The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-04-26
OUR FIRESIDE.
FAMILY READING
How Boys May Succeed in Life.

\ poor boy inquiries what occupation.
ii is best for him to follow. and how can
he best succeed in life?
he choice Of an occupation depends
partly upon the Individual preference, and
partly upon circumstances. 1t may he
that You are debarrcd from entering upon
that business for which you are hest
adapted. in that case make the best
choice in your power. Apply yourself
faithfully and earnestly to whatever you
undertake, and You cannot well help
achieving Il moderate success. Patient
application sometimes leads to great re-
suits.
You emphasize the fact of YOUR being
poor boy, but this affords no grounds
of Encouragement. Not only many but
most of our successful business and pro-
ftSsinnal men were trained in the hard
school of perjury. Stewart. Vanderbilt
and John Jacob Asinr struggled upward
from youth ofpovcrty. \ well known
member of congress assured the writer
that at the age of nineteen he was a flat
boatinan OH the Mississippi river. The
obscure beginnings of Abraham Lincoln
are familiar to all Americans. Yet more
remarkable was the rise of President An
drew johnson. who did not learn to read
and write till after he was twrnt y-unc.
50 numerous are similar cases that it al
e ,.,;,
hinderance was a positive help. Rich
boys are often spoiled, and their energies
Slapped and undermined by luxurious
habits the too free use OF money. and the
lack of that discipline which comes from
Indulgence.
4 an element of success great stress
must be laid upon incorruptible integrity
which of late years is unfortunately too
rarely found. \ business man once said
to the writer:
can find plentyof smart young men to
work for me. What | want is an honest
clerk. whom | can implicitly trust.
Scarcely day passes IN which some dc-
falcation is not brought to light. Wide
spread misery often results from the lax
principles of some young man placed i'll a
position of trust. Let our correspondent
resolve that he will live on bread and watel
rather than appropriate a benny that IS
not his own. Let him initiate the stern
integrity of John Quincy Adams. Who
would not write a private letter upon
Government paper. but provided separ-
ate stock OF stationary ion such use. \
boy OF man who establishes a reputation
employment.
+ Don't give up all of your time t" hil:;i-
ness, Reserve part. if only an houn
daily. for reading and mental improve
ncnt. If Abbott Lawrence had been ia
miliar only with the details OF his h,lSi-
mes he would never have received the ap-
pointmcnt of Minister to England. Il place
which he filed with credit to himself and
country. Some men prominent i'll bus
ness have found time also for Il wide anG
= varied course of reading which made
:, them agreeable and instructive compan-
ions.
v Once ut dinner party an eminent cler-
gyman made an incorrect historical allu,
sian. and was at once set right by 4 quiet
merchant who sat beside him.
Last of all, remember that you owe q
d debt to humanity. Try to live and Labor
50 that the world may be cher;tnd man,
kind the happier for your having lived. \
great inventor, d great philantliropist,
u leaves a legacy to his race. Who can IS
innate the incalculable debt of the world
to the inventor of printing. of the steam
engine, of the telegraph? Who will deny
that Washington. Franklin or John How
ard. helped to make the world better than
ever they found it? How long will the
memory of Scott. Of Dickens and o.
Thaokeray live in the fun of innocent
to afford for generations to come. All can
not attain their celebrity or emulate THEN
great achievements. hut II" one is so hum,
Bile that he cannot promote IN some de-
gree iiit happiness vi 'lioSt 'tio'tliu HIN
\ good mother, when her son was leay,
ing the home of his childhood and going
out into the great world. knowing that
he was ambitious gave him this partin.
injunction:
My son. remember that though ii is
good thing to be a great man. it is .
great thing to be good man.
No sounder or truer words were even
spoken. i great man may dazzle. but i
good man is Il beacon shining altar. by
whose beneiicent light multitude are
enabled to walk in afety. The best sue
cess is often achieved by the llumhlest
). than a wicked renown