Boy wanted

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Title:'BoyWanted'
ABookofCheerfulCounsel
Author:NixonWaterman
ReleaseDate:October19,2014[EBook#47148]
Language:English

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“BoyWanted”
Donotloiterorshirk,
Donotfalterorshrink;
Butjustthinkoutyourwork
Andthenworkoutyour“think”.


OTHERBOOKS

BYNIXONWATERMAN
ABOOKOFVERSES
INMERRYMOOD
ABookofCheerfulRhymes.
Cloth,12mo,each,$1.25.
FORBES&COMPANY,CHICAGO

CABININWHICHLINCOLNWASBORN

“BOYWANTED”
ABOOKOFCHEERFULCOUNSEL
BY

NIXONWATERMAN
AUTHOROF“THEGIRLWANTED,”
“ABOOKOFVERSES,”ETC.

TORONTO
McCLELLAND&GOODCHILD
Limited


COPYRIGHT,1906
BY

NIXONWATERMAN
AllRightsReserved

TO
—THEBOYWHODISCERNS

HECANNEVERBE“IT”
UNTILHEDEVELOPS
SOME“GIT-UP-AND-GIT.”

AcknowledgmentsareherebymadetothepublishersofLife,Success,Saturday
Evening Post, Woman’s Home Companion, St. Nicholas, Christian Endeavor
World, Young People’s Weekly, Youth’s Companion, and other periodicals, for
their courteous permission to reprint the author’s copyrighted poems which
originallyappearedintheirpublications.


PREFACE
Inpresentingthisbookofcheerfulcounseltohisyouthfulfriends,andsuchof
theseniorsasarenottoooldtoacceptabitoffriendlyadmonition,theauthor
desirestoofferawordofexplanationregardingthehistoryofthemakingofthis
volume.
So many letters have been received from people of all classes and ages
requesting copies of some of the author’s lines best suited for the purpose of
engenderingasenseofself-helpinthemindofyouth,thathedeemsitexpedient
to offer a number of his verses in the present collected form. While he is
indebtedtoagreatarrayofbrightmindsfortheproseincidentsandinspiration
whichconstitutealargeportionofthisvolume,hedesirestobeheldpersonally
responsibleforalloftherhymedlinestobefoundwithinthesecovers.
It may be especially true of advice that “it is more blessed to give than to
receive,” but it is hoped that in this present form of tendering friendly counsel
the precepts will be accepted in the same cheerful spirit in which they are
offered.
Theauthorrealizesthatnooneismoreurgentlyinneedofgoodadviceandthe
intelligence to follow it than is the writer of these lines, and none cries more
earnestlythewell-knowntruth—

Oh,fellowmenandbrothers,
Couldwebutusethefree
Advicewegivetoothers,
Howhappyweshouldbe!
Whilethetitleofthisbookandthecharacterofitscontentsmakeitobviousthat
itisavolumedesignedprimarilyfortheguidanceofyouth,nooneshouldpassit
by merely because he has reached the years of maturity, and presumably of
discretion.AsamatteroffactTimecannotremoveanyofusveryfarfromthe
fanciesandfoibles,thedreamsanddangersoflife’smorninghours.
Agebringethwisdom,sotheysay,
Butlotsoftimeswe’veseen


Amanlongafterhewasgray
Keeprightonbeing“green.”
N.W.


CONTENTS
CHAPTER

I THEAWAKENING
Thelifepartnership.Whentobegin.Foresight.“BoyWanted.”
The power of mind. “Couldn’t and Could.” Selfmade men.
“DelivertheGoods.”
II “AMIAGENIUS?”
Genius defined. Inspiration and perspiration. “Stick to It.”
Genius and patience. “Keep Pegging Away.” Examples of
patience.“TheSecretofSuccess.”
III OPPORTUNITY
What is a fair chance? Abraham Lincoln. Depending on self.
“MyselfandI.”Theimportanceofthepresentmoment.“Right
HereandJustNow.”Povertyandsuccess.“KeepA-Trying.”
IV OVERANDUNDERDOING
Precocity. Starting too soon as bad as starting too late. The
valueofhealth.“Makingaman.”Theworthoftoil.“Howto
WinSuccess.”Sharpenedwits.“TheSteadyWorker.”
V THEVALUEOFSPAREMOMENTS
Wastingtime.“The‘Going-to-Bees!’”Thepossibilitiesofone
hour a day. “Just This Minute.” The vital importance of
properlyemployingleisuremoments.“DoItNow.”
VI CHEERFULNESS
The value of smiles. “To Know All is to Forgive All.” Hope
and strength. “A Cure for Trouble.” Carlyle on cheerfulness.
“TheOneWithaSong.”Pessimismasabarriertosuccess.“A
SmileandaTask.”Aprofitablevirtue.“AnOpenLettertothe
Pessimist.”
VII DREAMINGANDDOING

