Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-08-07
THE NEXT DUTY.
e. Hollond n Scribner. /

We 40 not clinlb to our rooms IN
the hotel we riA@ We do not
reach the upper stories Of Slew
arts by slow and patient steps; we
are lifted there. The Simplon is
crossed by i railroad, and steam
has usurped The place Of tie Alpen
stock on the RDigi. The climb
which used 10 give us health on
Mount Holy0ke, and a beautiful
prospect, with the reward Of rest,
is now purchased for p cents OF q
stationary engine.
IF our efforts 10 get our bodies
into the air were not complement
ed By our efforts 10 get our lives up
ia the same way, we might not
find much fault with them; but in
truth, the tendency everywhere II
TO get up in the world without
climbing. Warnings after the In
finite arc ia the fashion. Aspira-
lions for eminence even anlbi-
tions for usefulness are aitogeih-
er in advance Of the Willingness
for the necessary preliminary dis
cipline and work. The amount Of
vaporing among you g men and
young women, who desire to do
something which somebody else Is
doing something far in advance
of their present powers is fearful
and most lamentable. They are
not willing 10 climb the stairway;
they must 20 up ia an elevator
They are not willing to scale the
cocks in a walk Of weary hours, UNI
der Il bruilipg suii; they would 90
up in a ear with an umbrella over
their heads. They are unable, or
unwilling, to recognize the fact
that, in order TO do that very beau
tiful thing " ieh some other man
is sl,glug, they must go slowly thro'
the patient work, which have
made him what he is, and fitted
him for his sphere Of life and la
Dor. IN short, they are not willing
to do their next duty, and take
what comes of it.
No mar now standing on an en-
inence of influence and power, and
doing great work, has arrived at
his position by going up in an ele-
vator. He took the stairway step
by step. He climbed the rocks,
often with bleeding hands. He
prepared himself by the work Of
climbing for the work he is doing.
He never accomplished an inch of
his elevation by standing at the
foot of the stairs with his mouth
open and longing.
There is no "royal road" TO
anything good. not even to wealth.
Money that has not been paid for
in life is not wealth. 1t goes as it
comes. There is no element of
permanence in it, The man who
reaches his money in an elevator
does not know how to enjoy it I; so
it is not wealth 10 him. To get a
high position without climbing to
1t, to win wealth without earning
it, to do fine work without the
discipline nee -ssary to its perform
ance, to be famous or useful or
ornamental without preliminary
cost, seems to be the universal de-
sire OF the young. The children
would begin where the fathers
leave off.
What exactly is the secret Of
true success in life? 1t is to do,
without f1inching, and with utter
faithfulness, the duty that stands
next to one When q man has
mastered the duties around him,
he is ready for those of higher
grade, and he takes naturally one
step upward. When he has mas
tered the duties of the new grade,
he goes on climbing. There are no
surpri. es to the man who arrives
at eminence legitimately. 1t is
entirely natural that he shonld be
there, and he is as much at home
there, and as little elated, as when
he was working patiently at the
foot of the stairs. There are heights
above him, and he remains hum
BILE and simple.
Parchments are of little avail,
perhaps but when one comes into
contact with so many men and
women who put aspiration in the
place of perspiration, and yearn-
ing for earning, and longing for
labor, he is tempted to say to
them: "Stop looking up, and
sook around you! DO the work
that first comes to your hands, and
do it we'll. Take no upward step
until you come to it naturally, and
have won the power to hold IT..
The top, in this little world, is not
so very high, and patient climb
inc will bring YOU to it ere YOU