Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1879-07-30
Z. n. PErrENGrLL I CO.. 10 state ST
.LEssoN ron Young MEN.

On q cold, clustering day in the
winter Of 1922, the late William
Allen, a pale, lank boy Of sixteen,
who had been half educated in the
local schools, stood in n of the
streets Of Lynchburg, Va. He had
determined to leave the town and to
seek his fortune in the distant, but
then thriving State of Ohio. He
had a half-brother and sister living
at Chillicothe, that State, the only
living relatives in the world. How
the journey was to be accomplished
by that weak boy, who carried all
bis fortune in o little bundle on his
back, was the question that engross-
ed his mind as he stood on the
streets Of Lynchburg that lowering
wintry day. As the sun arose the
next morning it found young Allen,
in company with a young Kentuck-
ian, walking out Of Lynchburg tow
ard the snow-capped and, almost
painless mountains Of Virginia. On
the night Of the second day they
reached the foot Of the dangerous
and dreaded Blue Ridge mountains.
The next morning they began drag
ging themselves through the snow
drifts and over fallen trees, and con-
tinued this tedious journey for nine
hours that day, when the strong
Kentuckian fell exhausted by the
wayside, and was saved by Allen,
who built a fire and kept watch dur
ing the night. For over a week they
climbed over the cliffs and snow
drifts Of the Blue Ridge until they
reached Theases where they separa-
ted, the Kentuckian to go to his
home near by, and Allen to wander
on through four hundred miles of
forest to Chillicothe. The country
through which he travelled was bare
Of human habitation. The roads
were broken and indistinct and at
times entirely blotted out with the
thick coverings of snow. But in the
face Of all the difficulties before him
William Allen was not dismayed.
With that energy which character
lied his after life, and by which
alone success is ever attained, the
brave boy walked on. Dense woods
surrounded him on every side; often
he heard the cry of some wild beast,
but he fearlessly walked on. After
. long and tiresome journey he
reached the Ohio river at Gallipolis;
but the river was full of floating ice,
and, after many ~entreatise, he per-
suaded q negro to row him across, at
the risk of both lives. When on the
Ohio side he FASTENED to a rusty
looking hotel where he got supper;
and while sitting in the dingy office
he formed the acquaintance Of Hon.
Samuel Il. Vinton, then a member
OF congress. The boy looked at him
with mingled feeling ofcuriosity and
awe. Little did he dream that he
would live to serve with him in on
gress or be his rival at the bar of
Ohio. But young Allen resolved to
be somebody from that moment,
and his success in after years is ia
miliar to every student of the polit-
ical history of this nation for more
than . quarter of a century.
The above hasty sketch of one
scene in the life of the late Mr.. Allen
is a lesson for young men of this age
to ponder over. 1t is not the wish
ing to do something, but the doing
that tells the tale. Had Mr.. Allen
been like many Of the present gene
ration Of young men he would never
have vcntured out Of Lynchburg
that cold Wintry morning to wander
over the snow-covcred Blue Ridge
mountains. But no was willing to
dare and venture, work and sweat,
if every blow he dealt would knock
down some barrier in his way tosuc-
cess. His was a disposition to stick
to the n central thought--of sue
ceeding. He chose his field and
cultivated it with an energy that
knew no failure, with a force Of will
that never grew faint on cloudy days
or bowed to the cyclones Of public
opposition.
The way to win in this world is to
set your stakes and move a little
nearer every day. In 1922 William
Allen set out on foot for Chillieothe,
and no matter what the obstacles
were he shortened the distance each
day. Before he was of age he had
chosen his life-work, and after
years Of earnest toll he realized his
fendest hopes. And to succeed all
must do the same. AS a general
rule few of us stumble on to wealth,
reputation or honors; those get who
seek, even though q lifetime be
spent chasing one object.
II young man wants to be a
merchant, q mechanic, a farmer, a
doctor. a LAWYER. n nraachar or a