PAGE

11


23


35


49


61


75


89


Practicality.“HankStreeter’sBrain-Wave.” Self-esteem.“The
Valley of Never.” Opportunity and application. “Yender
Grass.”

VIII “TRIFLES”
The value of little things. Sowing and reaping. The power of
habit.“‘IWish’and‘IWill.’”JennyLind’shumblebeginning.
Canova’s genius. Present opportunities. “‘Now’ and
‘Waitawhile.’”


IX THEWORTHOFADVICE
Heeding the sign-post. The value of guide-books. “The
World’sVictors.”Goodbooksaboy’sbestfriend.Thedanger
of knowing too much. “My Boyhood Dreams.” Reading and
reflecting.


X REALSUCCESS
Are you the boy wanted? Money and success. “On Getting
Rich.”Thinkinganddoing.Life’struepurpose.“TheMother’s
Dream.”



101

115

129


ILLUSTRATIONS
LINCOLN’SBIRTHPLACE

PATRICKHENRYDELIVERINGHISCELEBRATEDSPEECH
WHITTIER’SBIRTHPLACE
WATTDISCOVERINGTHECONDENSATIONOFSTEAM
LONGFELLOW’SBIRTHPLACE
GARFIELDASACANALBOY
BIRTHPLACEOFBENJAMINFRANKLIN
WASHINGTONANDLAFAYETTEATMOUNTVERNON

[Pg10]
[Pg11]

Frontispiece
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“BOYWANTED”

CHAPTERI
THEAWAKENING
Nothingisimpossibletothemanwhocanwill.—MIRABEAU.

Ho, my brave youth! There’s a “Boy Wanted,” and—how fortunate!—you are
theveryboy!
Whowantsyou?
Youwillfindpoetrynowhereunlessyoubringsomewithyou.—JOUBERT.

Thebig,busy,beautifulworldwantsyou,andIreallydonotseehowitisgoing
togetonwellwithoutyou.Ithasawaitedyourcomingsolong,andhaskeptin
storesomanygoldenopportunitiesforyoutoimprove,itwillbedisappointedif,
whenthepropertimearrives,youdonotsmilinglylayholdanddosomething
worthwhile.
Whenareyoutobegin?
Thingsdon’tturnupinthisworlduntilsomebodyturnsthemup.—GARFIELD.

Oh,Isincerelyhopethatyouhavealreadybeguntobegin;thatis,thatyouhave
alreadybeguntotrainyourhandandheadandheartformakingthemostofthe
opportunitiesthatawaityou.Infact,ifyouaresofortunateastoownthoughtful,
intelligent parents, the work of fitting you for the victories of life was begun
beforeyouwereoldenoughtogivethesubjectseriousconsideration.
WorkhasmademewhatIam.Ineverateabitofidlebreadinmylife.—DANIELWEBSTER.

“When shall I begin to train my child?” asked a young mother of a wise
physician.
“Howoldisthechild?”inquiredthedoctor.
“Twoyears.”
Intheblackestsoilsgrowthefairestflowers,andtheloftiestandstrongesttreesspringheavenward

amongtherocks.—HOLLAND.

“Thenyouhavealreadylostjusttwoyears,”washisseriousresponse.
OliverWendellHolmes,whenaskedthesamequestion,said:“Youmustbegin
withthechild’sgrandmother.”
Withoutcouragetherecannotbetruth;andwithouttruththerecanbenoothervirtue.—WALTERSCOTT.

