Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-01-11
STEADY f+rroRr.-Great results arc


STEADY TFFoRT.-Great results are
generally accomplished by steady, per-
sistent effort. Success is almost .ccrtain
to follow the labor of him who. in the
morning, enters upon the duties of the
day with definite object in view, and
directs all his energies TO its accomplish
ment, permitting nothing to swerve him
from his purpose, or induce, him to relax
his efforts. That energy that comes by
fits and starts rarely produces any tan
gibe results. Powerful II may be for q
little while, but it soon subsidies and leaves
no tangible good to show that it ever en-
listed. This litiul energy can be compared
to nothing better than an attack of cramD
collie. When fellow is seized with cramp
he writhes and twists and squrms and
throws himself into every conceivable
shape and position, but as soou as the
pain subsidies, tired out by the effort, he
becomes Tranquil and quiet till visited
by another attack. We'll, SD il is with
this spasmodic energy. When fellow
is attacked by it he makes wonderful
fuss, auu you would imagiuc that he was
going to do some mighty thing but in
little while the spell passes OFF aud
is just as quiet and gentle as dead
lamb.
Then these spasmodic spells eff energy
don't work in the same direction. Every
new attack takes II different course. II
the victim could begin again where he
left Off when the attack subsidized he might
get something done: but that he never
does. The reason of this is, these ftful
Efforts are not the offspring of the iudg-
ment, but originate in the emotional feel
! in4s. The attack is sure to follow strong
excitement, and when the excitement
subsidies the spell passes off, and the victim
! is quiet till you fire him up again.
The eloquent orators who, during the
late unpleasantness, were always telling
the people, 1T is glorious to die for ones
country" were remarkably careful to
leave that homer for some more practical
fellow to enjoy. The eloquent divine,
who, in one of his fits of patriotism, cx-
claimed. THE sweetest death is death from
the whistlng bullet" never went where
| he could even hear the zip zip zip of these
sweet messengers that perforated fellow
to let the soul escape; but the more
practical fellow, who wasted no time in
dishiug out such sense, less twaddle, who
said, It's horrible l don't like it, but
the old flag must be respected" barred his
breast to the leaden rain, marched all night
and fought all day, bending all his pow
his one grand aim-the salvation Of the
country, and the supremacy Of the law
did son ethng tangible, something real.
! We knew IL general officer during the
| late war, who was subject to ''spel,s of
morality" as the boys called them. As
soon as the signs Of the times indicated All
approaching fight he would not only get
! terribly scared, but terribly pious, and be-
! gin holding meetings, and convening cOuu-
| ellis to devise means for the "moralizingn
| or his men but just as soon as the fight
was over and the snare was of, he would
get a little drunkcr than most other gentle
man. His Efforts to do good not only fail
| ed in the object intended, but did positive
harm. Had he pursued steady course,
and persistcntly labOred for the moral
welfare Of his command, he would have
most unQuestionaby accomplished much
| good.
| We have heard men shout glory 80 loud
! that the most natural thing in the world
was to look for Il pair of wings to crop out
under their arms, and see them start on an
/ aerial voyage ; but they didn't, and the
next day, when the excitement was OF,
! they were just about as earthly set as
| could handly be found and would no more
! think OF giving ii dollar to save a "Chinee"
Z Alldl III llhlilS Si'GN III lllilbib ~ lhS
moon. The energy they exhibited was
/ born Of feeling, and was as unstable as the
morning. mist. Had it been the out
growth of principle, steady, persistent eff
! fort would mark their actions.
The man who has purpose in life
never goes off in one of these fits. Iu-
! stances, he controls Circumstances, and
moulds them to his purpose. He is not
easily vanqushed indeed, is almost in
viucble and invulnerabG.
The maddening torrent may pour from
| the hillside and dash its force upon the
rock beneath, but when the clouds hold up
their rain the channel becomes dry, aud we
find no impression of the tempest on the
surface of the rock. But that little spring,
! placing away its tiny geyser, almost un-
noticed, sends drop after drop down on
that fiinty surface. ears roll Oh and the
rock silently wears away. 50 il is with
steady effort in any direction. Emotional
action is generally hdstY, and hasty ac-
ton is nearly always unwiso action. The
blows that seem powerful are i'll directed,
and seldom fall twice in the same place,
or are even aimed at the same purpose.
| We like the man who wastes no time i1
telling what he is going to do, but who
goes straight To work in his own quiet,
steady, determined way and does some
teing. All that we have and are We owe
20 these steady, earnest workers.