The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-09-04
AUNT N LETTER.

not of interest to them I shall this
week discuss some things affecting
the afuirs of our young men.
Have you ever stopped to think
how narrow the space on top of the
ladder Of fame and how erect, self
possessed and unswervingly strong
one must be, to stand every day be-
fore the multitude in full blaze of
the searching rays Of public opinion?
Few they IRE who obtain distinction
and fewer still who retain it through
the changes of years. It takes self
denial and hard work to gain a
position of wealth or greatness and
after you reach the goal it requires
sound Judgment and plenty of brain
to hold that position worthily. Satan
has his especial agents watching for
those who strive in this world and I
have often thought that they, willy
fellows that they are, have some
times helped a fellow to appear a,
man in the eyes of his fellows in
order that his inevitable fall might
cause them and theirs the more
glee.
1t is very important that we all
walk uprightly in the light before
our fellowmen but how all-essential
it is that he whose deeds are known
and read of all men should be per
petually erect. If he stoop or swerve
somebody is III to perceive it and
tell some one else and a thing re-
peated once, grows, and each time it
is added to. Bye and bye it con-
fronts him, having attained giants
proportions. Only the grim deter
mined men who recognize the prob
able harm to them and others by
yielding to the behests of these
agents, is enabled to continue great.
You are your own master and at
the same time your own judge and
you can either yield and be a
''nobody" or conquer and rise to
eminence.
No nan has a right to say 81 can't
quit" anything. Does not the fact
that you are a man deny you that
right? We're you not created after
the likeness of the all-powerful
Father who gave you being? Did
he not vouchsafe to you a hereafter
by endowing you with an immortal
soul? You III master of your des-
teny. Do you realize this? Your
success or your failure depends upon
you. No n else is responsible for
your conduct and no one else will be
called on to render your final account.
Had you thought of that?
Are you dealing justly with that
ever-present other self or do you
cheat him occasionally thinking to
make recompense some other day?
And have you not found that debt
the hardest you have ever tried to
pay? The world is watching you.
You may not be aware of this but it
is true nevertheless. No man lives
to himself. He is either an object to
admire or detest. There is no half
way ground. You are, either a good
man or a bad man in the eyes of
those with whom you associate.
You may think that I am wrong.
I simply ask you to think Of those
whom you know. Think of them as
individuals. Does not one bad habit
mar the otherwise perfect man?
Then how important it is that you
take are not to form one bad habit.
Habits r like a flock of sheep let
the bars down. for one to enter and I'M
less you head the others off they will
follow in rapid succession. Keep
the bars up and none can enter. The
restlessness of unconquered will may
rise within your breast, but be calm,
serene, resolute, ever self possessed,
for he who masters self is adjudged
capable of ruling others. A blot on
a picture be it ever so small always
d~etracts from it's beauty and re-
member that your life's picture is to
be painted by you. Be careful there
fore to leave no blots. s
"And thou, too, whosoe 'er thou art,
That readest this brief psalm,
AS n by one thy hopes depart,
Be resolute and calm.
go fear not in a world like thisJ
And thou shalt know ere long
Know how sublime a thing it is
To suffer and be strong"