Butnomatterwhathasorhasnotbeendoneforyouuptothepresenttime,you
and I know that from now on your future welfare will be largely of your own
makingandinyourownkeeping.Ifyouwillthoughtfullyplanyourpurposeas
definitelyasconditionswillpermitandthenlearntosticktoitthroughthickand
thin,yoursuccessinlifeisquitewellassured,andyouneednotfearthatatthe
end of the journey you will have to say, as does many a man while
retrospectivelyviewinghisyears:
Vigilanceinwatchingopportunity;tactanddaringinseizinguponopportunity;forceandpersistence
incrowdingopportunitytoitsutmostofpossibleachievement—thesearethemartialvirtueswhich
mustcommandsuccess.—PHELPS.

O’erlife’slongandwindingpathway,
Lookingbackward,Iconfess
Ihavenotatlookingforward
Beenagenuinesuccess.
Whatisthereforyoutodo?
Workistheinevitableconditionofhumanlife,thetruesourceofhumanwelfare.—TOLSTOI.

Everythingandanythingyoucandoorcaretodo.Youaretotakeyourpickof
allthetrades,professions,andvocationsofmankind.Lookaboutyouandnote
thethousandandonethingsnowbeingdonebythemenofto-day.Itwillnotbe
soverylongtillallofthesemenwillbeoldenoughtoretirefromactiveservice,

and then you and the other boys, who in the meantime have grown to man’s
estate,willbecalledupontoperformeveryoneofthetasksthesemenarenow
doing.Doesn’titlookasiftherewouldbeplentyofhonest,earnest,wholesome
toilforhandandheadinstoreforyouassoonasyouarereadytoundertakeit?
Youcannotwonder thatthebusy old worldiseverandalways hangingoutits
notice—


“BOYWANTED”
Peopledonotlackstrength;theylackwill.—VICTORHUGO.

“Wanted—ABoy.”Howoftenwe
Thisquitefamiliarnoticesee.
Wanted—aboyforeverykind
Oftaskthatabusyworldcanfind.
Heiswanted—wantednowandhere;
Therearetownstobuild;therearepathstoclear;
Thereareseastosail;therearegulfstospan,
Intheeveronwardmarchofman.
Youcannotdreamyourselfintoacharacter;youmusthammerandforgeoneyourself.—FROUDE.

Wanted—theworldwantsboysto-day
Anditoffersthemallithasforpay.
’Twillgrantthemwealth,position,fame,
Ausefullife,andanhonoredname.
Boyswhowillguidetheplowandpen;
Boyswhowillshapethewaysformen;
Boyswhowillforwardthetasksbegun,
Fortheworld’sgreatworkisneverdone.
Thetruestwisdomisaresolutedetermination.—NAPOLEON.

Theworldiseagertoemploy
Notjustone,buteveryboy
Who,withapurposestanchandtrue,
Willgreettheworkhefindstodo.
Honest,faithful,earnest,kind,—
Togood,awake;toevil,blind,—
Aheartofgoldwithoutalloy,—
Wanted—theworldwantssuchaboy.
Whileweareconsideringwhentobegin,itisoftentoolatetoact.—QUINTILIAN.

No, the world does not insist that you are to accept a position and begin work


withyourhandsatonce,butitwishesyoutobegintothinkrightthings.“Ashe
thinketh in his heart, so is he.” What you think will have much to do in
determiningwhatyouaretobecome.
Themindismasteroftheman,
Andso“theycanwhothinktheycan.”
Whereboastingends,theredignitybegins.—YOUNG.
Impossibleisawordfoundonlyinthedictionaryoffools.—NAPOLEON.

This influence of the mind in thus shaping the man is very well set forth by
JamesAllen,whosays:“Aman’smindmaybelikenedtoagarden,whichmay
be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or
neglected,itmust,andwill,bringforth.Ifnousefulseedsareputintoit,thenan
abundanceofuselessweed-seedswillfalltherein,andwillcontinuetoproduce
theirkind.Justasagardenercultivateshisplot,keepingitfreefromweeds,and
growingtheflowersandfruitswhichherequires,somayamantendthegarden
of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, and impure thoughts, and

cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful, and pure
thoughts.Bypursuingthisprocess,amansoonerorlaterdiscoversthatheisthe
master-gardener of his soul, the director of his life. He also reveals, within
himself, the laws of thought, and understands, with ever-increasing accuracy,
how the thought-forces and mind-elements operate in the shaping of his
character,circumstances,anddestiny.”
Iaminearnest.Iwillnotequivocate.Iwillnotexcuse.Iwillnotretreatasingleinch;andIwillbe
heard.—GARRISON.

