BY
ARCHER WALLACE
Author of "Canadian Heroes of Mission Fields Overseas"
With an Introduction by
TAYLOR STATTEN
Secretary of National Boys' Work Board
TORONTO
THE MUSSON BOOK COMPANY
LIMITED
Copyright, Canada, 1925
THE MUSSON BOOK COMPANY LTD.
PUBLISHERS TORONTO
PRINTED IN CANADA
T. H. BEST PRINTING CO., LIMITED
TORONTO, ONT.
INTRODUCTION
If you are the sort of a boy who is afraidof becoming dissatisfied with his presentoutlook on life and vision of possibilitiesfor the future, you had better not read thisbook.
In fact, there are just two classes of boyswho should be permitted to read thesefascinating pages.
The ambitious boys are in one class; thosewho are determined to make their lives count.That type of boy will be helped toward findingthe best outlet for his services. He will learnof fields of investment for his life work whichhave brought rich returns to other boys. Hisvision will be broadened, his objective madehigher.
The other class of boy who should readthis book is that in whom the fires ofambition have not yet been kindled; he whois living on the dead level of life, just"groping to and fro". This type of boy willbe inspired to tackle the climbing life when helearns of the handicaps which other boys haveovercome and of the great goals they have won.The following lines from the story of EdwardBok, the little Dutch boy, is descriptiveof general conditions: "When he got out intothe world, he was astonished to find how manyof his young friends believed that the onlyway to get on was through favouritism. Thatwas not his experience. He found that if ayoung man were willing to work and do hisvery best, the way to success was wide and itwas not overpeopled. He was astonished tofind how many young men there were who werenot doing their best or anything like it. Hedid all that was expected of him and a littlemore."
As boys, we resent "being nagged at". Werebel, and our souls shrivel up when Dad,Mother, Teacher or some interested friendstarts to point out our weaknesses. On theother hand, how it stirs our blood and thrillsus as we read of some fellow who has playedthe game of life against fearful odds and hascome through with a crowning achievement!
Some one has said, "He can who thinks hecan." No boy can read these "Stories ofGrit" without believing more firmly in hisability to succeed.
When the grind comes and we are ready togive up the struggle, the inspiration fromthese "boys who overcame" will send us bothto our little difficulties with an enthusiasmwhich knows no defeat.
I have talked with boys who have said"Latin has me licked", and they were readyto throw over the possibilities of a collegecourse and a chosen profession because of theLatin in the Matriculation Examination. Giveany boy one hour with these "Stories of Grit",and I guarantee that it will stiffen his backboneand give him a punch so effective that hewill be able to "lick his weight in wildcats".
TAYLOR STATTEN.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I. The Blind Boy who Became Poet, Preacher and Author
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