Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-02-04

CONTRIBUTED BY The wosEs's TEMPERANCE UsrO

iCoSTRiBUrED BY TIE WOVEN : TEMPERANCE I MO y q.
: SUCCESSFUL MAN.
Henry Wilson fought all the enemies
that hold men back from success. He began
by being unlike other boys and young
men, and in that sell-denial lies the very
essence of Christian strength. He con-
quered his own annefifss and passions
and then power Of ashton was an easy
conquest. lie knew that the strength need
ed ior the great work that lay before him
could be gained only by close and careful
study. Social life. pleasing others BY doing
as they did, had the same charm for him
that it has for all young people; but he
said No 1 must have books and study
have little money, and not an hour of
time to spare. must sacrifice this gay life
to my purpose to know something
Some one has regarded it a sOrrowful say
ing OF his, that up to his twenty-frst year
he never had dollar to spend for any
thing" We confess that to Us this seems
like a note Of victory over self, when We re-
member how many books he had gathered
together. and how carefully be had studied
them before that time. May a young man,
OF even moderate means, bas spent IN thea
TT and livery bills, and has smoked, and
chewed. and drank. wasting hali-dozen
times the money Wilson expended IN books.
The sad story l. theirs. not his. tie held
himself to g straight line o! selt-cenial, thus
LAYING the basis of strong character.
Wilson's integrity in public lie, re-
naming poOr when he could so easily have
enriched himself, and when it was quite
the fashion to use tne chance for ones
own financial aGysntage-this integ-
rity makes him a good study for
aspiring young Americans. Mr.. +. b.
Carpenter relates OF him, that the evening
before his inauguration he borrowed oil
Charles Sumner 800. a. he said he hadn't
money enough to be inaugurated on.
The Independent says the IS, 900 which he
left behind, represents the S., 100 which he
had received for literary Labor done for that
paper.
In Washington, corrupt as society IS
from the influence OF the Old World embas-
sies. Wilson always stood forth es an un-
compromising temperance man. lie de
seribes his first great battle and victory
over the Wlne-uE4nAln- udOltS ot tuc Ndpl-
t0l, as occurring one day when ne was din
ming with John Quincy Adams. he says
Eminent men sat around that table
ore of the number has since been Speaker
of the House of Representatives, two have
teen cabinet officers, and two have been
foreign ministers. looked up to Mr
Adams with profound admiration and restT-
ence. During the entertainment, M
Adams asked me t. drink & glass OF vine
with him. was embaTtasset-hesitated a
moment il was the soTest trial OF my life;
but somehow ! succeeded n stammerlng
out. sir, | neuer take WIHs.' That answer
settled the matter for me | have often since
sat at the tables of governors. senators.
and foreign ministers. cabinet officers. gen
erals, admlrals, and presidents. but 1 have
ever found it easy 10 refuse the prUaerti
wine-cup. The real difficulty l. not IA
others. it is in ourselves. Temptations are
ever around and about Us. The only thing
for the temperance man TO do Is t. stand
inhexibly firm in his plighted faith lie
who is ready to live by his Temperance
pledge will win the respect even OF men
who indulge in the excessive use OF intoxi-
eating drinks -