So it is not too early for you to begin to think bravely and resolutely and
hopefully upon the life you intend to live, and to cultivate the mental and
physical strength that shall help you later on to put your good thoughts into
permanent good deeds. Certainty of victory goes far toward winning battles
before they are fought. The boy who thinks “I can” is much more likely to
succeedinlifethanistheonewhothinks“Ican’t.”

“COULDN’T”AND“COULD”
Whileyoustanddeliberatingwhichbookyoursonshallreadfirst,anotherboyhasreadboth.—DR.


JOHNSON.

“Couldn’t”and“Could”weretwopromisingboys
Wholivednotagreatwhileago.
Theyhadjustthesameplaymatesandjustthesametoys,
Andjustthesamechancesforwinninglife’sjoys
Andallthattheyearsmaybestow.
Dostthoulovelife?Thendonotsquandertime,forthatisthestufflifeismadeof.—FRANKLIN.

And“Could”soonfoundouthecouldfashionhislife

Onlinesverymuchasheplanned;
Hecouldcultivategoodnessandguardagainststrife;
Hecouldhaveallhisdeedswithgoodcheertoberife,
Andbuildhimanamethatwouldstand.
Whenpassionisonthethrone,reasonisoutofdoors.—MATTHEW HENRY.

Butpoorlittle“Couldn’t”justcouldn’tpullthrough
Allthetrialshemetwithasigh;
Whenataskneededdoing,hecouldn’t,heknew;
Andhence,whenhecouldn’t,howcouldhe?Couldyou,
Ifyoucouldn’tdetermineyou’dtry?
Iwastedtime,andnowtimedothwasteme.—SHAKESPEARE.

So“Could”justkeptbuildinghiswaytosuccess,
Norcloudinghisskywithadoubt,
But“Couldn’t”strayedintothesloughofDistress,
Alas!andhisenditiseasytoguess—
Strayedin,buthecouldn’tgetout.
Andthatwasthedifference’twixt“Couldn’t”and“Could”;
Eachfollowedhisownchosenplan;
Andwhere“Couldn’t”justwouldn’t“Could”earnestlywould,
Andwhereoneofthemweakenedtheother“madegood,”
Andwonwithhiswatchword,“Ican!”
Weakmenwaitforopportunities,strongmenmakethem.—MARDEN.


By reading between the lines we can infer from the foregoing that what the
world really wants is men—good men. But the world is old enough and wise
enough to know that if it does not train up some good boys, there will be no
good men, by and by. “As the twig is bent the tree is inclined.” “The child is

fatheroftheman.”
Givemeinsightintoto-day,andyoumayhavetheantiqueandfutureworlds.—EMERSON.

So the world simply wishes to inform you, here and now, that it will count on
your assistance as soon as you have had sufficient time and opportunity to
prepareproperlyforthemanychancesithasinstoreforyou.Itnotifiesyouin
goodseasonoftheimportantuseithopestomakeofyou.Itdoesnotwishyouto
beconfrontedsuddenlywithalifeproblemyoucannotsolveintelligently.You
mustbesowellequippedthatyouwillnotmakelifea“fizzle.”
WhenIdon’tknowwhethertofightornot,Ialwaysfight.—NELSON.

A “fizzle,” as defined by the dictionaries, is a bungling, unsuccessful
undertaking.
Whatisagentleman?I’lltellyou:agentlemanisonewhokeepshispromisesmadetothosewho
cannotenforcethem.—HUBBARD.

