Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-08-02

And d. t6e peace which passe,h knowledge dn. wcct
As by hor .eepug tcr, .be seeks her welcome rest
-.s.-
The work that Wins.
m .. %. STEWART
A little more than two years ago, | was
talking with an old gentleman about the ad.
vantage of acquiring studious habit in youth.
This gentleman was a teacher once, still takes
a great interest in children, eau tell them in
structiye stories without end, and knows all
about the perplexities Of school day studies.
But having been a hard student all his life
be knows the pleasures and profits Of study
as well.
81 am Of the opinion" said he, that
the ability to stick to a task till it is thor
oughy conquered aud understood, is as yalu-
able as the knowledge itself One never ac-
complishes much if he flies about this way
and that. turns up one road and down anoth.
er, and twists into hundred shapes, in hope
Of finding out an easy way to do what can
only be done by long-continued work.
There are two notices which | used to
keep on the wall before my school God
helps those ,rlo help hemscircs and rolling
stone gathers no moss.
If the boys and girls would think Of
these they would sooner see the result Of
their labor, and learn that the secret Of sue
cess lies in hard work and in keeping the
eyes open. " tell you, said he, dealing
blow to the table for emphasis " it took the
world long time to grow wise enough to
make those two sayings | hope they may
never be forgotten Yes, indeed, again
striking the table," God does help those
who help themselves, and warrant you he
never makes a mistake. Does any body think
lie cares to help a lazy, sleepy ider l
guess not.
Then Strengthening up in his chair, he said :;
I" But | was about to tell you story
/ When | left college, | was poor enough
I assure you, but | had much more energy
then than | have now | came West and
stopped at St Louis, where opened school.
Among my pupils was one, Garvin Christy,
un unusually cheerful and happy boy, Of frank
speech and free, open face. But no one is
without faults, it is said and | believe Gar
wins only fault in school was that he never
studied more than about fifteen minutes on
one lesson, till he grew restless changed off
to something else and, in the course of the
day, tried each lesson so often that he could
not content himself with any Of them. The
result was, that he never made a complete
failure; he never had a first rate lesson. HC
did not know that he was Just escaping the
reputation of being poor student and nc
more.
| feared this habit Of trihing with duty
was fastening itself upon him, and could not
be shaken of if allowed to run longer-for
habits once formed are as hard to break as
iron bands. We must cut them with file
aud often suffer pain before we rid ourselye.
Of them.
=" As | look back upon it now, am sure i
was purely sense Of my duty that led M
to walk homeward with him, one evening afte
school was dismissed, and on the way to tel
/ him as kindly as | could that he was making
, a great mistake, and acquiring ruinous habi
by his ftfu way Of study.
." reminded him Of the truth expressed il
the mottos on the wall; illustrating as wei
as could. how men make their own fortunes
good or bad and explained to him, that
just as the stone which keeps one place for
, long time, at last collects beautiful cover
, ing Of moss so the student who pushes hi
studies with the greatest energy, is the frs
to show the ornament of scholarship But
| poor fellow, he was utterly confused and sur
prised that should think him only mediur
student, t,-for as | have said, it had not oC
, CURED to him that he was falling at all shor
OF success in every lesson,
, When study began the next morning
y Garyin seemed determined to profit by tn
conversation Of the last evening. He start
/ ed out vigorously with his study, but in tn
q course Of an hour his interest tagged, an
! | saw that the remainder of the day was t
/ be spent pretty much in the old way, An
! so it was
- The next day was no better lie change
books every few minutes and nothing was az
complshed. Indeed, almost wished him OIL
of school, that | might be spared the task
|, breaking up his habit of triAing At last
= said pleasantly Study Garyin, study
; study and he took up his book again, bl
4 soon it was laid aside for another
a Again | repeated Study, Garvin, stud
It and remember that the hand of the diligel
e maketh rich. A second time he resumed h
If book, and appeared to study, though SUI
! pose his mind could hardly be said to be
r. the lesson, for he soon closed that one to tai
4 up another. knew the lesson could not
I learned vet. and that il was only his Iooli,
- habit that prompted him to change. soIr
% peated little more sternly than befor
u Study, Garvin, study
Sc lie had never been openlv removed b
fare. and the idea Of being bumiliated in Il
. nresence of the school was too much for hin