BOYS AT WORK | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 31, 1887

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 13, No. 13.

BOYS AT WORK.

THERE is an old Latin motto, "Labor omnia vincit," which means that labor conquers all things. This is not quite true in a strict sense, but it is true in the strictest sense that the boy who is too lazy to work or who is ashamed of it will never succeed in anything. Never be ashamed of your business. If one has an honest business, he need not feel ashamed of it. Some young persons act as if they thought many kinds of honest toil menial and degrading. But they are wrong.

"Man hath his daily work of body and mind Appointed, which declares his dignity."

When the service is for the good of man or the glory of God, and is performed in the right spirit, it must ever be ennobling. It is the work we do in an unwilling, slavish spirit that degrades us. Toil is manly, even if it be that of a boot-black. "If I were a boot-black," said a noble Christian man, "I would strive to be the best boot-black in the world." The lad who determines to do his best everywhere, in every place, however lowly, where honest work is needed, will soonest rise to honor.

"If little labor, little are our gains; Man's fortunes are according to his pains."

Not long since a young man was asked to carry a small package of written paper to his sick relative, but he turned up his nose with the answer, "No, you don't, now; send it by an expressman."

One evening, near the hour for closing a store in Philadelphia, a bundle of prints was ordered in haste by a house not more than a block distant. The carts and porters had gone. The merchant requested one of his young men to deliver the bundle, but as he did so he perceived a look of disgust in the clerk's face, and without saying another word he turned to his desk, put on his hat, picked up the bundle, and walked off to deliver it himself, leaving his proud clerk dumb with mortification as well as with fear of losing a good position.

There are some city-bred boys who act as if they were "above carrying a market-basket home." Even when mother is bearing a heavy load for their sakes, they think it "degrading" to be seen doing such service. They soon get too big to wait on themselves. They grow up to be of less use in the world than butterflies. The following story of one of the greatest men of America is worth impressing upon each generation of youth:—

Chief-Justice Marshall was a great and good man. Good men are not proud men, for pride is an indication of a little mind. Chief-Justice Marshall was not too proud to wait upon himself. He was in the habit of going to market himself, and carrying home his purchases.

Often might he be seen returning at sunrise with poultry in one hand and vegetables in the other in the most homely fashion.

On one of these occasions a fashionable young man was swearing violently because he could find no one to carry home his game. Judge Marshall stepped up, gently rebuked him, and asked him where he lived.

When he heard the reply he said, "That is in my way, and I will take your game home for you."

When they came to the house, the young man inquired: "What shall I pay you?"

"Oh, nothing," said the judge, "you are welcome; it was all in the way, and it was no trouble to me."

"Who is that polite old gentleman who brought home my game for me?" asked the young man of a bystander.

"Oh," said he, "that was Judge Marshall, Chief-Justice of the United States."

"Why did he bring home my game?"

"He did it," said the bystander, "I suppose, by way of teaching you not to be above attending to your own business!"—Christian at Work.