The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1867-03-21
For the New Era.
LEISURE PENCILINGS.
BY BRAINERD.

Happening to so into a blacksmith
khop a few days since I found the
modern Vulcan, making the red-hot
sparks fall in a glowing fiery shower
hbout him. He was busily engaged in
making horseshoe nails. This may
seem a trivial and an easy work, but
many persons who have attempted it
have found out their great mistake
Merry few persons, even among the
muscular knights of the anvil and bell
lows. the smith Informed me, are able
10 make good, well-proportioneu frost
nail. Its manufacture requires correct
bye and skillful hand. The peculiar
&Iirecton of the blow, its weight and the
Exact point of destination necessary to
broduce the proper shape are to be at
&aines. only by long and careful practice.
Gf there are sermons in stones (and
Brief exhortation, at least, in even so
Simplea thing as the apparently humble,
Int really indispensable, under-foot-
Erodden horseshoe nail. There is ever
4 vast difference between theory and
bractiee. It is an easy matter to spin
heories, but to execute them is an en-
|&irely different affair. " Castles in the
If" are very attractive and beautiful,
but before the winds and storms Of real
Hife not seldom go down in ruins. Should
his fatt deter us from spinning the one
Ind building the other? Certainly not,
Unless we are satisfied with the mere
|spinning and building. Doubtless, many
Invaluable inventions, much advance
! rent in the arts and sciences have been
Host to the world because the men who
conceived the idea have shrunk from
.he touch-stone of experiment. The
Ecrucible destroys the alloy, but reveals
Ind proves the genuine gold; so the
lest of trial only separates the useful
lnd practicable from the fantastical and
Missionary. Better the destruction of a
hundred false theories than the failure
% elicit single true and beneficial
fbrinciple. Things simplest in appear
nce are frequently most difficult in
Performance. The looping of a curtain
5 often more troublesome than the
weeping of a room-the rhythm OF a
( kne than the composition of an essay.
Excellence in any department. of life
depends upon application, energy, and
png continued practice. Skill springs
rom habit. "Practice makes perfect;"
IND while the greatest amount of "prac-
ice" will not makeall persons "perfect,"
wen in their particular calling, owing
Generally to natural inaptitude therefor,
4 is certain that perfection in none is
attained without it. The experience of
{ he artist, sculptor, and orator, are all
! [ttestations of this truth. In the mental
nd moral world it holds good as we'll
in the physical. We can best do, as a
General rule, that to which we have
een most accustomed. Patient perse-
s erance will always be rewarded. The
lowing heights Of fame and wealth are
eldom scaled with a single leap, but are
Generally assembled by slow and regular
teps. Eminence in any profession or
pursuit demands close and constant at
ention. Life is usually too short to
permit the attainment of aught above
Ehedioerity in more than one vocation.
Step by step. the ladder to enviable
Il prominence is climbed, and when at
4 ength the wooing summit Is gained
E&alas, to multitudes before, the day OF
mental life terminates. Mile By mile
Ethe longest journey is completed -iett~l
|py letter thealphabetisle learned. One type
bt time seems slowand tedious work
put the full printed page at length re-
=Feals thecompositor's labor, and rewards
his perseverance,. "Despise not the day
bf small things" carefully choose your
ife's business, youthful reader, but the
fhoice once made, stick to it-patiently
Rnd perseveringly prosecute it, and the
result, if not all you could wish, will be
Rn ample and gratifying success.
The closing session at "White Hall
6eminary' under the tuition of Miss
Corrie McKown terminated yesterday
fternoon, amid feast of good things
Which will doubtless be long remember
ID by the merry children who partici
pated therein. The fair teacher. We
pope, will permit us to jingle line and
fhyme:
Teacher, rest the term is ended,
ii Thy pupils take a saddened leave,
And crystal draughts of knowledge pure
From thy kind hand cease to receive.
Teacher, rest It's noble work
49, True erudition's pearls to bind,
through changing days of sun and shade
Ell Upon fair childhood's opening mind.
Teacher rest; earth crown 5 may crumble
Empires and Kingdoms pass away.
But purple fruits of wisdom stored
Within the mind can ne err decay.
Teacher rest; til memory dies.
NV And is 'mong natures ruins tost,
me rich result of faithful toll
Ill Performed by thee can ne CT be lost.