Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-17
Sunday Morning ak
The Courage to Wait for Results.

The Courage to Wait for Results.
One Of the best and most useful citizens
Of my acquaintance came to me the other
day, his face all aglow over the happy out
come of certain efforts which he has been
putting forth necessarily for years in the
interests of the public. Said he: For
long time we have been beseging the
authorities for the passing of measures
designed to tighten the lot of certain UNI
fortunates and usually the cold shoulder
has been turned toward us. But this WIN
ter we have succeeded In getting about
what we want A less courageous re-
former would have turned away In dis
gust and despair but he had the grit to
stick to his job. and In due time pubic
sentiment turned in his direction.
Would that all reformers and agitators
for a better day had such sweet ana
patient stick-to-a-tiveness. There are too
many of the type represented by that ar
claimed 1.-The trouble is. I'm in hurry
and God isn't" Those who desire to have
all the wrongs of society righted oefore
sunset are bound to be disappointed, and
unless they have a store of patience they
will chafe and fret over the delayed mil
lennium. But he who has learned how to
take defeat, who falls only to rise again
who believes in the justice OF his cause IS
the man who in time usually carries his
point Public opinion, when campaign or
agitation and education has gone on for
a while. is likely to be aroused and he who
stood at first alone or with very few.
finds the great ajority Of his fellow citi-
Gems lined Up with him.
In the home there is ample field to ex-
ercise this virtue Of courageousiy waiting
for results Sometimes 1t seems as IL those
little colts, the children. would never get
tanned. Goodness me. are they breaking
the furniture again and leaving the marks
warnings. the threats. the gentle persua-
sions, the tender admonitions designed to
produce good table manners and brother
ly and sisterly consideration going for
naught?
shy child. that secretive one. that willful
one? Well. the soil may now seem to be
thin or rocky. the ideal children for which
but wait bit. The chances are that they
will quiet down, that they will In time be-
come orderly and useful members of the
company and fulfil In large measure the
fond hopes Of their parents.
And in the region of personal character
we also must often walt courageousiy Ior
attachments which are necessarily the
fruitage not of one spasmodfc enort or
come. as the bud sweiis into the blossom
and the blossom in turn hardens into the
fruit The making Of character taxes
time. Self-control. steadiness OF purpose
large mindedness. goodness. charitabieness,
do not spring up in a night. AS the nus
bandman. according to the apostle James
''waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth
being patient over it," learn thou also TO
give yourself time. In one of the greatest
battles Of the civil war a general was
watching his troops pushing their way up
q steep hill against whitening fire. They
will never reach the top" he cried out.
His chief Of stan said quietly. Time, gen.
eral, Time give them time" And they did
reach the top.
But Is there not risk In this point of
view? wiit it not make US careless and
lazy? Not IL 1t is rightly understood Only
those can have courage to wait for re-
suits who are doing their utmost day by
day to secure those results. The gutter
and the shirk have no business to expect
any results. But our message n one OF