_True Greatness lies not in being too proud to wait on one"s self._
Chief Justice Marshall was in the habit of going to market himself, and carrying home his purchases. Frequently he would be seen returning at sunrise, with poultry in one hand and vegetables in the other. On one of these occasions, a fashionable young man from the North, who had removed to Richmond, was swearing violently because he could find no one to carry home his turkey. Marshall stepped up, and asking him where he lived, said "That is my way, and I will take it for you." When they came to his house, the young man inquired, "What shall I pay you?" "O, nothing," said the Chief Justice, "you are welcome, it was on my way, and no trouble." "Who is that polite old gentleman, who brought home my turkey for me?" inquired the young man of a by-stander. "That," replied he, "is John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States." "Why did he bring home my turkey?" "To give you a severe reprimand, and teach you to attend to your own business," was the reply. True greatness never feels above doing any thing that is useful; but especially, the truly great man will never feel above helping himself. His own independence of character depends on his being able to help himself. Dr. Franklin, when he first established himself in business, in Philadelphia, wheeled home the paper which he purchased for his printing office, upon a wheel-barrow, with his own hands.
_True Greatness does not make a man difficult about his own accommodations._
At a time when the court was sitting in Buffalo, N. Y., and all the public houses were full, there came to the princ.i.p.al hotel a starched up little Frenchman, and called for lodgings. He was shown into a small, but well-furnished room, which was the only one in the house that was vacant. He thought himself insulted; and with much warmth said, "Me gem"man--me no sleep here!" A little while afterwards Chancellor Kent, the highest judicial officer in the state, called for lodgings. The landlord told him he was full, excepting one little room, which he did not like to offer to such a man as he. But the Chancellor wished to see it; and on being shown into it, said, "O, this will do very well--it is a fine room." Which do you think was the greater of these two men? A small mind makes much ado about little things.
_True Greatness does not consist in being in the fashion._
When Dr. Franklin was received at the French Court as American Minister, he felt some scruples of conscience about complying with their fashions of dress. "He hoped," he said to the Minister, "that as he was a very plain man, and represented a plain republican people, the king would indulge his desire to appear in the court in his usual dress.
Independent of this, the season of the year," said he, "renders the change from yarn stockings to fine silk somewhat dangerous." The French Minister made him a bow, but said that fashion was too sacred a thing for him to meddle with, but he would do him the honor to mention it to his majesty. The king smiled and returned word that Dr. Franklin was at liberty to appear at court in any dress that he pleased. In spite of that delicate respect for foreigners for which the French are so remarkable, the courtiers could not help staring at first at Dr.
Franklin"s Quaker dress. But it soon appeared as though he had been introduced upon this splendid theatre only to demonstrate that great genius, like beauty, "needs not the aid of ornament."
CHAPTER VII.
ADVANTAGES OF HONESTY.
_Colbert._
Go the world over, and you will find that "honesty is the best policy."
Jean Baptiste Colbert was born at Rheims, in France, in the year 1617, of poor parents. When a boy, he was apprenticed to M. Certain, a woollen draper. Young Colbert was very fond of books, and spent his leisure in reading. He had indeed a taste above his station. But his mind was so much on what he read, that he was sometimes absent-minded and forgetful. M. Certain, who thought of nothing but of selling cloth, would ridicule him, and tell him he would never make any thing. One day he sent him and the porter with four rolls of cloth, to the hotel of M.
Cenani, a French banker, who wished to buy hangings for a country house which he had purchased. The pieces were marked 1, 2, 3, and 4; and as Colbert left the house, M. Certain told him that No. 1 was marked three crowns a yard; No. 2, six crowns; No. 3, eight crowns; and No. 4, fifteen crowns. The banker selected No. 3, and asked the young man how much it was a yard. Colbert replied, "fifteen crowns." The porter grinned, but seeing the mistake was on the side of his master he said nothing. There were thirty yards in the piece, and the money was counted out, four hundred and fifty crowns.
When Colbert returned, M. Certain said, "you have made no mistake, I hope." "I don"t think I have," replied Colbert. "But I think you have,"
said the porter. "Do you think so, Moline? Do you think so?" cried the old man, throwing down the cloth and examining the tickets. "But, indeed, I might have expected this; the little rascal could not do otherwise. But I warn you, if you have made a mistake, you shall go to M. Cenani to ask of him the surplus money; and if he refuses to give it, you shall pay it out of your wages. No. 3 is wanting. No. 3 was worth--it was worth six crowns; no, eight crowns. I am quite puzzled."
