Self Help; with Illustrations of Conduct and PerseveranceSmiles, Samuel
Philosophy
Self Help; with Illustrations of Conduct and Perseverance
Smiles, Samuel
Conduct of life
He appeared before the man whom he had ridiculed as “Billy Button”
accordingly. He told his tale and produced his certificate. “You wrote
a pamphlet against us once?” said Mr. Grant. The supplicant expected to
see his document thrown into the fire; instead of which Grant signed the
name of the firm, and thus completed the necessary certificate. “We make
it a rule,” said he, handing it back, “never to refuse signing the
certificate of an honest tradesman, and we have never heard that you were
anything else.” The tears started into the man’s eyes. “Ah,” continued
Mr. Grant, “you see my saying was true, that you would live to repent
writing that pamphlet. I did not mean it as a threat—I only meant that
some day you would know us better, and repent having tried to injure us.”
“I do, I do, indeed, repent it.” “Well, well, you know us now. But how
do you get on—what are you going to do?” The poor man stated that he had
friends who would assist him when his certificate was obtained. “But how
are you off in the mean time?” The answer was, that, having given up
every farthing to his creditors, he had been compelled to stint his
family in even the common necessaries of life, that he might be enabled
to pay for his certificate. “My good fellow, this will never do; your
wife and family must not suffer in this way; be kind enough to take this
ten-pound note to your wife from me: there, there, now—don’t cry, it will
be all well with you yet; keep up your spirits, set to work like a man,
and you will raise your head among the best of us yet.” The overpowered
man endeavoured with choking utterance to express his gratitude, but in
vain; and putting his hand to his face, he went out of the room sobbing
like a child.
The True Gentleman is one whose nature has been fashioned after the
highest models. It is a grand old name, that of Gentleman, and has been
recognized as a rank and power in all stages of society. “The Gentleman
is always the Gentleman,” said the old French General to his regiment of
Scottish gentry at Rousillon, “and invariably proves himself such in need
and in danger.” To possess this character is a dignity of itself,
commanding the instinctive homage of every generous mind, and those who
will not bow to titular rank, will yet do homage to the gentleman. His
qualities depend not upon fashion or manners, but upon moral worth—not on
personal possessions, but on personal qualities. The Psalmist briefly
describes him as one “that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness,
and speaketh the truth in his heart.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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