Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1911-06-24
Doing Our Best.


Without haste
And without rest,
Let us each wheel with steady
sway
Around the task that rules the day
And do our best"
This is a pretty little verse which
contains an excellent rule of life, if
we would but follow it. Our tasks
would become infinitely easier, if
we would always perform them by
this rule, thinking only to perform
them to the best of our ability.
1t is the way a thing is done that
counts, and not the nature of the
task: 1t may be that the dishes are
to be washed, the stockings to be
darned, the floor to be swept. a
pictvre painted a poem written; the
same pleasure is to be derived from
the performance if we 90 at it with
willing heart and steady mind, de-
terminine to do our best. We are
all pupils in the great school of life
and this as a character builder is
one of the hardest lessons we have
to learn.
In an effort to do our best we
must entirely eliminate procras-
tination for a duty done today is
better than duty planned for to-
morrow. In newspaper parlance,
this is expressed, "one scoop today
is worth prospects for tomorrow"
1t is safe to say that the man who
thinks most of tomorr0W's accom-
plishment is not likely to take care
of tomorrow when it comes, while
the man who gives himself unre-
servedIy to the doing of todays
task is the better fitted for tOmOr-
rows when they are at hand. How
ever, we should try not to become
task-masters for no one ever makes
much out Of life who works per-
functorily and reluctantly. Delight
in work gives strength and skill.
No doubt Jesus was an enthusiastic
carpenter who went about Ills
work each day with a song On Ills
lips. The fact that our Master
toiled and wrought with His hands
ought to be an inspiration to other
carpenters and help us all in our
common vocations to toll cheerfully,
soulfully and songfully.
1t is easy for us to pity ourselves
because certain tasks are ours, when
we would rather be doing something
else. We are inclined to think our
selves ill-used. We do not like to
do a thing because we feel that we
must do it. If we could drop the
idea of compulsion and consider
that we are doing our work because
we choose to, whether it be from
a sense of duty or a desire to please
others. our work would be easier
and pleasanter. Earnestly try this
plan and see If the way does not
grow smoother with the fragrant
blossoms of harmony nodding beside
it alone" live doubt this, watch a
group of children playing, see with
what care they mix cakes, wash
dishes and make dolly's clothes,
going through all the routine of
housework without getting tired.
| 1t is simply tun-tOr they are play
ing.
Inside the mother is making real
cakes, washing clothes for larger
dollies and doing the same kind of
work as the child in the yard, yet
she is veXed and nervous all the
time, 1t is not fun-for she is
doing these things because she
must. What a change would be
seen if she could bring in the play
spirit and eliminate the idea of
drudgery-hoW WEAKNESS would
vanish
How often do we see young men
with splendid abilities and fine
education working under a man
who is decidedly his inferior in
every way. We wonder at this, and
upon investigation find some little
weakness, some slight defect, some
weak link in the chain of his char