At the start opportunities are rarely very striking or promising; they are often very small gates into what appears to be very small fields of action; but let a man pass through them with resolution and intelligence, and immediately the field widens until it takes on, at times, 5 the scope of a continent. The world looks very hard to the young man; all the places are filled; everybody is preoccupied, and there seems to be no chance for a newcomer. Let him show a little heroic quality, however, and men are quick to make 10 a place for him; let him put energy, pluck, integrity, and intelligence into his work, and doors begin to open under the pressure of his strong hand. Large opportunities in the hands of small men come to nothing, but small opportunities in the hands of large 15 men become great. All that a strong man ought to ask for is an opportunity; the rest he should do for himself. This is the record of the heroes, those who have worked, dared, aspired, and achieved; who have poured their vitality into their work, not simply for what they could 20 get out of it, but because it is the privilege and the joy of a real man to share the experience of his fellows and the burdens of society. Abridged kobold (kōbōld): a household fairy like the Scottish brownie. - genii (jē'ni i) powerful spirits in Eastern fairy tales. — the most brilliant city: Paris. Franklin was sent as ambassador to the court of France. 5 10 15 OPPORTUNITY EDWARD ROWLAND SILL EDWARD ROWLAND SILL (1841-1887) was an American poet. The earnestness and strength of his character are shown in his verse. This I beheld, or dreamed it in a dream:- A furious battle, and men yelled, and swords And thought, "Had I a sword of keener steel- And ran and snatched it; and with battle shout And saved a great cause that heroic day. shocked: met with a shock.. craven: coward. of finely tempered steel. — lowering: gloomy, sulky. great danger. blue blade: a blade THE WAY TO WEALTH BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (1706-1790) was one of the most remarkable men of his time. As statesman and scientist he was preëminent, and his literary ability was of a high order. His career is familiar to all students of American history. The following pages are from the last of his series of almanacs. 5 I stopped my horse lately where a great number of people were collected at an auction of merchants' goods. The hour of the sale not being come, they were conversing on the badness of the times; and one of the company called to a plain, clean, old man, with white locks: "Pray, 10 Father Abraham, what think you of the times? Will not these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How shall we ever be able to pay them? What would you advise us to do?" Father Abraham stood up and replied: "If you would have my advice, I will give it to you in short, for 15 'A word to the wise is enough,' as Poor Richard says.' They joined in desiring him to speak his mind, and when they had gathered round him he proceeded as follows: "Friends," said he," the taxes are indeed very heavy, and if those laid on by the government were the only ones we 20 had to pay, we might more easily discharge them, but we have many others and much more grievous to some of us. We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly. However, let us hearken to good advice and something may be done for us; 'God helps them that help themselves,' as Poor Richard says. "It would be thought a hard government that should 5 tax its people one tenth part of their time, to be employed in its service, but idleness taxes many of us much more; sloth by bringing on diseases absolutely shortens life. 'Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears, while the used key is always bright,' as Poor Richard says. 10 "If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be,' as Poor Richard says, 'the greatest prodigality,' since, as he elsewhere tells us, 'Lost time is never found again.' 'Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all things easy;' and 'He that riseth late must 15 trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night,' while 'Laziness travels so slowly that Poverty soon overtakes him. Drive thy business, let not that drive thee;' and 'Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise,' as Poor Richard says. 20 "So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times? We may make these times better if we bestir ourselves. 'Industry need not wish, and he that lives upon hopes will die fasting.' He that hath a trade hath an estate, and he that hath a calling hath an office of profit and honor.' 25 What though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy, 'Diligence is the mother of good luck, and God gives all things to industry. Then . plow deep while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep.' 'One to-day is worth two to-morrows,' as Poor Richard says; and further 'Never leave that till to-morrow which you can do to-day.' If you were a servant, would you not be ashamed that a good master should 5 catch you idle? Are you, then, your own master? Be ashamed to catch yourself idle when there is so much to be done for yourself, your family, and your country. Handle your tools without mittens; remember that The cat in gloves catches no mice,' as Poor Richard says. It is 10 true there is much to be done, and perhaps you are weakhanded, but stick to it steadily and you will see great effects, for Constant dropping wears away stones,' and 'Little strokes fell great oaks.' 6 "But with our industry we must likewise be steady, 15 settled, and careful; for, as Poor Richard says: I never saw an oft-removed tree Nor yet an oft-removèd family, That throve so well as those that settled be.' "A little neglect may breed great mischief; for want 20 of a nail the shoe was lost, for want of a shoe the horse was lost, and for want of a horse the rider was lost, being overtaken and slain by the enemy; all for want of a little care about a horseshoe nail.' "So much for industry, my friends, and attention to 25 one's own business; but to these we must add frugality, if we would make our industry more certainly successful.. |