Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 November 1883 — A Word to the Boys. [ARTICLE]

A Word to the Boys.

Ashamed of work, boys—good, hard, honest work? Then I am ashamed of you—ashamed that know so little about great men. Open your Roman history now, and read of Cincinnatus. On the day when they wanted to make him dictator, where did they find him ? In the field, plowing. What about Marcus Curtius, who drove Pyrrhus out of Italy ?' Look him up; you will find him busy on his little farm. The great Cato —you have surely heard of him; how he rose to all the honors of the Roman state. Yet, he was often seen at work in his field with the slaves. Scipio Africanus, who conquered Hannibal and won Carthage for Rome, was not ashamed to labor on his farm. Lucretia, one of the noblest of Roman matrons, might have been seen many a day spinning among her maidens. Better even than the example of noble Romans is the advice of the wise” man: “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." Better than this, even, are the beautiful New Testament word: “Not slothfulness in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” There! After this you will feel ashamed not to work.— Exchange.