Year: 1876

BOYS, WHERB Ire FOQs
Boys, where are you on the road
life? There are two roads, you kno1
one leading up to the summit eff tru
nobility, the other leading down throug
marsh and slime to the quagmires
shame, degradation and selfabhorence.


Boys, which road have you taken an
how far have you gone? Where are yo
tonight, and where do you intend TO b
twenty years hence? You mean +
make your mark in the world, do vol
not? You have dreams of wealth an,
fame won by your own untiring zeal ant
industry; you look forward to the tim
when you will be men and do mem
work, and some of you hope to occup,
high places in the land. That's right
boys; dream and hope and work. Som,
of you will be presidents, secretaries
treasurers and leading business men one
day.


What kind of men are you going tC
make What kind of work will you do
What wilI our country be when you
have'eharge Of it?


You can not all be presidents, you
may not all become rich and famous, but
you can all be good and great men if you
will.


But suppose you are one day called tc
occupy a position of great responsibility
are you ready for it, boys?


Have you clean hands. clean heart
and a clear head Are you putting
aside the filthy habits, pulling up the
noxious weeds, and looping off the un-
faithful branches of your character?


You have a high aim in life, you are
earnestly working t. carve out for your
self a great future, but boys, are you
ready for the good fortune when you
have earned it? You are bound to be
a leader among men you say-hold mo,
ment-are you worthy to be a leader?


When you have mounted the ladder
Of fame to its very top, will you stanc
there, a close fisted, conservative, one
idea man, or will you carry up ther,
y o. .-Ss, generous heart, and
the ability to make the world better
and happier?


An ambition which could find its fru.
ition in merely earthly honors is not a
noble one. Seek to occupy a high place
boys, that you may do more good when
you have obtained it.


Begin now to scatter little seeds of
kindness all along your way, and by
and by they will sspring up and bear
good fruit.


There is much in getting right start,
and much in holding out. There is
scarcely ever a boy who starts out with
the intention of becoming dishonest,
untruthful, bad man. But sometimes a
boy makes mistake He did not mean
to do wrong, but he was not earnest and
thoughtful; ne was careless. Then,
when the mistake occurred. somebody
scolded,. and exaggerated the mistake
into a sin, which disheartened and dis
couraged him.


But do not give up, boys, because the
road is rough, the hill hard to climb.
1t is worth while to be honest and good.
one thinks so much more of oneself


You have many discouragements.
You have thorny paths to tread, howery
roads to allure you, and mountains of
difficulties to conquer, if you wish for
success, but remember the promise is
given to him that overcometh, and not
to the one that floats away with the tide.


You must fight if you would win.
Do not think of giving up. BE strong.
Wrestle with the waves; do not let
them carry you back. If you wish for
excellence, struggle for it, and the strug-
gle will inspire and invigorate you.


Sometimes boys have no one to SYM
pathize with them, no one to care
whether they stand or fall. Let me tell
you something there is hope, encour-
agement, sympathy and love waiting in
the future for every one who does his
best to give sunshine and sympathy to
others. For the man who fails there are
only teas and regrets, and sometime
few of them; tor the man who win
there is all he himself has won, and al
his thronging friends can give him.


If, when you have done your yer
best when you have battled with break
4


ers. and struggled bravely in the cul
rent, you are yet overpowered and born
down, why then--dare to fail, anu upo
the failure. build a new and sure
foundation.


IF circumstances are against you, d
the very best you can, retaining aiway
YOUR own independence and selfrespec
and God will take care of the rest
! Are Nik, in Ponleroy's Democrat.