 Chapter 25 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas X. Floyd This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. The Road to Success The world is constantly looking for the man who knows the most, and it pays little regard to those who are proficient in the usual degree in the same things. One must excel, or in other words, know more than his associates in order to succeed notably. The world will be at high for you if you know more than other men. So that boys and girls who are preparing themselves for the duties of life should not aim simply at being as good as somebody else, but they should aim at being the best that it is possible to be in any chosen line of life or business. I have noticed in my short lifetime that there is a great tendency on the part of young people to cut short their education. Being able to shine in the intellectual and social worlds with the small attainments made in some college or normal school or industrial school, the average young Negro man is content to stop with a diploma or certificate from one or another of these institutions. They will never realize what injury they have done themselves by doing so until it is too late. On the other hand, there is another large class of young people that stop short even before they have finished the course in even any one of the normal or industrial schools. They must go out to work. They know enough to make a living. What's the use of so much education anyhow? This is the way some of them talk. This is what some of them believe. Boys and girls, no man or woman with such low ideals will ever reach the topmost round of the ladder of fame. Such boys and girls will always play a second-rate part in the great drama of life. The boys and girls who are going to the front, the boys and girls who are going to have the leading parts, are the boys and girls who are willing to take time to prepare themselves. And preparation means hard work, and not only hard work, but hard and long-continued work. A person can learn a good deal in one year. A person can learn a good deal in two years, but nobody can learn enough in one or two years or in three or four years to make it at all likely that he will ever be sought by the great world. Aside from the rudimentary training, it ought to take at least ten years to make a good doctor or a good lawyer or a good electrician or a good preacher. Four of these years ought to be spent in college and four in the professional school. And the other two ought to be spent in picking up a practical or working knowledge of the calling, whatever it may be. The young doctor obtains this practical knowledge in hospitals and in practice among the poor. The electrician obtains it by entering some large electrical industry or manufacturing in which a thoroughly practical knowledge of mechanical engineering and electricity can be secured. It is true that some men have become distinguished in these callings without this long preparation of which I have spoken. Yet, it is also true that they would have been better off. They would have been more likely to have become eminent if they had taken the longer course. College is a little world which everyone, other things being equal, ought to enter and pass through before launching in the great world. End of Chapter 25. Chapter number 26 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas X. Floyd. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Samuel C. Armstrong. Boys and girls, I wonder how many of you have heard of Samuel C. Armstrong, General Armstrong, the founder of Hampton Institute in Virginia. General Armstrong was one of the best men who ever lived, and he was the friend of all mankind. His special services were rendered in behalf of Indians and Negroes, the weaker races. You ought to go to Hampton Institute sometimes and see that place and go over to the little cemetery in one corner of the grounds and stand uncovered by the side of General Armstrong's grave. He died in 1892. You ought to get the story of his life and read it. It will bear to you the thrilling message for to read that book is to enter the presence of a man of magnificent courage and indomitable faith. A general at 26, with a brilliant war record behind him, the quality of his courage had been already proved, but the future was to test it far more severely. The responsibility for the experiment at Hampton was a terrible one, presenting problems which no nation had been called upon to solve before. He had to face isolation, ignorance, indifference, misrepresentation. At the best, after he had conquered prejudice and won friends for the work, he had to spend half his lifetime begging for money. For he had to raise by personal efforts from $50,000 to $80,000 annually for the current expenses. Yet in all that time and under all his burdens, no one ever saw him discouraged. He used to explain his position by a story which he called his rule of conduct. Once there was an old colored man who could not be dissuaded from working at an empty possum hole. Ain't no possum in that hole. Days just got to be because days nothing in the house for supper. Or, as he used to tell his children, once there was a woodchuck. Now woodchucks can't climb trees. Well, this woodchuck was chased by a dog and came to a tree. He knew that if he could get up this tree, the dog could not catch him. Now woodchucks can't climb trees, but this one had to, so he did. He had to, so he did, was the model of General Armstrong's life. Doing what can't be done is the glory of living, he once said. For most people, said one of General Armstrong's friends, an obstacle is something in the way to stop one from going on. But for General Armstrong, it merely meant something to climb over. And if he could not climb all the way over, he would get up as high as possible and then crow. When you come to read the story of General Armstrong's life, you will find that there is no finer picture in