The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-04-26
Goodwill.

deTe is GOlQen saying from inc lips
of A. T. Stewart, a man who in fifty
years amassed more than fifty millions Of
dollars: .'''ie .<'
II consider honesty and truth as great
aids in the gaining Of fortune"
If such man, with such wealth,
should 90 still further, and make good
will to his fellow men the leading motive
of his life, wha- 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 sel6shness and
fraud Now, every, one can do his share
toward making his own little world such
world. I have known a single brave,
manly, generous boy to influence whole
school, so that it became noted for it's
good manners and good morals. have
also seen a vicious boy taint a whole COM
munity of boys with his bad habits, and
set them to robbing orchards and birds
nests, torturing younger children and
dumb animals, using bad language and
tobacco, and doing a hundred other
things which they foolishly mistake for
fun.
Goodwill should begin athome. 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
upp
"Touch that trap ag'in, Tom Orcutt,
and I'll give we somethin' ye can't buy
to the 'pothecary'sw
"Ma! sha'n't Sam stop pullin' my
hair? He's pulled out six great hand
fuls already!'
"He lies! ha'nt touched his hairp'
"Who's been stealin' by but'nuts?'
"Pete shot my arrow into the we'll
and now sha'n't he make me another?"
Then 60 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 a boys disposi-
ton by noticing his treatment of his sis
ters. A mean and cruel boy delights in
tyranizing 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, I know that many of the boys
am talking to have far more goodwill
than they ever show. Their disagreeable
ways are the result of long habit and want
of thought. The spoiled child is pretty
sure to form such ways. He is accus
toned to think only of himself, and to
have others think chiefly of him. That
is the trouble, I suspect, with Orson.-
Will he, when he reads this resolve to
break up the old, bad habit, and cultivate
the better spirit that is in him?
By goodwill I do not mean simply
good-nature. Good-nature may sit still
and grim. But goodwill is active, earn
est, cheering, helpful.
All, my boys, I have told you many
stories-and I have no doubt some Of you
wish had made this a story instead of
talk. But the real motive of all my sto-
ries-the lesson have always wished to
teach in them, but which | am afraid
some of you have overlooked-has been
this which I am trying to impress upon
you now. If I were to write as many
more, the hidden moral lurking in every
one of them would be the same. Or if
were now to take leave of you forever,
and sum up all I have to say to you in
one last word of love and counsel, that
one word should be goodwill So.
Nicholas for April.