Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-05-23

Feet" WELL" answered q third, Il
could go within eight feet" and anoth-
er said, within i've feet" At last
one applicant said. IF the horses
amounted to anything. would be SO
frightened that i would take the other
side OF the road and get as far away
from the precipice as I could" "Ah."
answered the gentleman, ''you are the
man l am looking for. do not want
the driver who runs into danger. but
the man who will stay away. III hire
you" Who is the wise nayigator-the
helmsman who points the ships PROV
toward the reef where hundreds of
wrecks strew the coast -or the pilot
who keeps the keel in deep waters?
Are you recklessly going to do that
which your father and mother, the BIZ
BILE. the church and all good men and
all good women tell you not to dor
King Solomon warns against sin be-
cause young people are apt 10 become
respondent. Perhaps this discourage
ment will be caused by homesickness.
The loneliest place on earth is great
city. In the country town you knew
everybody, and everybody knew you.
While the village minister was preach
ing you would be watching the neigh
boris daughter. whom you expect some
day to make your wife. When you
trudged away to school. every farm
wagon which went by was ready to
give you lift. When the poor woman
back among the hills was sick, your
mother made up q package and babe
you carry it to the house. That poor
smile. But here in this great city you
do not even know the man who lives
across the hall. Perhaps you say
''Good morning to him, but that is all.
When you come home at night, there
is nothing but the cold. uninviting bed
room. You long again for the farm, for
the matched roof OF the old home
stead. for the smell OF the new mown
hay and the sight of the cider presses
vehemently at work squeezing the or
chard's blood into barrels and casks.
st. Johns Wilderness OF rock is a fit
name for a great city. 1t is wilder
ness. and there are no wilder beasts OF
passion roaming among forests than
some OF the human monsters which
live here.
a. - h0FS sOuA COlQeS
from injustice. You may have been
living I'm the great city now for two
years. You worked. and worked hard.
Then came vacancy in the store or
course you expected the promotion. but
another clerk under you who was not
as bright nor as faithful as you had
influence, aud he was pushed ahead.
Then you protested-and vehemently
protested. All that the manager did
was to laugh and say. well. IL you
don't like IT get out" You could not
get out. You bad no place TO 60. You
sullenly went back &C the desk, say
ing; What is the use OF trying? Hon.
esty is not the best policy"
err sinners Entice Thee
Perhaps your encouragement came
in cruel way. You had your foot
upon the lowest rung and were begin
ming TO climb the ladder OF success,
when suddenly the hard times came.
The firm dissolved and you were dis
charged. You are now not only looking
for n new place, but you have to CON-
mence all over again. Now comes the
warning against temptations. Now the
old sage tells me TO put the hand OF
love upon your shoulder and say. "My
son. IL sinners entice thee, consent thou
not"
/ give you this warning gladly and
willingly, my brother. because these are
the troubles which are fitting you for
the mighty successes which are to
come. Remember this great lesson
anything which develops quickly dies
quickly. The insects are generated and
grow TO maturity In n few hours. but
they also die OF old age by night. The
gourd which spread itself as an um-
brella over the head OF the prophet
Jonah withered rs soon as Il was touch
ed OF the east wind. The flower which
blossoms in the spring goes TO seed be-
fore the fall. IL takes years and years
10 develop a cedar OF Lebanon. 1t
takes centuries upon centuries 10 bury
coal mine. 1t takes at least onescore
years 10 make man. and the more OBJ
stacles you can overcome the more OF
giant you will be. Only the gods
can reach the stars. Man can become
fike unto a god IL God is with him and
he keeps on stretching.
There is a beautiful story told OF a
missionary who became very much dis
Outraged. No conversions resulted
from his work. He determined to leave
his field. That night as he slept he
had strange dream. He dreamed that
an angel had given him hammer and
placed him before huge rock and
said to him, Pound. and keep on
pounding" He pounded on. but could
-xaalr Hla.. N.fy n
unsuccessful he sat down and wept.
But while he wept the angel again APP
peared and said. "Why dost thou
weep" Because I cannot break the
rock" Then" said the angel, thou
hast nothing TO do with the results.
Pound and pound. and keep on pound
Ing, whether thou breakfast the rock or
no." The dreamer arose, picked up
the hammer and smote the rock with n
mighty blow. Lo, the rock brokel
Solomon bids me give TO you the ham,
mer OF persistence He tells me to
point you TO the rock OF adversely, say
ing: Strike. strike, until the fires of
heaven fash! Strike for your nfel
And keep on strikingr'
King solomon warns the young folks I!
against sin because evil companions
are always the first TO extend the right |
hand OF welcome. The good young man
says: ~ cannot afford to associate with |
every one. cannot go with every |
stray acquaintance whom I meet upon |
the street. ! should live In the city as |
j live at home. ! ought not to consort |
with any companion whom / would be |
ashamed TO Introduce 10 my mother or
sisters" When you enter the store as |
a fellow clerk, he watches you. By |
conversation he finds oat whether or 10 |
you are church member. He is too |
busy 10 gossip during business hours. |
and SO 1T will take some time for him |
and you to become fast friends. After /
awhile he Will invite you TO attend a |
night school or go TO some lecture or
meeting He asks you what books you |
read and then offers 10 lend you one OF |
a. IL II