The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-10-07
A Talk to School Boys and Girls; and, Per
chance to Children Of Larger Growth.

and every hour bringing with it
life's lessons. No matter wheth.
er we are in business, in school,
or in home, opportunities for
learning are constantly coming
to US. Happy is the one who is
willing to learn and to whom life
means opportunity, not merely
existence. To the former every
thing is possible; to the latter,
nothing for he has no future, no
ideals, no plans. Life means moth.
ing to him except the getting
enough TO eat and clothes to hide
his nakedness, with as little ex.
ertion as possible and if the
burden of his maintenance can
be shifted onto another's shoul-
ders, no matter how i'll able they
may be to bear it, so much the
better for him. To him life with
all its responsibilities means
about as much as it does to pig;
and his status in the community
is about the same, for he is no
good to any one, not even him.
self. No one needs him. No one
wants him. He has no past and
no future. He is not even of as
much use as the pig, for its flesh
can be used as food while IN
stead of sustaining life, he de.
stroys it.
A few years ago a little fellow
started in school. He was very
small and very quiet, but he
made friends rapidly among the
school children. An older broth
er was also coming. But the two
were as different in character as
possible. The younger had pluck
and energy; he studied his les
sons, attended strictly to his own
affairs, and pushed ahead. The
older came in the door with a
slovenly step, listless look on
his face, tumbled hair, and hands
that were not always clean. His
lessons were not prepared, and
he never seemed to care that the
others were outstripping him.
The time that shonld have been
spent IN study was spent in idle
ness and mischief, and he was
constant source of trouble aud
annoyance to the teacher. AS
was to be expected, the younger
brother gradually caught up with
and passed him In his studies,
and seems in fair way to make
something of himself; while the
older brothers. future, Judging
from present indications, does
not look enticlng.
1t is said the boys in Vermont
are brought up to believe that at
some time they may be Presi-
dent, and govern themselves ac-
cordingly. 1t is all right to have
a high ideal and then try to at.
tain it; but it is far better to be
capable, both by education and
training, of being President and
then never attain the presidency,
than it would be to fill the presi,
Dental chair with an incapable
man. The glory of the position
could not cover the shame of the
incompetence Of the individual.
We do not have to go to the pres
idency to find heroes. Some of
onr own humble people, perhaps
our own parents or friends, those
whom we meet constantly, and
who unfalteringly and cheerfully
take up their tasks day by day,
giving to their work IN hand their
very best, no matter how lowly it
is, are finer heroes and herolnes
than many who have been ex-
alted to the high places of the
earth.
1t is the giving of your best,
and the doing honestly and to the
very best of your ability the task
which you have IN hand. No mat
ter what it may be, whether or.
ganlzing Steel Trust or sewing
on a patch, that count when it
comes to summing up to real sue
cess in life. Do your best, and
do not be content to do it as good
as others do it. If possible do it
ID little better. The habit of do.
ing ones best at all times, and
constantly working oupWards-he.