The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-04-15
Our 8ops ano Girls.
Reading a Boys History Forwards.

Some of the most fascinating of read
ing is the history of men who have
won success. 1t matters little 10 what
age of the world, or in what depart
ment it has been won. The story OF
Joseph's wonderful success in Egypt is
as fresh and charming to-day as that OF
Stanley and Edison. But who shall
read the history or write the story of
those who are going to succeed2 Such
a story, if it could be probable history
instead of prophecy, might vie in inter-
est with that of him who has already
achieved success. And just here and
now, we are to attempt at least the out
lines of such story.
We know there are many uncertain
factors in it; factors beyond the control
of the young Scotch hero" of the
story, as of us ell, viz: the factors of
Gods providence. One who would
write the history of any life forwards
as in real life-would make very sad
mistake if he left out these " factors of
Gods providence" for the experience
of mankind has been compressed into
the proverb " Man proposes, but God
disposes." But experience has taught
other things, too, and among them this:
that, as rule, very largely men may
shape their own destinies. Success
and failure in life depend more than we
sometimes imagine upon causes within
our own control, fact that boys and
girls ought early to learn. Upon few
we'll known facts, therefore, of the
thinE W.
construct the probable future Of a
boy" we are watching, and in whom
we are greatly interested. AS before
intimated, he is Scotch laddie, who
less than two years ago-then in his
teens "-left his home in Scotland to
learn the trade of granite cutting in
this country. 1t need not detract from
the interest of this story-but rather
add to ito note first that he has a
"geniuS =" for his special work. This
God-given equipment for work is not
alone the gift of our young hero.
Others have it as well. And happy
the boy who has friends wise enough
to help him in finding first what his
natural bent" isl But not solely on
his genius " is our laddie depending.
He is an honest boy" says his en-
ployer. " He is working all the time
and for my interest 1t makes no
difference whether l am with him or
not. He is Just as faithful in one case
as the other" Aud so this much is
already " history" During the last
half of his first year as an apprentice
his employer voluntarily advanced his
wages some thirteen per cent beyond
the stipulated price when he began
work, and his employer tells us he pro-
poses to make another advance on the
last half of his second and final year OF
apprenticeship above the price agreed
upon. Further, he has signified 6
readiness to take him as partner wher
his trade shall have been learned, pro.
vided he can control some capital, which
a disinterested friend has hoped he
can furnish him because of his worth
With his Scotch religious training
Scotch thrift and economy, with Gods
blessing browning all, what may WI
not hope and expect for him in all tina
may make life success in the highest
nobest sense? Thus we sCant to reat
his history forwards! There is to be
day when his-as all our histories
shall be read backwards. May HEAVIER
then rejoice in its having fulfilled Clio
riously its early NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
in Christian at Work.