_Everard Jack Appleton_.
From "The Quiet Courage."
PRESS ON
The spirit that has tamed this continent is the spirit which says, "Press on." It appeals, not so much to men in the ma.s.s, as to individuals. There is only one way for mankind to go forward. Each individual must be determined that, come what will, he will never quail or recede.
Press on! Surmount the rocky steps, Climb boldly o"er the torrent"s arch; He fails alone who feebly creeps, He wins who dares the hero"s march.
Be thou a hero! Let thy might Tramp on eternal snows its way, And through the ebon walls of night Hew down a pa.s.sage unto day.
Press on! If once and twice thy feet Slip back and stumble, harder try; From him who never dreads to meet Danger and death they"re sure to fly.
To coward ranks the bullet speeds, While on their b.r.e.a.s.t.s who never quail, Gleams, guardian of chivalric deeds, Bright courage like a coat of mail.
Press on! If Fortune play thee false To-day, to-morrow she"ll be true; Whom now she sinks she now exalts, Taking old gifts and granting new, The wisdom of the present hour Makes up the follies past and gone; To weakness strength succeeds, and power From frailty springs! Press on, press on!
_Park Benjamin_.
MY CREED
We all have a philosophy of life, whether or not we formulate it. Does it end in self, or does it include our relations and our duties to our fellows? General William Booth of the Salvation Army was once asked to send a Christmas greeting to his forces throughout the world. His life had been spent in unselfish service; over the cable he sent but one word--OTHERS.
This is my creed: To do some good, To bear my ills without complaining, To press on as a brave man should For honors that are worth the gaining; To seek no profits where I may, By winning them, bring grief to others; To do some service day by day In helping on my toiling brothers
This is my creed: To close my eyes To little faults of those around me; To strive to be when each day dies Some better than the morning found me; To ask for no unearned applause, To cross no river until I reach it; To see the merit of the cause Before I follow those who preach it.
This is my creed: To try to shun The sloughs in which the foolish wallow; To lead where I may be the one Whom weaker men should choose to follow.
To keep my standards always high, To find my task and always do it; This is my creed--I wish that I Could learn to shape my action to it.
_S.E. Kiser._
CO-OPERATION
"We must all hang together, or a.s.suredly we shall all hang separately,"
Benjamin Franklin is reported to have said at the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
It ain"t the guns nor armament, Nor funds that they can pay, But the close co-operation, That makes them win the day.
It ain"t the individual, Nor the army as a whole, But the everlasting team-work Of every bloomin" soul.
_J. Mason Knox_.
THE n.o.bLE NATURE
There is a deceptive glamour about mere bigness. Quality may accompany quant.i.ty, but it need not. In fact good things are usually done up in small parcels. "I could eat you at a mouthful," roared a bulky opponent to the small and sickly Alexander H. Stephens. "If you did," replied Stephens quietly, "you"d have more brains in your belly than ever you had in your head."
It is not growing like a tree In bulk, doth make Man better be; Or standing long an oak, three hundred year, To fall a log at last, dry, bald, and sere: A lily of a day Is fairer far in May, Although it fall and die that night-- It was the plant and flower of Light.
In small proportions we just beauties see; And in short measures life may perfect be.
_Ben Jonson_.
DAYS OF CHEER
Edison says that genius is two parts inspiration, ninety-eight parts perspiration. So happiness is two parts circ.u.mstance, ninety-eight parts mental att.i.tude.
"Feelin" fine," he used to say, Come a clear or cloudy day, Wave his hand, an" shed a smile, Keepin" sunny all th" while.
Never let no bugbears grim Git a wrastle-holt o" him, Kep" a-smilin" rain or shine, Tell you he was "feelin" fine!"
"Feelin" fine," he used to say Wave his hand an" go his way.
Never had no time to lose So he said, fighting blues.
Had a twinkle in his eye Always when a-goin" by, Sort o" smile up into mine, Tell me he was "feelin" fine!"
"Feelin" fine," he"d allus say, An" th" sunshine seemed to stay Close by him, or else he shone With some sunshine of his own.
Didn"t seem no clouds could dim Any happiness for him, Allus seemed to have a line Out f"r gladness--"feelin" fine!"
"Feelin" fine," I"ve heard him say Half a dozen times a day, An" as many times I knowed He was bearin" up a load.
But he never let no grim Troubles git much holt on him, Kep" his spirits jest like wine, Bubblin" up an" "feelin" fine!"
"Feelin" fine"--I hope he"ll stay All his three score that-a-way, Lettin" his demeanor be Sech as you could have or me Ef we tried, an" went along Spillin" little drops o" song, Lettin" rosebuds sort o" twine O"er th" thorns and "feelin" fine."