Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-04-07
Goodwill.

Here is a golden saying from the lips
of A. L. Stewart, a man who in fifty
years amassed moro than fifty millions Of
dollars
81 consider honesty and truth as great
aids in the gaining of fortune"
If such a man, with such wealth,
should go still further, and make good
will to his fellow men the leading motive
of his life, what power he might be-
come, and what halo of glory would
crown his name
All, my boys, what a world it would
be, if this spirit prevailed in tiff on
every side we met those ready to help
and cheer, instead of being compelled
always to be on our guard against self
ishness and fraud Now, every one can
do his share toward making his own
little world such world. Ihave known
a single brave, manly, generous boy to
influence a whole school, so that it be-
came noted for its good manners and
good morals. / have also seen a vicious
boy taint a whole community of boys
with his bad habits, and set them to
robbing orchards and birds nests, tor
turing younger children and dumb ami
mails, using bad language and tobacco,
and doing hundred other things which
they foolishly mistake for fun.
Goodwill should begin at home. How
quickly you can tell what sort of spirit
reigns among the boys or in the families
you visit In some houses there is con-
stant warfare at any time of day, you
hear loud voices and angry disputes.
"You snatched my apple and eat it
up"
"Touch that trap ag'in, Tom Orcutt,
and I'll give ye somethin' ye can't buy
to the 'pothecary's p
"Ma sha'n't Sam stop pullin' my
hair? He's pulled out six great hand
fuls already /"
"He lies / ha'nt touched his hair p
"Who's been stealin' my but'nuts p
"Petc shot my arrow into the we'll
and now sha'n't he make me another?"
Then go into house where you find
peace instead of war, innocent and happy
sports instead of rude, practical jokes
and, oh, what difference
You may always tell boys disposition
by noticing his treatment of his sisters.
A mean and cruel boy delights in tyran-
nizing over smaller children but in the
presence of stronger boys, he can be
civil, and even cringing. A cowardly
fellow like that is pretty sure to exercise
his ill-nature upon the girls at home.
Now, know that many of the boys
am talking to have far more goodwill
than they ever show. Their disagreeablt
ways are the result of long habit anC
want Of thought. The spoiled child il
pretty sure to form such ways. He il
accustomed to think only of himself, ant
to have others think chiefly of him. Tha
is the trouble, L suspect, with Orson
Will he, when he reads this, resolve tt
break up the old, bad habit, and cult
vate the better spirit that is in him?
By goodwill [ do not mean simpl,
good-nature. Good-nature may sit still
and grin. But goodwill is active, earn
est, cheering, helpful.
All, my boys, 7 have told you man,
stories-and L have no doubt some 0
you wish [ had made this story insteaC
of talk. But the real motive of all m,
stories-the lesson have always wisheC
to teach in them, but which am afrait
some of you have overlooked-has beer
this which I am trying to impress upol
you now. If 1 were to write as man,
more, the hidden moral lurking in even,
one Of them would be the same. Or if
were now to take leave of you forever
and sum up all have to say to you il
one last word of love and counsel, tina
one word should be-good will.
Nicholas for April.