The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-23

success the secret of all true greatness !;
the prompter offeverything admirable
in humanity. Earnestness of purpose
earnestness of effort-how magnificent
it's inspirations, firing the heart, and
nerying the arm of the warrior to des-
perate deeds Of valor! See how sub
timely its teachings are exemplified in
the over-crowded days, the toil-spent
nights of the true statesman, who labors
zealously for the future veal of millions
still unborn! What trims the midnight
lamp OF the pale student, keeps his in
terest unfiagging as he pores over dusty
folios, and rewards him, at length, with
the need Of science, If not q grand,
glowing spirit of earnestness! So, in
every other walk of life, from the highest
to the lowliest. The sire, the son, the
devoted brother, who wishes to toll con-
tinuously, with self-forgetting gene
rosity, to provide necessaries and COM
| forts for loved ones at home. must each
one look to Earnestness for.the courage,
and the might, and theperseverance, re-
quisite to overcome the draw backs which
all must expect to meet, which all must
be prepared to face. aiega lal
A modicum of earnestness is absolute
ly needed by all; but, to have encoun-
tered two or three supremely earnest
characters in mans sojCSirn O. earth,
is sufficient matter for a lifelong graft
tude. Let, therefore, the young be early
urged to cultivate this spirit. Let them
be taught that irresolution has been the
bane Of many whose career seemed to
give promise Of brightest hope. And
since the absence of this one quality can
be adequately replaced by no other, no
matter how excellent, let all mothers
instil the precept SO soon as the infant
Mind is capable of being trained. Play
time, recreation for mind and body,
should have their allotted space in the
lives of all, both old and young. But
business, duty, in word, any serious
occupation should also have the full
energies of the soul, each with due
allowance devoted to its prosecution.
Amusement is to be employed for re-
Taxing the powers of mind or body; but
it should never be suffered to engross
exclusively the faculties of either. The
very word amusement implies as much,
being derived from two terms, the one
signifying from, the other, muse, a turn
ing from the muse, that ia, freedom from
study, care, occupation. 1913 1s.
The cultivation of this spirit OF ear
nestness gives to the female character,
especially, nameless grace, and
power, which for the importance of its
effects, cannot be over-estimated. AL
ready, by her finer instincts, her keener
susceptibilities, woman possesses that
in her nature which magnifies all her
joys and sorrows. She feels more ex-
quisitely both pleasure and pain than
the sterner spirit of man can ever ex-
perience; so that, when to her other
characteristics is added the quality of
earnestness, she becomes, in a manner,
irresistible for good or for eviI.l Let
woman, then, sedulously strive to be-
earnest for all good and holy things.
Let this principle not only point the
purposes of her own life, but let it be
beacon-light, tower of strength for
those she loves. They are exposed to
thousand vexations and hindrances,
thousand dangers from which her de-
pendent condition happily shelters her.