares to rails
0 the standard ofliberty and Christian
ty, in the face of peril, and even deatl
i who are willing to pass through th
furnace of want, pain, ,privation, scours
e ing, and any or all the woes of lif
II to bless their fellow men, and crus
S out tyranny, and crime.
e May He who made "man in his ow
IS image" inspire the heart of ever
e American citizen, to make the mo
" of the powers with which he is e
n dowed-to make his "deeds sublime
d. and prove benefactors to their race.