it than that of an evening when he spoke at a little suburban church far down a side street. It was a bitter winter night with a driving storm of sleep, and when it was time for the meeting to begin, the audience consisted of a score or so of humble people who evidently enough had no means to contribute and a dozen restless boys kicking their heels in the front pew. Then in the midst of the bleakness and emptiness rose the worn gaunt soldier as bravely and as gladly as if a multitude were hanging upon his words. His deep sunk eyes looked out beyond the bleakness of the scene into the world of his ideals, and the cold little place was aglow with the fire that was in him. Dangers, hardships, obstacles, upon these he had tried his soul's stuff, all his life. But here was another and a more difficult test. Triumphant in faith and unflinching in duty, he could meet even defeat in the spirit of victory. End of chapter 26. Chapter number 27 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas X. Floyd. This LiberVox recording is in the public domain. How to be handsome. Do you want to be handsome? I'll tell you how. First, look well to your health. Eat regularly and simply and take proper rest in order to be healthy. Do not crowd the stomach. The stomach can no more work all the time night and day than a horse. It must have regular rest. The body must have proper rest also. Do not keep late hours. Go to bed early. If you must have work which must be done, it is a good deal better to rise early in the morning and do it than it is to sit up late at night and work. Secondly, good teeth are essential to good looks. Brush the teeth regularly with a soft brush morning and night, especially at night. Be sure to go to bed at night with clean teeth. Thirdly, look well to the ventilation of your bedrooms. No one can have a clear skin who breathes that air. Fresh air is a preventative of a multitude of diseases. Bad air is the cause of a great many premature deaths. Fourthly, cleanliness of the entire body is of vast importance. Someone has said that cleanliness is next to godliness and someone else has added and soap is a means of grace. Handsome people not only eat regularly and simply, they not only sleep regularly and look well to proper ventilation, but handsome people will take regular baths. Fifthly, more than all else, in order to look well, you must wake up the mind and soul. When the mind is awake, the dull, sleepy look passes away from the eyes. Keep thinking pleasant and noble thoughts. Do not read trashy novels or books. Read books which have something good in them. Talk with people who know something. Be often in the company of those who know more than you do. Hear lectures and sermons and profit by them. If we listen and understand and heed, the mind and soul are awakened. So much the better if the spiritual nature is aroused. Sometimes a plain face is really glorified with the love of God and of man which shines through it. Lastly, keep a strong and vigorous body by taking plenty of wholesome outdoor exercise and do all the good you can. Why not begin to grow handsome today? End of chapter 27, chapter number 28 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas X. Floyd. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Patience. Patience is one of the marks of high character. It might well be called the habit of closing the mind against disagreeable and annoying conditions. To acquire this habit so effectively as to hide even from oneself any sense of suffering or offense from contact with such conditions is what the truly cultivated aim at. Life, it is true. It's full of trying things. But to let the mind dwell upon them only serves to increase their offense to the feelings or the senses. There are people of course who are incapable of self-concentration and whose imagination, if left free to get about, seems always to fix upon and exaggerate every element of disturbance. They live in what is called an elementary stage of moral discipline and are perpetually fretting about things they cannot help. They are never able to shut down the will against any unpleasantness. They permit merely accidental conditions to exercise a kind of tyrannical sway over them which if their minds were once bent to the practice of putting up with things would cease to present any annoyance whatever. It is difficult no doubt to acquire this habit but this is what patience means in its highest sense. It is spiritual endurance and its chief power consists not so much in adding to the number of our joys as in lessening the number of our sufferings. It is therefore a mark of power over oneself and a means of power over others. With patience the outward success or failure of a man is a small thing compared with that success which he has achieved within himself. And that kind of success, the success which enables a man to laugh at failure and rise superior to discouragements and difficulties. That kind of success is a means of help and inspiration to all those about him. If we consider the works of nature we shall see that nature's most beneficial operations are the results of patience. Anything which grows must have time and the best things in the world are generally those things which demand the longest time for their growth and development. The rank and short lived weed reaches its full development in the shortest possible time but the oak which is to stand for centuries demands the sunshine and the storm of years before its strength is fully developed. Now boys and girls one of the hardest demands which nature makes upon people especially upon young people full of strength and energy and ambition is to wait for the results of growth. No man becomes instantly strong morally. He must grow into strength. However great his ambition and his zeal may be no man becomes a scholar in a year. It takes time and locks of it. No man reaches at a single bound the full development of his whole nature. He