STORIES OF GRIT
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 afraid of becoming dissatisfied
with his present outlook on life and vision of possibilities for the
future, you had better not read this book.
In fact, there are just two classes of boys who should be permitted
to read these fascinating pages.
The ambitious boys are in one class; those who are determined to make
their lives count. That type of boy will be helped toward finding
the best outlet for his services. He will learn of fields of
investment for his life work which have brought rich returns to other
boys. His vision will be broadened, his objective made higher.
The other class of boy who should read this book is that in whom the
fires of ambition have not yet been kindled; he who is living on the
dead level of life, just "groping to and fro". This type of boy will
be inspired to tackle the climbing life when he learns of the
handicaps which other boys have overcome and of the great goals they
have won. The following lines from the story of Edward Bok, the
little Dutch boy, is descriptive of general conditions: "When he got
out into the world, he was astonished to find how many of his young
friends believed that the only way to get on was through favouritism.
That was not his experience. He found that if a young man were
willing to work and do his very best, the way to success was wide and
it was not overpeopled. He was astonished to find how many young men
there were who were not doing their best or anything like it. He did
all that was expected of him and a little more."
As boys, we resent "being nagged at". We rebel, and our souls
shrivel up when Dad, Mother, Teacher or some interested friend starts
to point out our weaknesses. On the other hand, how it stirs our
blood and thrills us as we read of some fellow who has played the
game of life against fearful odds and has come through with a
crowning achievement!
Some one has said, "He can who thinks he can." No boy can read these
"Stories of Grit" without believing more firmly in his ability to
succeed.
When the grind comes and we are ready to give up the struggle, the
inspiration from these "boys who overcame" will send us both to our
little difficulties with an enthusiasm which knows no defeat.
I have talked with boys who have said "Latin has me licked", and they
were ready to throw over the possibilities of a college course and a
chosen profession because of the Latin in the Matriculation
Examination. Give any boy one hour with these "Stories of Grit", and
I guarantee that it will stiffen his backbone and give him a punch so
effective that he will be able to "lick his weight in wildcats".
TAYLOR STATTEN.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I. The Blind Boy who Became Poet, Preacher and Author
II. How a Lame Boy Became the World's Greatest Potter
III. The Dutch Boy who Became a Great Editor
IV. A Deaf Boy who Became a Great Bible Scholar
V. The Slave Boy who Became a Great Leader
VI. The Immigrant Lad who Became a King of Industry
VII. A Shoemaker's Apprentice who Became a Great Scholar
VIII. From Gipsy Tent to Pulpit
IX. A Blind Man who Became Postmaster-General of England
X. The Ploughboy who Became a Famous Naturalist
XI. A Sick Man who Never Gave Up
XII. How a Poor Boy Became a Great Scientist
XIII. What an Illiterate Boy Made of His Life
XIV. A Donkey Boy who Became a Famous Sculptor
STORIES OF GRIT
CHAPTER I.
THE BLIND BOY WHO BECAME POET, PREACHER AND AUTHOR.
George Matheson was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on March 27th, 1842.
When he was only eighteen months old his mother made the melancholy
discovery that his eyesight was defective. He had inflammation at
the back of the eyes. Several specialists were consulted, but little
hope was held out to the boy's parents.
The failure of his eyesight was gradual. For several years he could
see fairly well. During the greater part of his school-life he could
read and write by using powerful eye-glasses and large type. He was
permitted to sit near the window so that he might get the full
benefit of the sunlight. In spite of the serious difficulties which
faced him during those years, George Matheson took high standing in
his class. He managed to learn French, German, Latin and Greek, and
in some subjects he led his class.
He was ever hoping that his eyesight would improve. It was the
custom of his family to spend most of their summer holidays at one of
the seaside resorts on the Firth of Clyde, and George took great
delight in watching the steamboats as they plied up and down the
river. It was there that he spent many anxious hours testing his
eyesight. He would stand on the pier and watch the boats in the
distance. He would try to make out how many funnels each had, and as
they drew nearer, what their names were. At times he thought that
his eyes were improving; but at last he had to admit to himself that
they were gradually getting worse.
For the greater part of his life he was largely dependent upon other
people. His lessons at college were read to him, and, thanks to a
marvellous memory, he learned with amazing thoroughness. He had a
wonderfully cheerful disposition. To become blind when so young
would have been sufficient to crush all brightness out of most lives,
but not so with George Matheson. He rose above his terrible
calamity, and showed himself a real hero.
When only eleven he was admitted to the Glasgow Academy. He took his
place alongside other pupils, studied the same subjects, and sat for
the same examinations. When it came to marking his exam. papers no
favours whatever were granted to him, and yet his four years at the
Academy were years of unbroken distinction. In his first year he
gained the prize for history and religious knowledge. In his second
year he gained prizes in Latin, history, geography and English
composition. In his third and fourth years he won nearly all the
special prizes, and finished with a wonderfully high record.
He matriculated for Glasgow University in 1857, when he was only
fifteen. During his term there his eyesight became gradually worse,
until by the time he was eighteen he was practically blind. When
this terrible handicap is taken into consideration, George Matheson's
record at the university stands as a wonderful example of
perseverance and pluck. In all his classes he stood high, and
especially shone in debates and oratorical contests. He received his
B.A. degree in 1861, with "honourable distinction in philosophy," and
his M.A. degree one year later. In 1862 he entered Divinity Hall to
study for the ministry. For four years he gave himself to the most
careful preparation for that calling, and in 1866, after nine years
spent in Glasgow University, he was licensed to preach.