Lifeis,oroughttobe,asplendidundertaking.Somemakeasuccessofit;some
makea“fizzle;”somemakeasortofhalf-and-half.Everyonewholiveshisor
her life must make something of it. What that “something” is depends very
largely on the individual person. Heredity has something to do with it;
environmenthassomethingtodowithit;yetweliketothinkitistheindividual
whohasmosttodowiththefinishedproduct.
All men are to some degree “self-made,” although they are slow to admit it
exceptininstanceswheretheworkhasbeenwelldone.
Whenonebeginstoturninbeditistimetoturnout.—WELLINGTON.

TheloserdeclaresitisFate’shardplan,
Butthewinner—ho,ho!—he’sa“self-made”man.
Itisunfairforthelosertoblameothersforhisdeficienciesanddelinquencies.

Noone’sreputationislikelytosuffermuchlastinginjuryaslongashekeepshis
characterunspotted.Whatothersmaysayofusisnotofsomuchmoment;the
importantquestionis,“Isittrue?”
WhenIfoundIwasblack,IresolvedtoliveasifIwerewhite,andsoforcementolookbelowmy
skin.—ALEXANDREDUMAS.

Ofstrifeothersmakeus,we’velittletofear
Becausewecansurelydefeatit;
Fewpersonsgetintohotwater,’tisclear,
Buttheyfurnishthefueltoheatit.
Impossible?Itrampleuponimpossibilities!—PITT.

Ontheotherhandthewinnerisungratefulwhenhecreditstohisownabilitythe
helpandgoodinfluencehehasderivedfromhisassociatesandhissurroundings.
Noonelivesby,to,orforhimself,alone.Agreatmanaddstohisgreatnessby
generouslypraisingthosewhohaveaidedinhisadvancement.
Weare,mostofus,selfishlyslowtoconfess
Howmuchothersaidusinwinningsuccess;
ButtheFourthofJulyandtheoystermustsee
Whatfailures,withoutanycrackers,they’dbe.
Whenallisholiday,therearenoholidays.—LAMB.

Thistimelynoticetellingyouwhattheworldisgoingtoaskyoutoperformisas
ifyouweretoldtopreparetotakeanextendedandimportantjourney.Itwould
require some time for you to procure a trunk and a traveling-bag and to select
wearingapparelsuitablefortheundertaking.Then,too,youwouldneedtostudy
maps and time-tables so as to select the best lines of travel and to make
advantageousconnectionswithtrainsandsteamships.Furthermore,itwouldbe
foryourbestintereststoreadbooksdescribingthecountriesthroughwhichyou

were to pass, and to learn as much as possible regarding their peoples and
customs.
Let’staketheinstantbytheforwardtop.—SHAKESPEARE.
Ihavegenerallyfoundthatthemanwhoisgoodatanexcuseisgoodfornothingelse.—FRANKLIN.


Ifeelandgrieve,but,bythegraceofGod,Ifretatnothing.—JOHNWESLEY.

As a matter of fact you are preparing to start on an extended and important
journey.Youaregoingoutintothebigworld,byandby,todobusiness.Youare
going into partnership with the world, after a fashion. You are to put into the
business your honesty, industry, integrity, and ability, and in return for your
contributions,theworldistobestowuponyouallthehonor,fame,goodwill,and
happinessofmindthatyourmanneroflivingyourlifeshallmerit.Theworldis
onlytoowillingtobargainforthehighestandnoblestandbestproductsofthe
humanmindwithanyonewhocan

DELIVERTHEGOODS
Wecansingawayourcareseasierthanwecanreasonthemaway.—BEECHER.

Theworldwillbuylargelyofanyonewho
Candeliverthegoods.
Itisreadyandeagertobarterifyou
Candeliverthegoods.
Butdon’ttakeitsorderandmakeoutthebill
Unlessyouaresureyou’llbeabletofill
Yourcontract,becauseitwon’tpayyouuntil
Youdeliverthegoods.
Triflesmakeperfection,butperfectionisnotrifle.—MICHAELANGELO.

Theworldrearsitsloftiestshaftstothemen
Whodeliverthegoods.
Withplow,lever,brush,hammer,sword,orwithpen
Theydeliverthegoods.
Andwhilewetheireloquentepitaphsscan
Thatsayintheworld’sworktheystoodinthevan,
Weknowthatthemeaningis,“Hereliesaman
Whodeliveredthegoods.”
Anxietyneveryetsuccessfullybridgedoveranychasm.—RUFFINI.

