The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-04-21
GOODWILL.

suppose you all, my boys, are look.
ing for some sort of success in life; it is
right that you should; but what are your
notions of success? To get rich as soon
as possible, without regard to the means
by which your wealth is acquired? There
is no true success in that; when you have
gained millions, you may yet be poorer
than when you had nothing; and it is that
same reckless ambition which has
brought many bright and capable boy
like you, not to great estate at last, but
to miserable failure and disagreement to
a palace, but to a prison. Wealth,
rightly got and rightly used, rational
enjoyment, power, fame-these are all
worthy objects of ambition, but they are
not the highest objects, and you may ac-
quire them all without achieving true
success. But if, whatever you seek,
you put gOOd-DiU into all your actions,
you are sure of the best success at last;
for whatever else you gain or miss, you
are building up noble and beautiful
character, which is not only the best of
possessions in this world, but also is
about all you can expect to take with
you into the next.
l say, goodwill in all your actions.
You are not simply to be kind and help.
full to others; but, whatever you do, give
honest. earnest purpose to it. Thomas
is put by his parents to learn business.
But Thomas does not like to apply him
self very closely.
"And what's the use?" he says. Pm
not paid much, and Pm not going to
work much. I'll get along just as easy
as | can, and have as good times as /
can"
SO he shirks his tasks, and instead of
thinking about his employers interests,
or his own self-lmprovement, gives his
mind to trifles-often to evil things,
which in their ruinous effects upon his
life are not trifes. As soon as he is free
from his daily duties, he is off with his
companions having what they call a
good time; his heart is with them
even while his hands are employed
in the shop or store. He does nothing
thoroughly well-nOt at all for want of
talent, but solely for lack of good will.
He Is not preparing himself to be one
of those efficient clerks or workmen who
are always in demand, and who receive
the highest wages. There is very diff
ferent class of people, who are the pest
OF every community, workmen who do
not know their trade, men of business ig.
norant of the first principles of business.
They can never be relied upon to do well
any job they undertake. They are al
ways making blunders which other peo-
pie have to suffer for, and which react
upon themselves. They are always get
ting out of employment, and failing in
business. Tomake up for what they lack
in knowledge and thoroughness, they
often resort to trick and fraud, and
become not merely contemplate, but
criminal. Thomas is preparing himself
to be one of this class. You cannot, my
dear boy, expect to raise good crop
from evil seed.
By Thomas side works another boy,
whom we will call James. A lad of only
ordinary capacity, very likely. If Thomas
and all the other boys did their best,
there would be but small chance for
James ever to become eminent. But he
has something better than talent; he
brings good will to his work. Whatever
he learns, he learns so well that it be-
comes part of himself. His employers
find that they can depend upon him.
Customers soon learn to like and trust
him. BY diligence, self culture, good
habits, cheerful and kindly conduct, he
is laying the foundation of a generous
manhood and Of genuine success.
In short, my dear boy, by sighting
your tasks, you hurt yourself more than
you wrong your employer. BY honest
service you benefit yourself more than
you help him. If you were aiming