Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-02-08

where everything has been done for
you, your father or older brothers tax
ing your part when you were imposed
on by larger boys, and your mother al
ways around when you got the cold
with mustard applications for the chest
or herb tea to make you sweat of the
fever and sweet mixtures in the cup by
the bed to stop the cough, taking some
times too much Of it because it was
pleasant to take, and then to 60 out,
with no one to stand between you and
the world, gives one a choking sensa-
ton at the throat and home sickness
before you have got three miles away
from the old folks. There was on the
day spoke Of silence for long while,
and then my father began to tell how
good the Lord nad been to him in sick
ness and in health, and when tiiSS5 Gf
hardship came how Providence had al
ways provided the means Of livelihood
for the large household, and he wound
up by saying, "De Witt, l have always
found it safe to trust the Lord. My
father has been dead 80 years, but in
all the crises Of my life-and there
have been many Of them-I have felt
the mighty boost of that lesson in the
farm wagon, "De Witt, have always
found it safe to trust the Lord. " The
fact was my father saw that was his
opportunity, and he improved it.
This is one resaon why | am an en-
thusiastio friend Of all Young Mems
Christian associations They get hold
of so many young men just arriving
in the city and while they are very i'm
pressionable, and it is the best oppor-
tunity. Why, how big the houses looked
to us as we first entered the great city,
and so many peoplel 1t seemed some
meeting must have just closed to fill the
streets in that way, and then the big
plaoards announcing all styles Of amuse-
ments and so many of them on the same
night and every night, after our boy
hood had been spent in regions where
only once or twice in whole year there
! had been an entertainment in school
house or church. That is the opportuni-
ty. Start that innocent young man In
the right direction. Six weeks after will
be too late. Tell me what such young
man does with his first six weeks in the
great city, and | will tell you what he
will be throughout his life on earth and
where he will spend the ages Of eterni-
ty. Opportunity
Great Opportunities.
We all recognize that commercial and
literary and political successes depend
upon taking advantage Of opportunity.
The great surgeons of England feared
to touch the tumor Of King George ~.
Sir Ashley Cooper looked at it and said
to the king, Il will cut your majesty
as though you were a plowman. " That
was Sir Astley's opportunity. Lord
Give was his fathers dismay, climbing
church steeples and doing reckless
things. His father sent him to Madras,
India, as clerk in the service OF an
English officer. Give watched his time,
and when war broke out came to be the
chief Of the host that saved India for
England. That was Lord Clive's oppor-
tunity. Pauline Lucca, the almost
matchless singer, was but little recog-
nized until in the absence Of the soloist
in the German choir she took her place
and began the enchantment OF the
world. That day was Lucca's opportuni-
ty. John Scott, who afterward became
Lord Eldon, had stumbled his way
along in the practice of law until the
case Of Aclroyd versus Smithson was
TO be tried, and his speech that day
opened all avenues Of success. That was
Lord Eldon's opportunity.
William H. Seward was given by his
father 81, 900 to get a collegiate educa-
tion. That money soon gone, his father
said, Now you must fight your own
way" and he did. until gubernatorial
chair and United States senatorial chair
were his, with a right to the presiden-
tial chair if the meanness Of American
politics had not swindled him out OF 1t
The day when his father told him to
fight his own way was William b.
Stewards opportunity. John Henry
Newman, becalmed whole week in an
orange boat in the strait Of Bonifacio,
wrote his immortal hymn, Lead, Kind
" Light " That was John Henry New
mans opportunity. You know Kirk
Whites immortal hymn, when Mar
shaled on the Nightly Plain" He wrote
it in boat by lantern on a stormy
night as he was sailing along a rocky
coast. That was Kirk Whites oppor-
tunity.
The Importance Of making the most
of opportunities as they present them
selves is acknowledged in all other d.
rections Why not in the matter OF use
fitness? The difference Of usefulness OF
! good men and women is not so much
the difference In brain or social position
or wealth, but in equipment OF Chris
tian common sense--to know just the
time when to say the right word or do
the right thing. There are good people
who can always be depended on to say
the right thing at the wrong time A
merchant selling goods over the counter
to a willy customer who would like to
get them at less than cost, the railroad
conductor while taking up the tickets
from passengers who want to work on
last years free pass or get through at
half rate a child fully grown, house
keeper trying to get the table ready In
time for guests, although the oven has
failed to do its work and the grocer has
neglected to fulfill the order given him
those are not opportunities for reli-
gious address Do not rush up to man
/ in the busiest part Of the day and when
a half dozen people are waiting FOL hin
and ask. "How is your soulf"
he on the Watch.
But there are plenty Of fit occasions
Il is interesting to see the sportsman
gun In hand and pouch at side and &c
companied by the hounds yelping dowr
the road, off on hunting expedition, bu
the best hunters in this world are thos'
who hunt for opportunities to do good
and the game is something to gladder
earth and heaven. Twill lpoint out som'
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