In January, 1867, George Matheson became the assistant minister at
St. Bernard's parish in Glasgow. He preached regularly to large
congregations, and prepared his sermons with much care. When he
stood up to preach people forgot all about his blindness. He
committed the whole service to memory; hymns, lessons, and sermons,
and such was his splendid memory, that he never seemed at a loss for
anything to say. After a year at St. Bernard's he was appointed
minister of Innellan Church, where he remained for several years and
preached and ministered to a very large congregation. Innellan,
because of its beautiful situation and bracing air, had become a
favourite summer resort, and to these attractions was added George
Matheson's fame as a preacher. People came from far and near to hear
him, and none ever went away disappointed.
What a picture it is to think of that blind man, standing there in
his pulpit, instructing and comforting people who had perfect
eyesight and seemed more favoured than he. Yet in all his sermons
and in his conversation, there was cheerfulness and gratitude to God.
No one ever heard him murmur or complain, and when he stood up and
offered prayer, or read the Psalms in his clear, ringing voice,
everyone realized that his whole heart was in the service. He became
known as "Matheson of Innellan" and many people went there, summer
after summer, in order to hear him preach.
In 1886 George Matheson was called to St. Bernard's Church,
Edinburgh. In May of that year he began his work as minister to that
congregation, and remained for thirteen years. It was a very large
congregation. There were nearly fifteen hundred members, in addition
to hundreds of others who were simply attendants.
Dr. Matheson resolved that he would not only preach to his people,
but would visit them in their homes. His sister was deeply attached
to him, and accompanied him wherever he went. Before he had been six
months at Edinburgh he had visited six hundred families, besides
calling upon the sick, the aged, the infirm and the dying. In
addition to all this he was preparing sermons of rare quality and
working in close sympathy with all the associations of his church.
The visits he made upon his people were occasions long to be
remembered. He was so warm-hearted and full of sympathy, that every
person he met realized that it was no formal visit. Dr. Matheson
kept up this method of visitation throughout his whole ministry. His
church grew until there were nearly eighteen hundred members; yet he
made a determined effort to keep in close touch with them all; and,
blind though he was, he succeeded much better than most men would
have done who had perfect vision.
Like Henry Fawcett, the blind Postmaster-General of England, Dr.
Matheson had a marvellous memory. No doubt the loss of eyesight does
much to quicken the faculty of memory. Often after he had preached,
the vestry would be besieged with people who were anxious to speak
with him. Many of these people had known him before, and it was a
source of amazement to them to have the blind preacher call them by
name almost immediately after hearing them speak. Sometimes visitors
from a distance, whom he had not seen for many years, would say,
"You'll not remember me, Doctor." Perhaps a puzzled look would cross
his face; then he would say, "yes I do; you are Mackintosh, of ----"
It would be Mackintosh right enough, and Mackintosh would be a very
much surprised man.
In addition to his preaching and visiting, George Matheson was the
author of many fine books. In 1882 he published a book of
meditations with the title "My Aspirations". The success of this
book was instantaneous, and in a very short time the entire edition
was sold out, and several other editions followed. Later he
published many other volumes, among them being: "Moments on the
Mount", "Voices of the Spirit", "Searching in the Silence", "Times of
Refreshing", "Leaves for Quiet Hours", and "Rests by the River". His
books proved helpful to thousands of people. From every part of the
world letters came from people whose lives had been greatly blessed
by reading the works of the blind author. What was true of his
preaching was also true of his writing. People felt, at once, the
strong, cheerful, grateful heart of the author. Great numbers of
people, around whose lives heavy clouds had gathered, had their
hearts strengthened, and their faith in God renewed, as they read
George Matheson's books.
In 1882 he wrote his famous hymn, now known the world over, "O Love,
that will not let me go." It would be impossible to tell just what
this hymn has meant to thousands of people. The hymn is now found in
most hymnals and has become a great favourite. George Matheson gives
the following account of how he came to write it; "The hymn was
composed in the manse of Innellan on the evening of the sixth of
June, 1882. I was at that time alone. It was the day of my sister's
marriage, and the rest of the family were staying over night in
Glasgow. Something had happened to me, which was known only to
myself, and which caused me the most severe mental suffering. The
hymn was the fruit of that suffering. It was the quickest bit of
work I ever did in my life. I had the impression of having it
dictated to me by some inward voice rather than of working it out
myself. I am quite sure that the whole work was completed in five
minutes, and equally sure that it never received at my hands any
retouching or correction."
George Matheson lived to be sixty-four years of age and managed to
fill every hour with useful and loving service. To read an account
of one day's work in the life of this blind man is sufficient to make
most people realize how hard he worked. He was methodical in his
habits and careful to leave no duty undone. After breakfast each
morning he attended to his correspondence, generally answering
letters by return mail. Then he would have read to him the morning
papers. He showed a keen interest in everything that was going on.
From that he would pass on to his studies in French and German. This
would be followed by some study in science, philosophy, history or
theology. Then he would dictate to his secretary, something for the
press or for his own use as a speaker. Added to such work, of
course, there were his extensive labors as pastor and preacher, and
it can be truthfully said that he did not fail in anything. Whatever
task he put his hand to, he did with all his might.
George Matheson died at North Berwick, on August 28th, 1906, and was
buried at Glasgow a few days later. Tributes of sympathy came to his
relatives from all over the world. By his strong preaching, and
probably still more by his brave, cheerful spirit as set forth in his
books, he had helped a very great number of people everywhere. In
his noble hymn he had written, "I trace the rainbow through the
rain." That is exactly what he did. Where so many others saw only
difficulties, he saw possibilities. And so it came to pass that,
though he lived in darkness for nearly half a century, he served God
and his fellow-men with a devotion which will never be forgotten.