The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-03-27

tit, Em0lument and Trust Which lie
May Not Hope to Reach-The South
ern Boys Heritage of Glory and
Principle.
Rev. j. VIM. 10 nes in Orphans Friend
Among The things for which it is
peculiarly appropriate that the boys
OF the Orphanage should thank God.
is that they are born American boys.
and may inspire to the highest honors
which this great country can bestow.
An American boy, and especially a
Southern boy, has heritage of glory
for which we should thank God, and
heritage OF principle which we
should never forget.
But | restrain my pen from enter
ing that wide field, and contine it to
the single point that there is no posi-
tlon OF honor, profit, emolument or
trust, which we may not hope to reach
and for the privilege of which he can
never sufficiently thank God.
He may strive to be merchant
prince, railroad manager, millionaire,
college professor, jurist, general, great
preacher, Congressman, United States
Senator, or President of the United
States.
John ID. Rockefeller, the multi-mil-
lionairs who is giving his millions to
the cause Of education, bsnevolence,
and religion, began his career pen
niless orphan boy, so poor that he
was glad to get job of carrying
rock from place to place on the streets
Of city.
Charles Broadway Rouss, one of
the greatest of New York merchants,
who did SO much to help his native
Southland, began his career in Win
chester, Va, as an errand boy, and
after serving gallantly asa Confeder
ate soldier, reached New York with
only fifty cents in his pocket, and
went to work as porter in a store.
And many of the merchant princes,
great bankers, and other millionaires
of the country had no better advan-
tages when they began their career.
Two barcfooted orphan boys named
John and Sam Miller lived in the
Ragged Mountains" not far from the
University Of Virginia and were ac-
customed to- go there to sell berries,
chestnuts and apples to the students.
One day John Miller said to his
brother: Sam, you and | can never
go to this University. 1t is too high
for us and such boys as we are. But
| will tell you what we can do. Let
us 60 to work, make money, and es-
| tablish a school to which the poor
boys of Albemarle county can go"
They kept this purpose steadily in
view and were very successful in
business. Besides establishing an or
phanage at Lynchburg, and making
other handsome legacies, they left
money with which to establish the
"Miller Manual Labor School," which
in twenty years has spent over two
million dollars in it's beautiful
grounds, buildings, shops, machinery
and laboratories, and in supporting
the school, and still has an invested
fund which yields an annuity of $75,-
600. This enables the school to take
every year about 800 children whom
they feed, clothe, educate, and
train for future usefulness and sue
| cess.
Abraham Lincoln was one OF the
poorest and seemingly most unprom-
ising boys OF his day, but by force Of
native intellect and indomitabIe will,
pluck and courage, (whatever we may
think of his principles and character)
he rose to be President of the United
States. Andrew Jackson was a very
poor boy, and seemed TO have no
future before him, when his parents
moved from North Carolina. his ma
tive State, to Tennessee, but he be-
came 1.-The hero of New Orleans and
President OF the United States, and
none doubt now that old Hickory
was one Of the great men OF his
| times.
Andrew Johnson also, was a native
Of North Carolina, and migrated to
Tennessee as poor as he could be. In
All address at the University Of North
Carolina some years ago he said that
on his Journey to Tennessee he passed
through Chapel Hill without nickle
in his pockets, and with but little
hope before him | was in Green
willie. Tenn, upon one occasion and
saw sign still hanging on an old
house there which read Andrew
Johnson, Tailor" And yet this man
man became United States Senator,
President Of this great country, and
however we may despisc his prin-
ciple-, and certain traits of his char
acter, we must admire his genius,
perseverance and success.
Roger Sherman rose from his shoe
| maker bench 10 become one Of the
great leaders OF his dav, and when on
| the floor OF the Senate. distinguish
ell nne MI Der twiited him with Juyenal's )
famous satire---Let the shoemaker
stick to nis last" Sherman at once
retortsd: If the distinguished gentle
man had been a shoemaker he GER
tainly would have stuck TO his last
for he would not have had either
talent or energy to get beyond il.
Presidents Garfield and Cleveland
came up from the masses and
manv more OF our leaders were poor
i bows.
| Thomas j. Jackson was penDiless
orphan boy. but be adopted as his
motto at the Military Academy a,
West Point: Il can do whatever | un-
dertake." and after he became an
humble Christian. changed this to-
. Il can do all things through Christ
which strengthsneth me" and thus
became the world famous .'Stonewall
Jackson" and wrote his name among
the immortals. Let the boy. Of thu
orphanage then, thank God that they
are American boys, and determine
that, by Gods help, they will initiate