The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-03-15
Mistakes


BILE is that the mistakes of youth often have the
effect of making the future of mistakes.
Wilful mistakes are more to be deplored than
those made for want of good judgement or through
carelessness.
Many of the failures Of after life are due to
habits formed in childhood and youth
honestly believe that if L had been more care
full in my younger days in regard my studies and
had been more dligent in training my mind, things
would have been far different with me today than
they are.
1t is mistake for young TO permit him
self to begin the fight of life without having i'm.
proved every opportunity to get his thinker in
good condition while boy. He who does other
wise takes great chances of being anybody worth
talking about.
One evening [ stood around the stove of little
Methodist church. trying to warm myself A young
Scotchman entered with shawl around him. He
small in stature and had other drawbacks to con-
tend against. He talked pleasantly and appeared to
be pleased to make the acquaintance of the young
men and the pastor.
The Rev. Seymour A. Baker, the pastor, had a
talk with me the next day about the young Scotch
man. and among other things said: He has a
trained mind, and l will do all can to give him
chance to follow out the bent of his mind which
to be preacher
After while the young man was sent to a small
charge in the part of this State belonging to
denomination that was never noted for having
many adherents. He wrote me letter shortly after
he had become 'settled' and in it stated that his
congregation sometimes consisted of twelve souls
But this did not discourage him, as he was filled
with 1osir axof bo hoo Of
and studied day and night to make himself a master
workman in his chosen profession
1 was in the habit of taking the letters l re-
ceved from my friend to Mr.. Baker. After reading
them he would say: "Tommy's trained mind will yet
land him the upper shelf; and it did, If 1
should tell you all his private hstory-how he stud
led to conquer dificultes-you would be astonished.
and give him credit for the place he fills in the
Presbyterian denomination.
The poor young Scotchman saw the mistake
that many young had made of not being
thorough anything and thus succeeded in making
Roadway against difficulties that would have swamp
ed most young
dark beginning with him only strengthened
his determination to have bright ending And to-
day he is bright and shining light in the literary
world we'll in the pulpit.
1t is a sad mistake to start in manhood with no
preparation: with no ideas to what to pur-
sue; with no plans either for earth or heaven.
1t is worse than mistake to hope that some
kind of POT Luck' will bring you into some haven
of success My school teacher had the good sense
to once tell boys that he knew the kind of men
we would be. One boy inquired what kind of
man he likely to become, and the response
came quickly: "A prize, fighter" And the teacher
proved to be true prophet.
Mistake after mistake has the effect of taking
the heart" out of young man, matter what his
surroundings may be.
One of the smartest young men ever knew in
the western part of this State committed suicide.
made diigent inquiry to find out the cause, and
told by those who knew him that before he commit
ted the fatal act he wrote letter stating that he
could not the mistakes of his early life.
can see him nova handsome. brigbt-looking young
man, beloved by all who knew him. As babe him
farewell for the last time how little did think that
he was soon to be wrecked on the rock of mistakes
which he had built with his own hands.
1t is mistake for young man to practice de-
ceit for the habit will grow on him; and often when
frankness and truthfulness would do more to
plish what he desires, he will find himself using de-
cet to his own discomfort.
When General Grant resigned from the United
States Army and went to farming he
making the mistake of consigning himself to obscur-
ity forever.
It is so easy to make fatal mistake and so
hard to avoid even the remotest results One mis-
take often leads to many disasters. Not only in
matters of religious character. but also in business
affairs.