Onward to Fame and Fortune; Or, Climbing Life's Ladder (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 Excerpt: ...like; and this fact makes the choice of companions in early life more important, even, than that of teachers and guardians. When Sir Joshua Reynolds was a boy, he had so great a reverence for the character of Pope that he would press through a crowd to touch his coat with the end of his forefinger, as if he expected to be lifted higher by the act, and finally become more of a man. Somewhat of that feeling should rule in the choice of companions, selecting those whose nobleness challenges the touch of admiration. It is true that we cannot always choose all of our companions. Some are thrust upon us by business and the social relations of life. We do not choose them, we do not enjoy them; and yet, we have to associate with them more or less. The experience is not altogether without compensation, if there be principle enough in us to bear the strain. Still, in the main, choice of companions can be made, and must be made. It is not best nor necessary for a young person to associate with "Tom, Dick, and Harry," without forethought or purpose. Some fixed rules about the company he or she keeps should be observed. The subject should be uppermost in the thoughts, and canvassed often. Companionship is education, good or bad; it develops manhood or womanhood, high or low; it lifts the soul upward or drags it downward; it ministers to virtue or vice. There is no half-way work about its influence. If it ennobles, it does it grandly; if it demoralizes, it does it devilishly. It saves or destroys lustily. One school companion saved Henry Martyn, and made a missionary of him; one school companion ruined John Newton, and made a most profligate and profane companion of him. Newton was sent away to a boarding-school. He was an obedient and virtuous lad, and his par...