In our country the choice of his profession is generally left with
the boy himself. He selects, under the direction of his parents,
such occupation as suits his taste, and to which he feels that he
is partial. He goes from school to his employment in business,
and thenceforward he is the pioneer of his own fortune; and his
success depends upon himself. He can work his way to eminence if he
is enterprising and industrious; or, he can lag with the crowd,
and continue among those who are unsuccessful, and who are called
unfortunate. I say _called unfortunate_, because the misfortunes of
men are generally the fruits of their own incompetent labors. They
are produced by their want of energy and active devotion to their
profession. Remember that, as well as their fortunes, men make their
_mis_fortunes themselves. If the man would be successful, he must
_study_ as well as work. And he must study how to work, and how to
bring his labor to good account. The school boy must not throw his
books away when he leaves the school. He must carry them with him
through life, and he must use them. The model which I have placed
before you, in our venerated Washington, is not to be imitated by him
who disregards his books. He was pre-eminently distinguished by habits
of study. And we hear of no hours of any part of his life that were
wasted in idleness, or spent in the mere pursuit of pleasure. He gained
his character by study, and by persevering labor. He wrought his way to
the distinguished position he attained. He won the palm by active and
untiring devotion to the pursuit of his choice.