The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-06-07
BY MISS LEM EDWARDS.

panse of beauty and grandeur. But we
being free moral beings, may make our
lives full of misery and shame. or we
may have them o'erfowing with success
and joy, and at the close leave footprints
of high and noble deeds on the golden
sands of time.
But to have such success we must first
exist in miniature, and by a process of
growth and development, be made to ap-
preciate the magnitude of our domain,
and the necessity of our individual and
earnest eXertions.
During the earliest part Of our earthly
career, our lives are mostly initiative.
What child observes in others, he makes
part of himself. He receives impress
sions like wax, and retains them like
marble.
They can no more be erased in after
life than the scars with which he may
adorn his chubby fingers. Just as every
incision in the flesh leaves its impression,
so does every sin leave it's indellible scar
on the soul.
Childhood is governed to a great
extent by circumstances. He pur-
sues no special course except as directed
by his parents. But soon we see him in
youth, looking eagerly forward to the
lofty temples of fame, the stately palace
of wealth. luxury and ease, and the beau
tiful green fields of pleasure and
delight. To obtain these he must start
with a purpose and a will, those powers
which take hold of the very heart of life,
and enters into our hopes, our aims, our
prospects.
"The very doorway of life is hung
about with f1owery emblems to indicate
that it is for some purpose" He must
have will, that monarch of power, to
control the storms and pillows of the
mind, and to carry his purpose on to per-
fection.
The will should always be kept at the
helm, carefully guarding and controlling
his every word and action. How many
of the youth of our land seem to think
they possess genius, and that they can at
tain to heights of fame by series of
leaps.
But alas they waste the most precious
part of their lives in grasping at every
thing, yet gaining nothing. They have
no real object in life, and know not for
what to educate themselves, because they
have not determined upon any particular
calling. What such persons need is a
| choice of some vocation, and then care
full and thoughtful preparation, that they
may know everything pertaining to it.
A person in choosing a calling is doing
| no md ln Of ho
consequences of the decision, he should
do his own choosing. To do this wisely
he should closely observe his natural tai
ents. Sometimes sports may indicate
| gifts. Napoleon, who clothed the world
in sackcloth, deluged Europe in tears, and
| filed the earth with the terror of his
name played with cannon in childhood
James Watt, to whom belongs the honor
of great improvements upon the steam
engine, was fond of catching the steam
upon spoon, as it rose from the tea
kettle, and of counting the drops as they
condensed and fell. And the celebrated
artist, Benjamin West, when but child,
leaned over the cradle of his infant broth
er, and, with rude pen and soiled paper
delineated his features.
But to return, after careful delibera-
ton, he should decide upon that which
he can do with greatest success. 'Tis
true, that most persons can do well in one
of several pursuits; but Will prosper in
none unless they center upon some one,
and then work as if everything depended
upon it. One talent, well cultivated,
deepened and enlarged, is worth hun
dred shallow faculties. The range of hu-
cannot grasp it all.
The man who would be truly learned
in any one branch, must make it spe-
cialty. He who concentrates his entire
mind and energy upon that which he has
chosen, and cuts his way through difficult
ties as with sharp-edged sword, is the
man who achieves greatness. Having
chosen his calling, we see the light-heart-
ed youth step on the platform of life, as
man with an elastic tread, to test the
yet untried.
His soul is filled with hope and ambi-
tion, while he fancies, in the near future,
the realization Of every hope, the crown
ing Of every desire; and truly, the road
to success, honor and happiness lies
straight before him, although the gates
are far away, and many hills intervene.
The city sparkles with glittering gold,
the streets are paved with diamonds, and
the walls re-echo with the songs of the
countless millions who have obtained en-
trance. But if he would enter the beau
tiful gates, he must labor. The very
powers of man are developed in the field
of employment. A contented and hope
full laborer is far happier than the man
who idly schemes. Our resources are
mostly yet to be developed, and there
never was land or time so open to inge-
nuity and work. as this land of ours, and
this present time. The future is uncer-
tain, the past is gone; therefore we should
'act in the living present"
) But through all we should have for our
motto, those essentials to a beautiful
character. principle and right" Uncle
/ Toby says: A Cody life is constant
moulding of character and to this end it
e adapts everything, home, friends, busi-
ness, success and failure, pain and plea,
sure; it makes all circumstances means
of good. We are always under discipline
i which of necessity implies correction anC
. improvement. And then when old age
n comes, we find that the pure love which
i constitutes the essence of religious char
q acter, has kept our hearts alive and full
n of sympathy. 1t soothes, comforts, ant
refines, and throws upon the declining
2, years the mellowed radiance of gloriou
y setting sun.