"Eight crowns! Eight crowns! are you sure of that?" cried Colbert.
"Perhaps you would like to make out that it was I who made the mistake.
I tell you No. 3, was worth eight crowns. I am half dead with fear. I will lay a wager that he sold it for six." "On the contrary," replied Colbert, "stupid creature that I am, I sold it for fifteen." "Fifteen!
Fifteen!" cried M. Certain. "You are a fine boy, a good boy, Baptiste.
You will one day be an honor to all your family. Fifteen!--I could cry with joy! Fifteen crowns for a piece of cloth not worth six! Two hundred and ten crowns profit! O happy day!" "How," said Colbert, "would you take advantage?" "O, perhaps you want to go shares. Certainly I agree to let you have something."
"I cannot agree to any such thing," said Colbert. "I will go to the gentleman I have treated so badly, and beg of him to excuse me, and return him the money he overpaid me." So saying, he bounded out of the door, leaving his master in a rage of disappointment. In a few moments, he was at the hotel of M. Cenani. It was with great difficulty that he was admitted to his presence, and then he was ordered away. But he persisted in speaking; and after apologizing for his mistake, he returned the money. The banker asked him if he knew that he was no judge of cloth. Colbert a.s.sured him that it was not worth more than eight crowns. "And you might easily have kept this money for yourself." "I never thought of that, sir," replied the young man. "But, if you had thought of it?" inquired the banker. "It was quite impossible, sir, that such an idea could come into my head. I should as soon have thought of carrying off all that you have here." "Suppose I should make you a present of this money that you have returned to me with such admirable integrity?" "What right have I to it? And why should you give it to me?
I would not take it, sir." "You are a fine fellow and an honest fellow,"
said the banker, and inquired his name. The conversation was suddenly broke off by the arrival of the banker"s carriage. As young Colbert went out, he was seized by the collar, by his enraged master, who abused him in the most frantic manner, and dismissed him from his service.
The young man went home; but his parents were affrighted to see him at that time, fearing some disaster had happened to him. After hearing his story, however, they heartily approved his conduct, and rejoiced that they had such a son.
It was but a little while, however, before M. Cenani arrived, and, praising the n.o.bleness and integrity of the boy, proposed to his parents to take him to Paris and put him in his banking house, where he might make a fortune; which was readily agreed to. Young Colbert soon found himself in a new world. But, denying himself the brilliant attractions with which the city abounded, he gave himself diligently to his business, as clerk in the banking house. His diligence and faithfulness gained for him the esteem of his employers. He soon mastered the business. No accounts baffled him. And, on arriving at manhood, he became a thorough financier. The most important duties were now entrusted to him; and he soon became the travelling agent of the bank; which enabled him also to gratify his taste for the arts and sciences.
He made the tour of the French provinces, making commerce his study, and devising means to render it flourishing. In 1648, he was introduced at Court, where his rare merit and conscientiousness in all affairs gained him great esteem. He was created Marquis of Croissy, and afterwards became Prime Minister. In this capacity, he was eminently useful to France. He improved the roads; encouraged trade; founded a chamber of commerce; colonized India and Canada; established naval schools; built ships; introduced manufactures; encouraged the fine arts. One cannot go even a small distance in Paris, even at this day, without finding a trace of the great Colbert. The Observatory, the beautiful gardens of the Tuilleries and Rue St. Dennis, the Hotel of Invalids, and many other things of like nature which adorn and do honor to the city, owe their existence to him. He also raised up his father"s family from great poverty to wealth and honor.
Colbert"s first step to distinction was an act of honor and honesty which deprived him of the means of earning his daily bread. If there was ever a case, which, to human appearance, would seem to contradict the old proverb, and show that honesty was not the best policy, one would think his was such a case. But the event proved its truth. And to this single trait in his character may be traced all his greatness. His honesty and integrity made him faithful to his employers. This raised him in their esteem, and contributed to strengthen and confirm this trait of character. This he carried into public life; and his honesty there led him to regard the public benefit as paramount to private interest. The whole of this story may be found in Chambers" Miscellany, published by Gould, Kendall and Lincoln.
Would you be _great_? Honesty and integrity of character lie at the foundation of all true greatness. You must cultivate sincerity, honesty, and fair dealing in early youth, if you would lay the foundation of future greatness.
_Two opposite examples_.
Two boys were pa.s.sing an orchard on their way from school, in which there were some plum trees, full of nice fruit. "Come, Thomas," said Henry, "let us jump over and get some plums. n.o.body will see us. We can scud along through the tall corn, and come out on the other side."
