The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-04-23
NOT QUITE A FAILURE
MANS LIFE NOT AS PLANNED,
BUT DUTY WELL DONE.
Quality Of self.saerlflee Counted For
Much When Ambition Was Put
Away at the Call Of Flllal
Affection.


Il always like to see ambition in a
boy" said the doctor, THE best men
are those who as boys had little op-
portunity. but who made the most OF
what they had As a rule the boys
who have worked their way through
college are about the best fellows I
know"
Il agree with you answered the
schoolmaster. But ! sometimes think
that there are boys who never go TO
college who have done even better.
Did ever tell you about John Smith?
IT was years ago, and | was prins
cipal Of the school in little country
town. II was the only high school in
the county, and the boys and girls
from all round attended Many Of
them could not get away from the
farms until late in the season and 50
dropped in at any time during the
term. Well, along about Thanksgiving
John Smith arrived. He told me he
lived six miles back In the country,
and had walked in, He was big,
well-set-up boy with bright, intelll.
gent face, and | soon found that he
had come to study, One day | was
struck with the amount of mud on his
shoes. You must have a muddy walk
to school, remarked.
Yes. sir he answered. the roads
are pretty bad And then l found out
that he walked the six miles in every
morning and out again at night! II a
boy took that trouble to get an educa'
ton, was interested, and | had a
quiet talk with him. He had a wild
owed mother and a little sister, and
they owned a small farm. For the past
two years John had done all the work
himself, and he still had to do it. That
was the reason he had to live at home
instead Of boarding in town. He told
me that he wanted to go to college
and become a doctor His father had
been an unsuccessful lawyer, who had
given up his practice and bought the
farm, John told me his plans. He
was sure he could gee another boy in
the neighborhood to look after his
place while he was at college. and his
mother was as anxious for him to go
as he was
Naturally I gave him all the help !
could, and although he had to leave
early in the spring ] lent him books
and gave him a little personal aid in
his work from time to time
Well, three years more passed in /
the same way, John kept we'll up I
with his studies by hard work. and at
last he was ready to enter college He /
was accepted for entrance on the
school certificate. and il was a pleas.
IRE to see the clad look on his face
when | showed him the registrars
etter saying that he was admitted He
lad saved a little money from various
odd Jobs that he had done, and he told
ne that he was all ready financially
or the first year and that he had no
loubt that he could manage the 9th
ers.
81 left the school that year, but just
before it was time for college to open,
wrote John a letter of counsel and
encouragement. ! got this brief note
n reply: I am sorry to say that am
lot going TO college.
81 made Il a point to go down to see
What had prevented him from carrying
,ut his ambition. | found him hoeing
,orn. He was very glad to see me,
md told me what the trouble was. His
mother had had a stroke of paralysis
Without a murmur he had given up
lis cherished plan When asked him
whether he could not get someone to
AXE care of her, while he went on
With his course, he told me that that
vas impossible, since his mother de.
'ended so entirely upon him. shall
ever forget the tragedy and love to.
ether in the boys face as he talked
o me of his vanished hopes and
watched his helpless mother"
81 suppose he got to college some
ow," remarked the doctor, "and is
ow a famous surgeon"
No" replied the schoolmaster.
that was ten years ago, but | heard
rom him only yesterday His mother
5 still alive and still helpless He is
till running the farm making a small
wing and caring for her The little
lister he has just sent to the normal
chool, but he will be a small farmer
0 the end of his days. And | believe
e was just the man to have made a
plendid doctor Yet | hardly think
is life has been failure"
Il should think not" said the doc
or-Youths Companion