Andrudeorrefinedbeyourwares,stillbesure


Todeliverthegoods.
Thoughakingoraclown,stillrememberthatyou’re
Todeliverthegoods.
Ifyoufindyouarecalledtothepulpittopreach,
Tothegrain-fieldstotill,totheforumtoteach;
Beyoupoetorporter,rememberthateach
Mustdeliverthegoods.
PATRICKHENRYDELIVERINGHISCELEBRATEDSPEECH


CHAPTERII
“AMIAGENIUS?”
Truemeritislikeariver,thedeeperitisthelessnoiseitmakes.—HALIFAX.

You hope, and perchance believe, no doubt, that when you have a full
opportunitytoshowtheworldwhatsortoftimberyouaremadeofthatitwill
look upon you as being a “genius.” Almost every boy cherishes some such

aspiration. And why not? Such a trend of thought is to be encouraged. It is
properandcommendable.Wewouldallbegeniusesifwecould.
Weknowwhatweare,butnotwhatwemaybe.—SHAKESPEARE.

Theworldadmiresagenius.Ifheisthegenuinearticleitseekshisautograph,
printshispictureinbooksandnewspapers,andwhenhepassesawayitislikely
tobuildamonumentoverhisremains.
Vacillationistheprominentfeatureofweaknessofcharacter.—VOLTAIRE.

Andcanweallbegeniuses?Somesaywecanandsomesaywecannot,quite.
Somesaygeniusesarebornandsomesaytheyareself-made.
When Mr. Edison, the famous electrician and inventor, was asked for his
definitionof geniushe answered: “Twopercentisgeniusandninety-eightper
cent is hard work.” On another occasion when asked: “Mr. Edison, don’t you
believethatgeniusisinspiration?”hereplied,“No!geniusisperspiration.”
Conductisthree-fourthsoflife.—EMERSON.

This definition of genius quite agrees with that given by the American
statesman,AlexanderHamilton,whosaid:“AllthegeniusIhaveliesinjustthis:
WhenIhaveasubjectinhand,Istudyitprofoundly.Dayandnightitisbefore
me.Iexploreitinallitsbearings;mymindbecomespervadedwithit.Thenthe
effortwhichImakethepeoplearepleasedtocallgenius.Itisthefruitoflabor
andthought.”
Wemustnotyieldtodifficulties,butstrivethehardertoovercomethem.—ROBERTE.LEE.


Helvetius, the famous French philosopher, says: “Genius is nothing but a
continued attention,” and Buffon tells us that “genius is only a protracted
patience.”
Througheveryclauseandpartofspeechofarightbook,Imeettheeyesofthemostdeterminedmen.

—EMERSON.

Turner,thegreatlandscapepainter,whenaskedhowhehadachievedhisgreat
success, replied: “I have no secret but hard work. This is a secret that many
neverlearn,andtheydonotsucceedbecausetheydonotlearnit.Laboristhe
geniusthatchangestheworldfromuglinesstobeauty.”
AllyourGreekwillneveradvanceyoufromsecretarytoenvoy,orfromenvoytoambassador;but
youraddress,yourair,yourmanner,ifgood,may.—CHESTERFIELD.

“Themanwhosucceedsabovehisfellows,”saysLordLytton,“istheonewho
earlyinlifeclearlydiscernshisobjectandtowardthatobjecthabituallydirects
his powers. Even genius itself is but fine observation strengthened by fixity of
purpose. Every man who observes vigilantly and resolves steadfastly grows
unconsciouslyintogenius.”
“AmIagenius?”
’Tisthemindthatmakesthebodyrich.—SHAKESPEARE.

Now that you have asked the question, why not carefully think it over and
determine what the answer should be? Have you patience and determination?
Areyoucultivatingthehabitofstickingtoit?

STICKTOIT
Toreadwithoutreflectionislikeeatingwithoutdigesting.—BURKE.

