Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-03-19
A Boys Way to Success.


Every boy wishes to be successful;
and he thinks if he only could find
sure road to success in any undertake
ing, he would not hesitate to enter it.
1t is the fear of failure at the last that
keeps many from pushing on.
| There are three qualities that will
| insure success in any walk in life,
namely, ability, integrity and industry;
and though, at first sight, it may seem
as if the first of these must be a gift
and cannot be cultivated, you will find
it is fact that every boy has ability,
if he only finds out in which line of
study or action it lies.
Ability is the power of doing a thing
well. A boy should learn early that he
cannot have ability in everything; that
| is, few boys have great deal of gen
eral ability. The first rule should be
that "whatever is worth doing at all is
worth doing WE'LL" A boy who does
his best in whatever he undertakes will
soon find in what direction his
| efforts meet with most marked success;
and, having discovered that, let him
bend all his energies in that particular
branch of study or work. Better be a
! first-class carpenter than a fourth rate
lawyer; a good machinist than a poor
doctor.
But many boys cannot Judge of their
own abilities, and the father, who
should study his sons peculiar temper
ament and characteristics, gives them
/ little thought.
Don't give it up; be on the watch to
make a good friend, choose your asso-
| ciates among those who aim high, not
as to money or social standing, but AS
to learning and earnest Christian living.
! A boy should have at least one friend,
| several years his senior, who can guide
/ him to choice of what branch of work
or study to set his best efforts to.
| He will by earnest endeavOr gain
ability, but let him guard well his in
| tegrity. This is more than truthful
ness; it is wholeheartedness.
A boy of integrity is like a stout,
staunch ship sailing through the ocean;
the waves may sway her from side to
side, but she remains whole and firm.
Boys, make up your minds to be true.
If you have deceived, say so to yourself,
and say:
by Gods help, I'll stop short from
this day. l must earn an honorable
name, and 1 will.
And, at whatever cost to yourself, be
true; let no temptation spring leak in
your heart.
Now, about industry. A boy with
| good ability and integrity, even if he is
rather lazy and shiftless, will, perhaps,
get along, but what opportunities are
| lost for usefulnessl Boys, remember
| that the most successful men have been
the most industrious. 1t is easy to
point out some rich men and say, He
| began as a poor boy" les, but he
worked hard, year in and year out.
One word about this industry. Don't
let it be simply being industrious to be
rich. Aim higher than riches. Store
your mind with gleanings from the best
writer's; cultivate a taste for reading,
and let the success at which you aim
be the approval of a good conscience.
Riches are not to be despised, but it is
only when they are united to learning
and religion that they are to be envied.
1 wish boys would realize more that
every little event of their bOyhood is
shaping their future character. The
boy who is more anxious to understand
perfectly what he learns than to appear
to make great progress. who cares
more for acquiring knowledge than to
shine as student, will be man Of
more ability and integrity than one
who cares for mere surface show
Baptist Weekly