The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-11-10
Waitlng, for Opportunities

Ffop ne Philadelphia Ledger.
= II iS'one OF the commonest mistakes
Of life, and also one Of the most rad.
lcal sources Of evil, to walt for oppor-
tunitles. Many persons, while admit
ting the pauclty,of their lives, and re-
GREETING that they contribute so little
TO the general stock OF happiness, or TO
their own improvement, attribute 1t to
their lack OF opportunity. They are
looking for some murked event, or some
grand opening, through which they
hope 10 develope what may DO in them,
and thus mako potent character
which now, from lack Of motive, Is
barten and unfrultful. The waste OF
life caused by such mistaken waiting is
incalculable. For the real materials
out OF which our characters are FORM
ing, are the hourly occurrences OF
everyday life. Every claim OF duty,
the employment OF each minute, the
daily VexahonB or troubles we are
called upon to bear, the momentary de-
cisions that must be made. the casual
interview, the contact with sin or sor-
row In their every day dress--all these,
and many others as ANAL and as con-
slant are the real opportunities of life.
These We are continually embracing or
neglectlng, and out OF them we are
iorninRa character that is fast conBol.
dating Into the shape we give It, for
good or for evil. Those who are wait
ing for important events, grand issues
and marked crisis, overlook this great
fact and drift aimlsssly along the cur
rent that seems 10 them so placid as to
require no eRort, but which Is bearing
down with fatal 'swifIness all those
who do not energetically breast its
waves and reBlsLa itS owers.3 ,,,,,tg
The best proofs OF q noble character
lie not 90 much In the manner OF doing
great things or bearing great burdens,
asin the way OF receiving common
events OF every Sday life; Or performing
lta duties bearing Its crosses, and re-
Stating Its temptations. There are not
few who look upon the great contests
OF life with almost longing, who fancy
thai. they could Bufer martyrdom with
hrmnesa, oraeVere an iction with calm
ness; while they yet render themselves
and others wretched by their dIscon-
tent over trifleS, or seltshly refuse to
sacrifice small Interests, while longing
In Imagination for opportunities to sac.
tifice all. The trueSt hefoiBm lsIthat
which !is unseen, unknown. Public
martyrdom, Of every shade, has a GER
tain eolAt and popularity connected
with It, that will often bear men up 10
endure With courage It's trials; but those
who su1er alone, Without sympathy,
for truth Of principle; those who, nm.
noticed by men, maintain their post,
and In obscuritY, and amid discourage:
ment, patiently fulhl their trust, these
are the real heroes Of the age, and the
suffering they be 4t 10 the -truest mar
tyrdom.
There are doubtless Vim the lives Of
all great crises, large opportunities,
marked epoohs. But he who waits for
them will be Ill prepared 70 meet them
when they come. The strength 10 pass
through them nobly and worthily,
must have accumulated little by little,
In the patient and reSolute struggle OF
every day life. BE who falls here, will
surely fall In greater things. II we
neglect our little opportunities, we
9hallS lack the power to embrace the
larger ones. Chances are lying open to
~ every moment OF our lives, We
need not walt for them, they are walt
Ing for US TO embrace them. II we
watch through . single day we shall
doubtless discover hundreds OF oppor.
tunities Of both doing and. receiving
good, that we have perhaps hitherto
passed by in!indifierenceiland by dill
gent asSiduity In seeking for and en-
brace these, we JAhalli be prepared TO
encounter the fercer storms Of life that
may await us, or 70 take advantage lol
The future that may open for our good.