The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1876-09-14
RoYs. RHERE LEE EOU2

ZIG i uG4G art b"0 AOAA'B W. nav W ,
one leading up to the summit ef true
nobility, the other leading down through
marsh and slime to the squagmires OF
shame, degradation and selEabhorence.
Boys, which road have you taken and
how far have you gomez Where are you
tonight, and where do you intend TO be
twenty years hence? You mean to
make your mark in the world, do you
not? You have dreams of wealth and
fame won by your own untiring zeal and
industry; you look forward to the time
when you will be men and do mems
work, and some of you hope to occupy
high places in the land. That's right,
boys; dream and hone and work. Some
of you will be presidents, secretaries,
treasurers and leading business men one
day.
What kind of men are you going to
make What kind OF work will you do?
What will our country be when you
have charge of it:
You 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, bOysH
Have you clean hands. a clean heart
and a clear head? Are you putting
aside the filthy habits, pulling up the
noxious weeds, and looping off the I'M
faithful branches of your character?
You have a high aim in life, you are
earnestly working t. carve out for your
self great future. but boys, are you
ready for the good fortune when you
have earned it? You are bound to be
a leader among men you say-hold mo-
ment-are you worthy to be a leader?
When you have mounted the ladder
Of fame to its very top, will you stand
there, a close-fsted, 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 fru.
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 by they will spring up and bear
good fruit.
There il much 10 getting right start,
and much in holding out. There is
scarcely ever a boy who starts out with
the intention Of becoming a dishonest,
untruthful, bad man. But sometimes a
boy makes a mistake. He did not mean
to do wrong, but he was not earnest and
thoughtful; he was careless. Then,
when the mistake occurred, somebody
scolded, and exaggerated the mistake
into q sin, which disheartened and dis
couraged him.
But do not give up, boys, because the
road is rough, the Hill hard to climb.
1t Is worth while 10 be honest and good,
one thinks 10 much more OF oneself
You nave many disCOuragements.
You have thoFny paths to tread, dowery
roads to allure you, and mountains OF
difficulties to conquer, IL you wish for
success, but remember the promise Ia
given TO him that overcometh, and not
10 the one that floats away with the tide,
You must eight ii you would win
Do not think Of giving up. BE strong
Wrestle with the waves; do not lat
them carry you back. II you wish fol
excellence, struggle for II, and the strug
Gle will inspire and invigorate you.
Sometimes boys have no one to sym
pathiza with them, no one to car,
whether they stand or fall. Let me tel
YOU something; there In hope, enoouT
agement, sympathy and love waiting i
the future for every one who does hI
best 70 give sunshine and sympathy I
others. For the man who fails there NJ
only tears and regrets, and sometime
few Of them tor the man who wiz
there l. All he himself has won, and a
his thronging friends can give him,
If when you have done your vel