Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-12-01

we'll on tho harp his music opened a
big. wide door for him. Read the
18th chapter of Samuel and you will
see how the boy who didn't have any
chance made his own chance by grow
ing so fast that the little place soon
became too small for him. One day
the devil got into the king, and to get
him out it was necessary to send
rush order to find somebody who
could make better music than the devil
could stand, for nothing will give the
devil cold feet like good music. He
can't stand that. That may explain
why the devil is always trying to raise
Cain in the choir.
AS soon as it became known what
was needed a man right at the kings
elbow-one of his courtiers- made a
low bow AID said: Behold, have
seen a son of Jesse, the Bethlehemite,
who is cunning in playing, and
mighty valiant man, and man of war,
and prudent in matters, and comely
person, and the Lord is with him."
And David got the place on that rec
ommendation. would like to have you
notice this: David didn't have to lose
an hours time in trying to find a bet
ter place than the one in which he
began. AS soon as he was qualified for
the better riace it was ready for him,
and this is always true. The big place
and the big man are sure to come to-
gether.
would like to have you bear in
mind that David didn't have to pull
any strings to get that place 1t was
government position, but he didn't
have to put his politics and religion
in the background to, get it. He
didn't have to say what he would do
or what he wouldn't do about any
thing under the sun. He went to that
place as free as bird, because he
was the only man in the kingdom
who could fill it.
Notice also, that David didn't have
to send any references, or hunt up
I anybody to recommend him. He
didn't have to have a recommendation
with all the best names in the county
on it, Nothing of the kind, for there
was man right at the kings elbow
who knew ali about David, and who
did all the recommending that was
needed The man may have been q
stranger to David, but he knew al
about him, and about what he could
do. Notice, too, what an enthusiastic
recommendation it was. He knew sc
much that was good about David thai
when he began talking he hardly knew
where to stop.
Be Better Than Your Job.
There was great deal more in Da
yid's recommendation than the speci
fications called for, and it must al
ways be so. To simply fill the place
will not do; you must run it over. YOU
must always have a great deal mor'
in the way Of qualification than il
called for. If a firm advertises for
bookkeeper and you are nothing more
if you apply and get the place, yo'
will not keep it long. There will 500
be disappointment and failure ant
you will geI the grand slSiddoo.
But let us look into the recommer
dation Of David's and see what it rea
ly meant All the king wanted was
/. man who was cunning in playing O
the harp; and that time meant a.
that was excellent in music. The ma
told the king that David was A l o
that line, and then in addition he pro
! ceeded to say: "He is mighty valian
5 man and a man of war A shepher
5 boy out on the hillside, where he ha
/ no chance to get his name into tn
| newspapers, and yet David had gail
Y ed something more than a local rep'
e tation for his valor. His opportunitie
t were limited, but he never missed on
0 that came his way, and SO he was 500
;. known as a young man who was tai
ing stand against some things an
! winning battles that meant som
& thing.
), The young man who would succee
! in life must be mighty valial
- man and man of war. He must
: armed from head to foot and |
, ready for battle at moments n
:. tice against everything that
. against him He must take star
, and determine to hold his groun
:, no matter who or what comes o.
: against him. The young man mu
. sign his own declaration of indepen
> ence and fight his own revolutiona
war. Unless he does this he C;
: never know what it means to Gel
,, brate his own Fourth of July. N
q body else will fight his battles for hi
- He must do 1t himself. He must go
;. war against his appetites and pc
- sions, against his own downward te
! denotes and natural slothfulness,
- we are all about as lazy as circu
IA stances will permit. He must nail
y, flag to the mast, and do it with ma
a. that will clinch Be a warrior, you
-. man, against everything that wou
- destroy you, against everything til
10 would enslnve you, against everythi
a. that would prevent your having
II BILE career.
i'll The mex thing the man had TO S
as about David was that he was prude
ne in matters. Successful men are alwa
n. prudent men. There cannot be mu
" success in anything withe
;. prudence. The imprudent m
I'd brings upon himself tho
he and troubles that prudence wo,
he avoid. You don't find the prudent m
he sitting on limb and saving it
he between himself and the tree. Y
nd don't find the prudent man swallow
= a potato bug and then taking d.