Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-11-01
aglunlhs' Column.
AIMS FOR OUR BOYS.


fact that there are SO many disap-
pointed, discontented young men,
young men, who after a few years of
subordinate positions, begin to chafe
in their lowly places, feeling that the
world has not dealt justly with them,
and that they are kept down when
capable of doing higher service.
That they are capable may be true,
but as only one in hundred gets a
high place, it follows that ninety nine
men must fill humber places. If a
boy studies law he imbibes his par
ent's wishes that he will eventually
sit on the bench, or be chief justice
of the Great Republic. If he stud
les medicine he is to be, after few
years of practice, the eminent sur
geon of the day.
If he studies theology he hopes to
be the eloquent preacher of the age.
If he goes into commercial life his
air castles are built after the archi-
tecturaI plan of an Astor or Van
derbilt. Consequently, as the years
pass by, the parent and the boy feel
that he has fallen far short of the
promises of his youth. Your boy
and mine possibly may fill a high
place, but the probabilities are that
they will occupy lowly ones. The
world is full of people fortunes are
not made, and fame is not achieved
AS easily as it was in the years that
are passed. The sooner our boys
learn that life is strife continually,
that only few win the prizes, not
withstanding there are crowd of
runners, they will have practical ideas
of life. To have ambition and en-
terprise is as necessary to success as
the air is to life, but the high endeav-
ors should be to do the best they can in
whatever capacity they are placed.
Our boys should be trained to think
the lowly places well filled, as honor
able and as great a success in life as
it would be to sit in purple and fine
linen in the high places. The i'm
portant aim in business life is to base
all actions on a principle of right,
and to always preserve integrity of
character.
Life is a battle. 1t is not an easy,
peaceful journey that we make. The
way is hedged with temptations, dis
appointments, and defeat. The tai
ent of success, Longfellow says, is
nothing more than doing what one
can do well, and doing well whatever
one does, without thought of fame.
The sooner we learn to be brave
and courageous, and to expect de-
feat oftentimes, the stronger will
our characters become. Our Master
counts not successes as the world
counts them. Wherever in his pru-
dence He places US, we should lift up
our heads to receive his sunshine
and dew; his grace and favor will
enable us to grow and expand in no.
bleness and Christian endeavor.
The greater number of Gods chill,
dren are doing humble service; He
has so ordered it. Whatever calling
your boy chooses in life, fill his sou
with high endeavors to deal justly
and to walk uprightly in the fear OF
the Lord. AS Sydney Smith let the
sunshine into his house to glorify the
rooms, so may the brightness o.
Christian character shine over al
lowIy workers, and glorify them ant
the places in which they toll. Faith
fulness in that which is least, fits on
for position of higher and NOR
responsible service. "DespiSe no
the day of small things" Make tn
best and the most of the talents ant
the tools that are given. wherever tn
work bench may be placed; and l
in after years the boy becomes eth
honored man." he will rule with thu
fear of God in his heart because o
his fidelity as a subordinate. Bride
and corruptness will find no place i
his administration. Our truest hap
piness comes to us in the conscious
ness of faithful work, patient contiu
uance in well-doing. ''Let we
enough alone" is an adage wort
considering, so many young men TT
to leap to great heights by on
bound.
SIT is no small or trivial matte
when the day is ended to put tt
head upon the pillow with the cor
seriousness that during the day L
wrong deed has been done; and whe
life is closing in, and the last da.
are rapidly running out, the thong
must be inexpressibly sweet that l
dishonor taints the name that is he
so dear" Fame may have not be,
achieved, but if there is the approx
of the "still small voice." the chez
of the worlds crowd are of small a
count.
After all, what does the fame
the world amount to in comparis
with the ''well done, good and fat
full servant" spoken to us by c
Master?
sThat's the whole of it, as far
this life goes," SAID silver-hail
man, who had won the plaudits
fame, as he handed the family scr:
hook. and pointed to two verses