Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-05-20

professions. how is it then. young mer-
chants, young lawyers, young physicians,
Young ministers: How is it thens
Again behold in or subject an exhibition
Of true decision of character. Before
Daniel were condemnation and death, if he
continued faithful to his religion. Yet, just
as before, three times a day he prayed with
his face toward jerusalem. There is
nothing more fatal for the religious or
worldly advancement than a spirit OF indie
cision. How often youth Is almost gone
before the individual has determined upon
his profession.
There are those who for thirty or forty
wears have accomplished nothing anywhere
because they have not felt themselves set
tied They have thought Of the law, of
medicine, of merchandise, of mechanism.
They have some idea of going west. Per-
haps they will go east. Perhaps they won't
They may go north or south. Perhaps they
will invest their money in railroads or in
real estate. Perhaps they won't. They are
like a vessel starting from New York har
Dor, which should one day decide going
to Liverpool, and the next on New Orleans.
and the next or Marseilles. How many men
have for a long while been out on the great
sea of life and they do not know to what
port they are destined? 1t is an everlasting
lacking Of ship, but no Roadway.
The man who begins to build a house in
the Corinthian style and when half way up
concludes to make it Doric, and then COM
pteLeS II III Ionic, Will nave an unS0emIY pile
and De cursed Of every school of architect
ure. These men that try everything get to
be nothing. God wrote in your brain and
engraved on your bones what you ought to
be. Then be that, nothing more or nothing
less. In that direction is your success. Every
other road is ruin. Having adjusted your
compass. 60 ahead. Set your teeth together.
Small difficulties do not notice. Great diff
fculties, by Gods grace strike them down.
Onwardl Let towards skulk.
Act you like sons of God. If you want to
sail to the land of gold you must double the
Cape. To usefulness and strong character
there is no overland route. Over the great
deeps you must fly. Most Of the way it is
either head wind or tempest. Character,
like the goldinch of Tonquin, is magnificent
when standing firm, but loses all its splendor
In flight. There is no such thing as failure
to those who trust in God. Paul got to be
I an apostle by falling off his horse. Stephen
was stoned into heaven.
When young man resolves on a religious
lie, ne does not always md 1t smooth sail
ing. Old companions laugh and say with
sarcastic tone, He has got to be pious."
They go on excursions, but do not ask him.
They prophesy that his religion will not hold
out. They call him "long-faced." They
wonder if he is not getting wings. They say
sharp things about him for themselves to
wink and chuckle, and say loud enough to be
heard, There goes saint" IT you have
never seen life it is, you know not what
strength of resolution it often requires for a
young man TO be a Christian.
Again, let this story of Daniel teach US
that the way to future success is through
present self denial. Not only did Daniel show
his willingness for self restraint by refusing
the luxuries of the kings table, but must
have denied himself much social enjoyment
and sightseeing in order 20 have attained
most wonderful proficiency in study. The
rush of the chariots under his window and
the sound of mirth that rang out On the air
of Babylon would have attracted most
young men into the streets and to expensive
places of amusement. But Daniel knew that
it was only through severity of application
he could attain the honorable position for
which he was intended. Indeed, you may
carry this truth into universal application.
The most of those who have succeeded IN
any profession Or occupation have come up
from the very bottom of the ladder. The
brightest day began with the twilight. The
admirals who commanded the navies Of the
world started as cabin boys. The merchant
princes. whose messengers ships and
whose servants the nations custom houses,
once swept the store and kindled the fires.
The orator who lifts up the gate of the soul,
as Samson carried off the gates Of GAIA.
once stammered and blushe1 op. the stage Of
country school house. The young painter r.
under whose pencil skies blossom and waters
CLEAN, understands his subject we'll be-
cause he has but little to shelter him from
the one and is obliged to find his only bev-
erage 10 the other.
Out of the dark deep mines of want and
suffering has been dug the marble for the
worlds greatest temples of wisdom and
| palaces of power. Vanderiyn, the artist,
| must first content himself with q charcoal
sketch. Franklin, before becoming the re-
nowned philosopher, must be journeyman
| printer. Columbus must weave carpets be-
| fore he can weave hemispheres. David must
| take care of his fathers sheep before he rules
Israel. Amos must be herdsman before
humble student before he rises to be the
| prime minister of Babylon.
If young man starts in life with large
| notions of what he must Immediately have,
! willing to consider no economy, buG expect
| ing with a small ship to unfurl as much sail
| as an ocean frigate, he will find himself cap
sized by the first northeaster. It is the small
| sprig that you can carry in one hand which
| will thrive best when planted. But If, by
| levers and huge lumber wagons, you bring
/ from the mountain century oak, though
| you may plant it, you cannot make it live.
| SO he who begins life on such grand scale
| and with such exorbitant notions, will never
succeed, while some young man who went
| to town without means, but having q right
| spirit, through his self-denial, planted tree
which has reached above Wall street and
| fung~&ts shadow in one direction over the
granite palaces on the avenues and in the
| other far out over merchant vessels an
chored in the bay.
Men say success in life is all a matter Of
good luck, but industry and economy and
self denial put together always make good
| luck. There are young men who failed twice
and are getting notes shaved the third time
before they are old as their father when
he first began business for himself. They
| started with the idea that their wit would
IL ill fol oHxyhj 10 hI1f