Thomas replied, "It is wrong. I don"t like to try it. I would rather not have the plums than steal them, and I will run along home." "You are a coward," said Henry. "I always knew you was a coward; and if you don"t want any plums, you may go without them. But I shall have some very quick." Just as Henry was climbing the wall, the owner of the field rose up from the other side. Henry jumped back and ran off as fast as his legs could carry him. Thomas had no reason to be afraid, and he walked along as if nothing had happened. The owner, who had heard the conversation between the two boys, then asked Thomas to step over and help himself to as many plums as he wanted.
This story teaches two lessons: (1.) It shows the advantages of _honesty_. An honest person is not afraid to look others in the face; and honesty, in the end, always turns out more to one"s advantage than dishonesty. (2.) It teaches wherein true courage consists: It is, in being _afraid to do wrong_. Henry called Thomas a coward, because he was afraid to do wrong; but he himself sneaked away like a whipped spaniel, the moment he saw any danger. Henry was the coward. He had neither the courage to resist temptation nor to face danger.
_Fruits of dishonesty_.
A young man from the State of Maine, of good abilities, went to Washington city, where he was admitted as a member of the bar, to practice law, with fine prospects. He was respected in society, and was a leader in the choir, in one of the churches in the city. But, in an evil hour, he discovered that there was a considerable amount of money in the Treasury, which had been allowed to claimants, but which had never been called for, and was not likely to be. The young man, thinking he should not be likely to be detected, forged drafts, and obtained money to the amount of several thousand dollars. But, it was not long before his sin found him out. He was detected, found guilty, and sent to the state"s prison.
CHAPTER VIII.
PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE.
SECTION I.--READING.
He that reads to be amused, will be like him that eats to gratify his appet.i.te--an _epicure_. But he who reads to obtain useful information, and to improve his mind, will be like him who eats to sustain nature--_strong and healthy_. The former will be satisfied with nothing but dainties--the latter will prefer plain strong food.
Sir William Jones rose to great eminence. When he was a mere child, he was very inquisitive. His mother was a superior woman of great intelligence, and he would apply to her for the information which he desired; but her constant reply was, "READ AND YOU WILL KNOW." This gave him a pa.s.sion for books, which was one of the princ.i.p.al means of making him what he was. But, it is not every one who _reads_ that will become wise.
_Robert Hall_.
This great man, when he was a boy about six years of age, was sent to a boarding school, where he spent the week, coming home Sat.u.r.day and returning Monday. When he went away on Monday morning, he would take with him two or three books from his father"s library to read at the intervals between the school hours. The books he selected, were not those of mere amus.e.m.e.nt, but such as required deep and serious thought.
Before he was nine years old, he had read over and over again, with the deepest interest, _Edwards on the Affections_, _Edwards on the Will_, _and Butler"s a.n.a.logy_.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
SECTION II.--LOVE OF LEARNING ENCOURAGED.
There are many young persons, who have an ardent thirst for knowledge, and a strong desire to obtain an education; but their circ.u.mstances in life seem to forbid the attempt. There are many examples, which afford them encouragement to make the attempt. A large proportion of the men who have risen to the highest distinction, have struggled against the same difficulties which they have to encounter; and, when they see what has been done by others, they will perceive that it can be done by themselves.
_Sir Isaac Newton_.
When Sir Isaac Newton was a boy he was employed in servile labor.
Sometimes he was sent to open the gates for the men that were driving the cattle to market. At other times, he carried corn to market, or attended the sheep. One day his uncle found him in a hay-loft, working out a mathematical problem, and he was sent to school. There he discovered his great and various talents. At the age of eighteen he was sent to the University at Cambridge, England, where he soon distinguished himself.
_Benjamin West_.
West, the celebrated painter, early manifested a genius for this art.
His first attempt was made with pens, and red and black ink, upon a portrait of his sister"s child, lying in the cradle. For a long time he had no pencil. Having been told that they were made of camel"s hair, he pulled hairs out of the tail of a cat, of which he made his first brush.
_Other eminent Persons_.
Dr. Franklin was the son of a tallow-chandler, and served an apprenticeship to a printer; Rev. Dr. Scott, author of the Commentary, was employed in the most laborious work on a farm; William Gifford, one of the most celebrated literary men of his age, was an apprentice to a shoemaker, and wrought out his problems in algebra on a piece of sole-leather, with the point of an awl.