OCR Text |
Show "IF I CAN, I WILL" The difference between "I can't" and "I can and will" is just the difference between victory and defeat in all the great conflicts of life. Boys, adopt for your motto "I can, and I will," and victory will be yours in all life battles. "I can, and I will," nerves the arms of the world's heroes to-day, in whatever department of labor they are engaged. "I can, and I will," has fought and won all the great battles of life of the world. I know of a boy who was preparing to enter the junior class of the New York University. He was studying trigonometry, and I gave him three examples for his next lesson. The following day he came into my room to demonstrate his problem. Two of them he understood but the third-a very difficult one-he had not performed. I said to him: "Shall I help you?" "No, sir. I can and will do it if you all the time you wish." The next day he came into my room to recite another lesson in the same study. "Well, Simon, have you worked that example?" "No, sir," he answered, "but I can and will do it if you will give me a little more time." "Certainly, you shall have all the time you desire." I always like those boys who are determined to do their own work, for they make our best scholars, and men, too. I knew when he had it for his whole face told the story of his success. Yes, he had it, notwithstanding it had cost him many hours of the severest mental labor. Not only had he solved the problem, but what was infinitely of greater importance to him, he had begun to develop mathematical powers which, under the inspiration of "I can, and I will" he has continued to cultivate until to-day he is professor of mathematics in one of our largest colleges, and one of the ablest mathematician of his years in our country. My young friends, let your motto ever be "If I can, I will."-Guardian. |