St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-06-16
PREPARING FOR FUTURE GREAT.
NESS,

/ PkEHAklNG FOk FUTURE GREAI'
NESS.
After the lessons for the next day had
been prepared, Olivia said to her five
| pupils, as they were putting away their
| books:
/ Il know a boy who is getting ready
to be great
"a boy who is getting ready to be
| great!'' echoed Harry and Robert.
yes returned Olivia. He proba-
bly, would be surprised if any one told
| him; but he is fast preparing himself to
be distinguished. :
..Who IS hep "What's his name?"
and ssWhere does he ive2n questioned
the boys.
| Cant you guess?" returned Olivia.
.sHe goes to your school; he lives not
far away, and you see him every day. =
Robert wondered if he could be the
one to whom his sister alluded. He
had done so well for the past few
weeks; he had proved all his examples
without grumbling; he was head in
grammar class, and he was cultivating
mental and moral power in various
ways. Perhaps his sister did mean him.
.iWhat does fellow have to do when
he gets ready to be greate' asked New
ell. Tell us that, Cousin 'Liyia, then
perhaps we can guess.
81 didn't know boys were ever
great said Harry"
'.Greatness does not come suddenly"
returned the young girl. THE world
does not often see it till it is in blossom;
but it is long while in growing; so
long that one who wishes to be noted
among men must lay the foundation for
greatness when young. This boys
superiority may not be acknowledged in
thirty or forty years, but that his name
will be distinguished some day firmly
believe
$50 it takes greatness thirty or forty
years to grow?' said Harry. in some
surprise.
Eyes, all Of that-a lifetime. Yet it
comes like tree, from very small
seeds What peculiar quality do we
see in all great men-in Washington, in
Lincoln, in Garfield, in Humboldt, and
in Columbus, Luther, Newton, and
hosts of others?''
Genius" answered Newell.
s'Vim," cried Robert, proud of the
friendly relations he was forming with
this quality.
Genius, y said Olivia, "did not make
them famous. Thousands of boys have
genius, but they never amount to any
thing because
because they haven't vim,' ex-
claimed Robert.
Eyes, smiled his sister, ssbecause
they haven't vim. But what is the root
of yim-the moral root, / mean, not the
Latin one.
II should think a good strong will
might be-" said Newell.
. Yes" said Olivia, all these men
had good strong wills, and, what is
more to the purpose, the will of each
was well trained. They were what we
call self-reliant. Self-reliance means
more than dependence upon yourself; it
means trust in God first, and faith in
yourself next. Do you suppose Column
bus asked any one to do his thinking
for him?''
1--WE know he didn't responded
Harry. And Robert said, stoutly:
Z. No. stree; he did his own thinking
'sAnd so did George Washington and
James Garfield and Newton and Luz
Their" said Newell
ssThen you know a boy who does his
own thinking, 'Livia?" spoke up Laura
who all this time had been thinking and
listening.
Olivia smiled and nodded her head
ssAnd suppose he always knows his
lessons ventured Robert.
His sister nodded again.
ssAnd he goes to our SCHOOL," unused
Hettie, who before this had not uttered
word. 1T must be Tommy Davi-
son!'
Tommy! Tommy Dayison!' they
all shouted.
Moo" said Robert, incredulously;
but Olivia nodded her head and said,
quietly: !" He is the boy
But he isn't any smarter than we
are, . protested Newell.
Not bit, = returned Olivia.
But you said
II said he was getting ready to be
great
There was little silence heavy
silence. It was broken by Newell, who
asked ssDo you suppose he does his
own thinkinga'
81 know he does, was the young
lady's reply.
"Why-now do you know, Oliviap'
He would not join our preparatory
class, though / asked him to, and told
him that it should cost him nothing; so
it wasn't his poverty that kept him from
coming. It was his self-reliance. saw