“Well, now, let us look into this a little.  Let us search the Scriptures and find a word of comfort.  But search as we may, we find the word ‘Success’ there only once.  Why only once?  Probably because the Bible has a much bigger and better word, and that word is ‘Life.’  ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life,’ says the Master; and again, ’I am the Resurrection and the Life.’  This wonderful word was often on His lips.  To Him, success was life.  To live was all that earth could desire.  To live was to see in these stones—­[Indicate the stones in the drawing]—­not stumbling-blocks but stepping-stones to success. [Add the letters ‘L’ and ‘E,’ completing the word ‘Life.’] When you and I see the true life, then will all our ‘ifs’ depart.

[Illustration:  Fig. 20]

“Abraham Lincoln was one who saw these stones before him.  How did he look upon them?

“The obscurity of his birth was no ‘if’ to him—­it was the foundation of his noble character.

“The poverty of his early years was no ‘if’ to him—­it was the thing which caused him to appreciate every blessing of after life.

“The denial of his means to an education when a boy was no ‘if’ to him—­it caused his maturer mind to hunger after learning, even in his later years.

“The bitter opposition which he met throughout his tempestuous political career was no ‘if’ to him—­it softened his nature and drew him nearer to the God of love in whom he placed his trust.

“No one should envy him his opportunities, for he made every one of them himself, just as you or I may do.

“It would seem to me, as I look at the life of this great man, that the secret of his success lay in his determination to make every stumbling block a stepping stone.  In order to do it, he held steadfastly to the hand of God, when, it seemed, all other friends had failed.  It was then that he said, ’I do the best I know—­the very best I can—­and I mean to keep right on doing so until the end.’

“God has not yet given us wings to fly with, but He has given us feet to climb with, and if we use them for all they are worth, we can climb near enough to heaven’s gate to step right in when the summons come.

“Boys and girls, men and women, the opportunity for success—­for Life—­is given to each one of us, just as truly as it was given to Abraham Lincoln.  We could not have taken his place.  Perhaps he could not have taken yours or mine.  It is for each of us to work out his own success, just as he did.”

THE FRUITS OF RICHES
    —­Humility
    —­Wealth

If the Love of Gold Controls the Life Naught but Poverty of Soul
Can Result.

THE LESSON—­That while wealth, honestly earned, may be a blessing, the life devoted to the getting of riches cannot hope for true happiness.

The Scriptures do not condemn the possession of riches, but they do have some strong things to say against the wrongful attainment of wealth and the harmful use of money.  The talk here presented is designed to impress this thought.  In outlining the drawing be sure to place the lettering exactly as shown in the design.