Oprimlittlepostage-stamp,“holdingyourown”
Inamannersowinningandgentle.
Thatyou’re“stuckon”yourtask—(isthatslang?)—youwillown,
Andyet,you’renottwo-cent-imental.
Ihavenotedwithpridethatthroughthickandthroughthin
Youclingtoathingtillyoudoit,

And,whateveryouraim,youarecertaintowin


Becauseyouseemboundtosticktoit.
Ilearntthatnothingcanconstitutegoodbreedingthathasnotgoodnatureforitsfoundation.
—BULWER.

SometimeswhenIfeeljustlikeshirkingatask
OrquittingtheworkI’mpursuing,
Irecallyourstick-to-it-ive-nessandIask,
“Wouldapostage-stampdoasI’mdoing?”
ThenIturntowhatevermyhandsareabout
Andwithfortifiedpurposerenewit,
Andtheendsoonencompass,forwhichIsetout,
If,only,likeyou,Isticktoit.
Thesagesdeclarethattruegenius,socalled,
Issimplythewillto“keepatit.”
A“won’t-give-up”purposeisneverforestalled,
Nomatterwhatfoesmaycombatit.
Andmostofmankind’svauntedprogressismade,
Ostamp!iftheworldonlyknewit,
Bynotingthewisdomwhichyouhavedisplayed
Instickingadhesivelytoit.
Toacquireafewtongues,saysaFrenchwriter,isthetaskofafewyears;buttobeeloquentinoneis
thelaborofalife.—COLTON.

Genius has a twin brother whose name is Patience. The one is quite often
mistaken for the other, which is not strange since they resemble each other so
closely their most intimate friends can scarcely tell them apart. These two
brothers usually work together, which enables the world to tell who and what

theyare,forwhenevereitherofthemisemployedsinglyandaloneheishardly
everrecognized.
Tobeproudoflearningisthegreatestignorance.—BISHOPTAYLOR.

Oneofthese brothers plantsthetreeand theother caresforituntilthefruitis
finallymatured. Thetree which Genius plants would never amount to much if
Patienceweretogrowtiredofwateringandcaringforit.Thereareweedstobe
kept down, branches to be pruned, the soil must be looked after, worms’-nests
must be destroyed, and many things must be done before the fruit is ready to


harvest.
Lifeisnotsoshortbutthatthereisalwaysroomenoughforcourtesy.—EMERSON.

If Patience were to refuse to work at any time the whole undertaking would
prove a failure. But he does not. He performs his plain, simple duty, day after
day,yearafteryear,until,afterlongwaiting,thereisthebeautifulfruitatlast.It
looksverypretty,butitisnotyetquiteripe.Pickittoosoonanditwillshrivel
upandlackflavor.ButPatiencehaslearnedtowaituntilthedayandthehourof
perfectionisathand,andlo!thereishisgreatreward!
Aman’sowngoodbreedingisthebestsecurityagainstotherpeople’sillmanners.—CHESTERFIELD.

The people say: “See this wonderful fruit that grew on the tree which Genius
planted!”ButGenius,whoiswiserthanthemultitude,says,“Seethiswonderful
fruitthatgrewonthetreewhichPatiencetended!”
Commonsensebowstotheinevitableandmakesuseofit.—WENDELLPHILLIPS.

Patience and perseverance are the qualities that enable one to work out his
problems in school and his larger problems in the big university of the busy
world.

Aboveallthings,reverenceyourself.—PYTHAGORAS.

Toilholdsallgeniusashisown,
Forinhisgraspastrengthishid
Tomakeofpolishedwordsorstone
Apoemorapyramid.
Ithasbeenverytrulysaidthatifwewillpickupagrainadayandaddtoour
heapweshallsoonlearnbyhappyexperiencethepoweroflittlesasappliedto
intellectualprocessesandpossessions.
ToAdam,Paradisewashome;tothegoodamonghisdescendants,homeisParadise.—HARE.

Theroadtosuccess,saysoneoftheworld’sphilosophers,isnottoberunupon
byseven-leagueboots.Stepbystep,littlebylittle,bitbybit;thatisthewayto
wealth,thatisthewaytowisdom,thatisthewaytoglory.Themanwhoismost
likelytoachievesuccessinlifeistheonewhowhenaboylearnsto


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