individual feel thus as to his own progress and possibilities, and he
can almost create his life as he will. Let him never fall down in
despair at dangers and sorrows at a distance; they may be harmless,
like Bunyan's stone lions, when he nears them.

The man who is self-reliant does not live in the shadow of some one
else's greatness; he thinks for himself, depends on himself, and acts
for himself. In throwing the individual thus back upon himself it is
not shutting his eyes to the stimulus and light and new life that come
with the warm pressure of the hand, the kindly word and the sincere
expressions of true friendship. But true friendship is rare; its great
value is in a crisis,--like a lifeboat. Many a boasted friend has
proved a leaking, worthless "lifeboat" when the storm of adversity
might make him useful. In these great crises of life, man is strong
only as he is strong from within, and the more he depends on himself
the stronger will he become, and the more able will he be to help
others in the hour of their need. His very life will be a constant help
and a strength to others, as he becomes to them a living lesson of the
dignity of self-reliance.




V

Failure as a Success



It ofttimes requires heroic courage to face fruitless effort, to take