Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1904-06-09
THE STONE THAT Is FIT FOR THE WALL
rs NOT LEFT BIZ THE wAysTDE -
Margaret KeaWeH.

Jerusalem, building Of stone was being
erected. All the necessary stones were
carefully cut and transported before the
work ON the structure was begun.
Among the collection in the quarries
was found one which was rather odd in
shape, and as 1t was thought that it
would be of no use, 1t was carelessly
thrown aside. Time wore on, and what
bid fair 20 be mighty and magnificent
structure, was at standstill. Far up in
the center OF the colossal arch was seen
an opening which must be filled to
make the building strong and durable,
Much time and thought was spent in
trying to find the cause, when one of the
workmen remembered the peculiar stone
thrown by the wayside. After some
search in the rubbish this was found and
fitted and lol the stone that was fit for
the wall was not left by the wayside
So ii is with man. The world repre-
SCENTS the mighty wall, and daily an CT
der is sent out for men to be Its stones.
To fulfill this order, honest, industrious
young people are wanted. The world
always demands men who are not for
sale; sound of character and true of
heart; those who will condemn wrong in
friend and foe. in themselves as well as
others; those who will work and are not
too proud to be poor. We find shat an
honest, industrious boy is always want
ed. He will be sought for and his SER
vices demanded. The merchant will
want him for salesman, the mechanic
for an apprentice: townsmen will want
him for citizen; acquaintance for a
neighbor; neighbors for friend and the
world for an active member OF society.
III all this is true, why do SO few young
men OF early promise fail to distinguish
themselves? The answer is always the
same They are not willing to devote
themselves to that toisome labor which
is the price Of success. But how differ
ent with those who are willing to devote
their time to the pursuit of some indus
try. At the outset of their career labor
stands before them in two forms-that
of the hand and that of the head. But
they do not hesitate, but press on with
that determination which always con-
quers. Thus armed, men are sure to
triumph, and nothing can keep them
from the success that comes from well
directed effort
God put each man in the world with
q mission to perform. Each one must
reach y certain height, and though in
some cases talent is slow to present It,
self, sooner or later IL will appear and
often with such force and suddenness
that astonishes the world. Thus il shows
that the life that God intended must
show, and most forcibIy too, that those
who are fitted will be inevitably receiv-
ed and rewarded in this vast and mighty
structure the world. Our early advan-
tages in life have but little to do with
our later success. II is thought by some
that in order to prosper we must have
capital to start with, but il is not good
for human nature to have the road of
life made too easy. Better to be under
the necessity of working hard than to
have everything ready prepared for us.
To start in life with comparatively small
means seems so necessary to promotion
that we may almost say it is one OF the
essential conditions to success In life.
Many of our greatest men had no CAPT
tai to start with. They were obscure In
their origin and birth. but great and
glorious in life and death. They were
born and brought up in small villages
but reigned and conquered in mighty
provinces. Columbus was the son OF
weaver, Homer that of farmer, Oliver
Cromwell was the son of London brew.
er, and Henry Clay was the 'Mill-boy
of the Slashes. y The young man who
thinks fortune must come with youth
should consider the lives Of some of our
wealthiest men. He will find that the
largest part Of the wealth of the Astors,
Browns, and Vanderbilts was accum u
lated after these men had passed their
fftieth year. Without fame or fortune
at forty, without fame or fortune al
ways, " lis, therefore, not without excep-
ti0n. But remember, it was after forty
that Sir Walter Scott became the great
unknown. Howe of sewing machine
fame was utterly destitute al thirty-fve,
q millionaire six years later. Every
man is d missionary now and forever,
for good or for evil. He may be blot,
casting his dark influence out to the very
Of society, or he may be
q blessing, Speeding benediction over
the length and breadth OF the world.
What we are is influencing and acting
upon mankind. Living and dead alike
we act and speak. Monuments and stat
mes erected to our dead heroes are marks
whose influence will exist In future ages.
The ye0man who gathers treasures from
the earth, the miner who presents Lis
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