New England Religious Herald

MISCELLANEOUS.

STEADINESS OF PURPOSE.

One of the most important items of success in the world, consists in steadiness of purpose. Many a young man distinguished in his childhood, for quickness of intellect and vividness of imagination, has not taken that stand in after life which was expected from his talents and genius, simply from a want of this valuable trait. The world is so constituted at present-there are so many competitors in every employment-such a crowd of rivals that jostle each other in every path, that something more than mere brilliancy of talent or precocity of early intellect is necessary to obtain even a footing in the great thoroughfare of life. Young men of moderate powers who possess steadiness of purpose, are successful, while genius alone meets with difficulties too arduous to overcome. The power of overcoming difficulties, the faculty of concentration of purpose, the determination that no obstacle shall be sufficient to intimidate, is the character to succeed in life. It is more influential than talent or imagination or genius. It is genius itself. Without it, no difficulties will be overcome; no advances made in morality or right, no approbation of conscience reached, no good opinion of the world obtained, no benefit accomplished, no success grasped. We admire and honor that young man, who steady to his purpose of doing something for himself, and carving his own destiny in the world, presses firmly onward towards the great object before him. We know well that he will be successful. He may meet with difficulties, they lie in every man's path, but he has that within him that rises superior to such difficulties, and overcomes them. He may meet with unforeseen losses, they are the common lot of man, but he never yields to their pressure. He still perseveres and obtains the object of life before him. -Ex.