The Van Buren press., 1876-09-12
BOYS. WHERE ARE IOU?

iii ~ There are two roads. ven kno.
ote leading up to the summit of true nc
hi'ity, the other leading down throug
marsh and slime to the qnagmires o
shame, degradation and self adherence
Boys, which road have YOU taken an,
how far have You gone ? Where are vol
10 night, and where do you intend to b,
twenty years hence You mean to max,
your mark in the world. do YOU not
You have dreams of wealth and fame wof
hy your untring zeal and industry; You
look forward to the time when YOU viii
be men and do mems work, and some o.
YOU hope to occupy high places in the
land. That's right, boys, dream and
hope ana work. Some of you will be
presidents, secretaries, treasurcrs and
loading business men one day.
What kind ot men are YOU going to
make What KIND of work are you going
to do What will our country be when
You have charge ofit?
lon can not all be presidents, you may
not all become rich and famous, but you
can all be good and great men If you will.
But suppose you are one day called to
occupy position of great responsibility
are you ready for it, boysY
Have you clean hands, clean heart
and clear heal5 Are you putting aside
the filthy habits, pulling up the noxous
weeds, and Topping off the unfaithlul
branches OF your character
You have high aim in life, you are
earnestly working to carve out for your
self great future, but boys, are YOU
ready for the good fortune when you
have earned it {? fou are bound To be a
leader among men you say--hold mo-
ment-are you worthy to be leader?
When you have mounted the ladder of
fame to its very top, will you stand there,
aclose fisted, conservative, one idea man,
or will you carry up there with you a free,
generous heart, and the ability to make
the world better and happier
An ambition which could find its f.u-
ition in merely earthly honors is not
noble one. Seek to occupy high place
boys. that you may do more good when
you have obtained it,
Begin now to scatter little seeds of
kindness all along your way, and by and
hythey will spring up and bear good fruit.
There ls much IN getting right start,
and much i'll holding out. There is scarce.
" ever a boy who starts out with the in
tention of becoming dishonest, untruth-
ful bad man But sometimes a boy makes
mistake. He did not mean to do wrong,
but he was not earnest and thoughtful
he was careless. Then, when the mistake
occurred, somebody scodel and exag
gerated the mistake into sin, which dls-
heartened aud discouraged him
Bat do not give up. boys, because the
road is rough the hill hard 10 climb H.
is worth while to be honest and good.
one thinks SO much more of oneself.
You have many dlscouragements.
You have thorhy paths to tread, howery
roads to allure yon, and mountains of
difficulties to conquer. il you wish for sue.
cess, but remember the promise is given
to him that overcometh, and not to the
one that floats away with the tide.
You must fight II you would win. Do
not think of giving up. BE strong
Wrestle with the waves do not let them
carry you back. lfyou wish for excel
lence, struggle for it, and the struggle
will inspire and invigorate you
botHetiuieS ppSS uuNe 10 Que 10 sym
pathize with them, no one to care wheth-
er they stand or fall Let me tell YOU
something there is hope encouragement
sympathy and love waiting in the future
for every one who does his best to give
sunshine and sympathy to others For
the man who fails there are only tears
and regrets, and sometimes few of them
for the man who wins there is all he him
selfhas won and all his thronging friends
can give him,
If, when you have done your very
best. when you have battled with break
ers, and struggled bravcly in the cur
rent, you are yet overpowered and borne
down, why then--lare to fail, anl upon
the failure build new and surer Founda-
ton.
circumstances are against YOU, do
the very best you can, retaining always
your independence and self respect, and
God will take care Of the rest.--Ice VIZ,
IN Pomeroys Dsmocrat
.