Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-12-21
POVERTY NOT so GREAT A CURSE.


If there is anything in the world that a
young man should to more grateful for
than another, it is Tic poverty which he.
cessi'a'cs his starting in lilo Under very
great disadvantages. Poverty is one of
the best tests of human quality in exist
ence. a triumph over it is like gradua-
ting with honor from West Point. 1t
demonstrates stuff aud stamina. II is
certificate Of worthy labor crcli;aby per
formed. A young man who cannot stand
! this te-t is not good for anything. lie can
never rise above Il drudge or pauper.-
! A young man who canrot feel his will
harden as the yoke Of poverty presses
upon him, and his pluck rise with every
dlliruity that poverty throws in his way,
may AS we'll retire into some corner and
, hide himself. Poverty saves thousand
times more men than it ruins for it ruins
| those who are not particularly worth saving
willie it saves mu!titudcs Of those whom
wealth would have ruined. If any young
man who reads this letter is so unfortunate
as to be rich, give him my pity. I pity
you, my rich young friend, because you
arc in danger. You lack one great stimu-
lus to effort and excellence, which your
poor companion possesses. You will bo
very apt if you have soft spot in your
| head, to think yourself above him, and
! that sort Of thing makes you mean, and
Injuries you. With full pockets and full
stomach, aud good linen and broadcloth
on your back, your heart snd soul pletho-
r;c, in the race of life you will fiud YOUR
self surpassed by the poor boys around
you, before YOU know it.
No, my boy, if you are poor, thank God
and take courage for he intc:ds to give
yoa chance to make something of your
self. Ii you had plenty Of money, ten
chances to one it would spoil you for all
useful purposes. Do you lack education :
Have you been cut short in the textbooks !?
Remember that education, like some other
things, does not consist in tho multitude
of things man possesses. What can
you do ? That is the question that set
ties the business for you. Do you know
your business ? Do you know men and
how 10 deal with thema Has your mind !,
BY any means whatsoever, received that
discipline which gives it action, power and
facility ? II SO, then you are moro man,
and a thousand times better educated than
the fellow who gradutes from the college
with his brains full Of stuff that lie can
not apply to The practical business OF life
stuff, the acquisition Of which has been in
no sense a disciplinary process, SO far as he
is concerned There are very few men
in this world less than thirty years Of age,
and unmarried, who can afford to be rich.
One Of the greatest benefits TO be reaped
from great financial disa, ,ters is tho saving
Of large crop Of young Timothy
Ificomb.
A BAnv's BioGHArMY-An editor
thus does up the biography Of recent &C.
cession TO his household
We have had SO many kind friends ask
ing about lie baby, that wo thought it
necessary to biograph the chap briefly, and
somewhat after the cu,ren, style Of the
day:
dts boy.
Hes buster.
Weighs nine pounds and quarter, and
old women tell lis that he will grow hca.
vicr as his wight increases.
He's The first boy of which we've been
proprietor, and Of course is the only baby
| in town.
The old woman before mentioned de-
clarcs him the very image Of his pa:
'"A faithful copy of his faithful sire,
In face and ges,ure."'
But in justice to the youth, we must say
we think him an improvement on tie
origipal-a word Of progress, you know.
This young American is as old as could
be expected, considering the time lie was
born, and will doubtless be too old for
his father in few years, if he has good
| luck
lie is quito reticent on politics, and only
wants to be let alone.
lie thinks he fayors Mrs. Winslow's poi
icy. ..t
We havn't named him yet; we want
| to give him distinguished engnomen,
but the frame Of our great men is at pre-.
sent.so precarious that we don't ike tho
risk.
tits perhaps unnecessary to say, as all
biogrsphers do Of Distinguished personages,
that tie su ljsct Of this sketch was born at