The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-07-20
JUST HIS LUCK ;
BY F. A. stearns.
annAaAAAAAAAA
KNEW it would be so" grumbled
Ebert Corey. "It's just my
pssssseeeeeeseessssesoe'

luck!"
Don't say that, my boy" said his
teacher, Mr. Holcomb, who CHANGED to
overhear the remark "There is no
such thing as luck in this world. We
are architects of our own fortunes.
Things may go against boy or a
man for a long time, but if he is in
dustrious and persevering he is bound
to triumph in the end"
But Ebert was in no mood to profit
by this homily.
IL don't know about there being no
such thing as luck" he said. II tried
as hard for the prize as Frank Bent
ley did, and I felt pretty sure of get
ting it; but it was awarded him, and
my name wasn't even mentioned"
Mr.. Holcomb placed his hand kind
ly upon the boys head.
"Never mind, Elbert," he said.
profit by the lesson. You'll do better
next term"
but I shall not be here next term"
was the reply. "Didn't you know that
was going to leave the academy,
sir?"
why, no." said Mr.. Holcomb, in sur.
prise. FLOWS that?"
"There are so many of us at home
that mother thinks she cannot afford
to keep me at school any longer, and
that ought to help support the rest,
as 1 am the oldest. So when she
learned that Mr.. Bentley had obtained
place for Frank in the city she asked
him to look for one for me, too, and
yesterday she got word that he had
found one in the same store where
Frank is to be employed"
"And so you and Frank are going to
the city together?"
Eyes, sir"
swell, it will be the beginning of a
new life for you. You will be subject
ed to many temptations of which you
now have little idea, and whether you
stand or fall rests with yourself. Let
me give you few words of advice.
Shall tell you why, in my opinion,
you failed to secure the prize, and why
Frank won it?"
IF you please, sir"
ut was because your efforts were
spasmodic, and his quiet and steady,
He economical his forces, and you did
not. Many a man never learns to
properly utilize his natural abilities,
Let it not be so with you, Ebert.
In the new life which you are about
to commence, keep this truth always
before you: Luck is only another
name for hard, well-directed work."
Ebert was not convinced by these
words. He was much disappointed by
his failure to secure the handsome
gold medal offered by the principal of
the Elmdale academy to the pupil dis
playing the greatest proficiency in
mathematics. He was of mercurial
temperament. was easily depressed
and as easily elated, and he telt, as he
had felt many times before when men,
tally depressed, that luck was against
him.
A few days after the conversation
which we have related, the two boys,
Elbert Corey and Frank Bentley, be-
gan their business careers in the office
of the great hardware establishment
OF. Holt & Redfield, in New York city.
Here, as at school, they soon became
general favorites. Their fellow en-
ployes liked them because they were
good-natured and companionable,. and
their employers because they were
bright and intelligent and showed q
natural aptitude for their work. I
In his business life Frank displayed
the same qualities that made him sue
cessful at school. He worked quietly,
steadily and perseveringly, and soon
became of real value to the firm, who
showed their appreciation Of his
worth by promoting him at the end
of six months.
"Just my luck" grumbled. Ebert
Corey, who had just begun his new ca
reer with an enthusiasm that would
have made him quite as successful a.
his friend haa It only lasted lust