The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-06-18


money. Money as chief, end and
object in life is serious evil, but as
a means to an honorable end it is a
great good. I have no patience with
those who seem to believe that hon
esty, happiness and virtue live only
in the lap of poverty and that love
dwells only in an humble cottage.
For happiness, virtue and love have
their existence equally in mansion
and in cottage where these two homes
are obtained and fostered by honest
means.
You will need companions and
friends. Be careful of your asso-
ciates, be true to your friends. There
is an old saying that man is known
Dy the company he keeps. For it
naturally follows that if you keep
bad company you are one of them,
and if you keep good company you
are one of them. Your associates
WELD a more powerful influence upon
you than you imagine. Therefore
surround yourself by such associates
as will aid and assist you in the pur-
pose Of your existence. and when you
find true and faithful friend mark
him, for as has been well said, "a
faithful friend is sure defense, and
he that hath found such one hath
found a treasure
Let me say that life is not the ideal
existence of which we read in ro-
nance and novel. neither is it the
''irridescent dream" that dwells in
the minds of imaginative youth and
sentimental beauty. But life is
real and life is earnest What is
Ife2" says a distinguished writer,
ssbut a ceaseless record of failures
and successes.'' Our lives all have
their ills and misfortunes. God has
ordained it thus; for that life is not
a truly educated life that is not edu-
Gated in the school of adversely.
Many lives have been wrecked on the
shoals of misfortune and on the
rocks of. despair, but these adversities
have been and will ever be the es-
sential ingredients in every great
life. It is the obstacles and adversl-
ties that we meet with in defending
the post of duty and honor that make
us truly good and truly great. 1t is
the cry of the infant that makes the
voice of the man. tits the activities
of youth that produces the strength
of manhood. 1t is the laborious
hours of thought that produces in
tellectual development. It is the
summer heat and rain and wind that
produces the golden harvest. It is
by the very adverse laws of nature
herself that this vast material unl-
verse is held in space, the myriads of
worlds and mighty galaxes Of the
heaven are bound together into one
harmonious union.
What is true of mans life and ma.
ture is true of nations and govern
ments. It was adverse political
conditions of ancient times that built
the greatest republic of antiquity.
It was the adverse political con-
ditions in Colonial days-Bri,ish tax
ton without representation-shat
built for US this great Republican
government that has in the. short
space of its existence attracted the
gaze and attmiration OF the, civilized
world. Be therefore not discouraged
by the difficulties with which you
meet. tits not the hot house plant
needing protection from the storms
ofsummer and the SHOWS of winter
that grows into magnificent timbered
forest so useful to men. But it IS the
majestic oak that plants its roots
deep. into the earth, rearing. its head
and branches high into the breezes,
battling with the SHOWS Of winter and
the storms of summer, and growing.
stronger with every passing breeze
Profit by the examples set before
you by yohr natures God. GroW
strong through adversely, profit by
misfortune, stand where duty and
honor calls, faint not in the face of
trials and disappointments, but Like
the grand oak of the forest grow
stronger in your purposes with each
passing obstacle and firmer in your
designs to accomplish your God
given work.
What is that work or calling?
How often have you heard these
questions asked and answered by
interested fathers and mothers.
what shall. { make Of nay son? and
what shall I make OF my daughter2
Let me say TO yeu that this is some.
thing not left entirely to fathers and
mothers. This is question that
Is settled in q measure when you are
born. It is not a question SO much
as of what pleases the fancy OF pa
rent, but it is a question as to what
you are made for. what talents have
been given you, how can you best
use them TO serve The purpose for
which you were intended. The
world is q great stage and we are
actors on it. What part can you best
piay? These are questions which
you can best settle. for yourself, and
are the pivotal points upon which
yonr life work must depend. There
fore select wisely and we'll. There is
place and calling in life FOR every
one, but so many of US owing to
prejudices miss our destined pur-
poses. How many successful physi-
clans would have made unsuccessful
farmers; how many successful farm
ers would have failed at medicine;
how many poor preachers would
have made good blacksmiths; how
many poor merchants would have
made good lawyers; and how many