The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-10-28
"Stick to Your Bush"

We think this little article a splen-
did one.
Mr.. Morgan was a rich, and also a
good man. Tho people Of tho town
respected him, and sent him to Par
lament, and seldom undertook any
thing without asking his advice. If
a school house had TO be built, the
plan had to be talked over with him.
Widow P asked him what she
should plant in her field. Farmer
S. always got his advice in buy
ing cattle, and Mrs. r. consulted
him about bringing up her boys.
When asked how he was so sue
cessful, Mr.. Morgan said II will tell
you how il was. One day, when l
was lad, party of boys and girls
were going to n distant pasture to
pick whortleberries. l wanted to go
with them, but was fearful that my
father would not let me. When l
told him what was going on. and he
at once gave me permission 10 60 with
them, could hardly contain myself
for joy, ind rushed into the kitchen
and got big basket, and asked my
mother for a luncheon. | had the
basket Oh my arm, and was just a
going out Of the gate, when my faith
er called me back. He took hold of
my hand and said, in very gentle
voices. Joseph, what are you going
for? to pick berries, Or oplay?' TO
pick berries, | replied-'Then, Jo-
seph, want to tell you one thing
1t is this: When you find good
bush, do not leave. 1t to find better
ono. The other boys and girls will
run about picking little hero and u
little there, wasting great deal of
time, and not getting many berries.
Ifyou do as they do, you will come
homo with an empty basket. Ifyou
want berries, stick to your bush.' l
went with the party, and we had a
capital time. But it was just as my
father had said. No sooner had one
found a good bush than he called all
the rest, and then they left their sew
eral places and ran off to the new
found treasure. Not content more
than minute or two in one place,
thoy rambled over the whole pasture,
got very tired, and at night had but
very few berries My fathers words
kept ringing in my ears, and | stuck
to my bush. When l had got done
with one l found another. When
night came had a basket full of nice
berries; more than all the others put
together, and was not half as tired
as they were. | went homo happy.
But when ! entered, l found my faith
or had been taken very i'll. He look
cd ut my basketful Of whortlobcrrcs,
and said: well done; Joseph. Was
it not just as | told YOU? Always
stick to your BUSH Ho died a few
days after, and | had to mako my
way in tho world rs best | could
But my fathers words sunk deep in
to my mind, and never forgot the
experience of tho whortlebcrry par
ty-l stuck to my BUSH Whom |
had a fair place, and was doing tolcr.
ably well, did not leave it, and
spend weeks and months in finding
one little better. When other young
men said come with us and wo will
make tol tune ID a week. l shook
my head and stuck to my bush.'--
Presently my employers offered to
take me into business with them.
stayed with the old house until the
principals died, and thcn had every
thing | wanted. Tho habit of stick
ing to my business lod people to trust
me, and gave me u character. lowe
all have and am to this motto. -
Stick to your bush."