grows into strength. A good soldier cannot be made without war nor can a skillful seaman be made on land. So in the race of life we must fight hard for all we get and be patient. Whatever else may be true or may not be true only patient and continued efforts not hasty efforts lead to success. Before me lies a block of wood. It is full of knots. It seems to me I can never split it. But I bravely make the attempt. The first blow makes little impression. The axe springs back with a bound again and again I strike. Then a tiny crack appears. A few more licks in the block yields. I have succeeded. Can you tell me which blow did the work? Was it not the first blow and the last and all between? You have tried something and failed. Try again. If you fail, try once more. And on and on. Keep trying until you win the victory. End of chapter 28. Chapter number 29 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas X. Floyd. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. The Biter bit. In the broad light of day a would-be high woman sprang from the bushes that skirted the big road and with a pistol pointed at Eli's head commanded the Wayfair to hold up his hands. Without hesitation, Eli obeyed, grabbing his hat from his head while his hands were making the ascent. Then he stood trembling as if in great fear and said, Lordy boss, what is that you've got? The high woman replied, it's a bulldog. Can he bark, boss? Asked for Eli. Certainly was the answer. I'll give you a dollar just to heed that dog bark once said humble Eli. Bang went the gun and the ball went crashing through the woods. Eli pulled out a silver dollar and handed it over to the would-be robber. Do it again, boss, said Eli. A second, a third, a fourth, a fifth, a sixth time the dog barked and each time Eli paid a dollar for the fund. When the revolver had been empty, the old Negro asked pitifully, boss, can he bark no more? On being assured that the dog could bark no more, Eli said, well, boss, ain't you got another dog? The robber said he was sorry, but he did not have another. Then Uncle Eli said as he ran his hand into his hip pocket, boss, I got one of them dogs myself and I suspect I'll let you hear mine bark some. Drop your dog, boss, and drop it quick. He commanded, as he pointed his gun at the would-be robber's head. Down went the other man's gun. Now drop them dollars right alongside of that gun. Be quick, said Eli. Down went the dollars. Now you get and don't you look back. Step lively and if you just to look back, you sure will hear something important. End of Chapter 29, Chapter 30 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas X. Floyd. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. The alphabet of success. Attend carefully to details. Be prompt in all things. Consider well, then decide positively. Dare to do right. Fear to do wrong. Endure trials patiently. Fight life's battles bravely. Go not into the society of the vicious. Hold integrity sacred. End your not another's reputation. Join hands only with the virtuous. Keep your mind free from evil thoughts. Lie not for any consideration. Make few special acquaintances. Never try to appear what you are not. Observe good manners. Pay your debts promptly. Question not the veracity of a friend. Respect the counsel of your parents. Sacrifice money rather than principal. Touch not, taste not, handle not intoxicating drinks. Use your leisure for improvement. Venture not upon the threshold of wrong. Watch carefully over your passions. Extend to everyone a kindly greeting. Young people should read Floyd's flowers for colored children. Zealously labor for the right, and success is certain. End of chapter 30. Chapter number 31 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas X. Floyd. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Easter Monday in Washington. The approach of Easter arouses delightful expectations in the hearts of the little children in the great city of Washington, the nation's capital. On Easter Monday there is an event which places the day among the greatest holidays of the year. The United States government is drawn into the observance of the day because it furnishes the country's greatest bands to play the music and the government pays the bills. The president of the United States, whoever he may happen to be when the day rolls around, wins the gratitude of the children for he lets them play in his backyard. The president's backyard is called the White Lot. It covers many acres and stretches from the back porch of the White House way out to the great White Washington Monument, which towers for more than 500 feet in the air and a half mile away. The lawn of the White Lot are always green and inviting and are covered with the prettiest flowers and trees that you ever saw. The ground is not low and level except in spots. There are many little hills which serve to make a beautiful place. Really, the president's backyard is a great big park. Bright and early Easter Monday morning, happy little groups of children may be seen proudly marching toward the White House. Their mothers and nurses or some grown-up sisters are with them. All the trolley cars are filled with them coming from every section of the city. Their little tongues are very busy chattering about the pleasures that are in store for them. Some whose memories stretch back over a long, long expanse of time are relating some glowing incident of the year before for those who are yet unacquainted with the joys that are to come. The little ones listen with open mouths and wide open eyes and hurry along all the faster. I have been in Washington on two occasions at these great celebrations, once while the sturdy Grover Cleveland was president and once while the great and good William McKinley occupied the White House. In all my experience, I have never seen anything that has made me feel prouder of my country than these feast days for the children. For in the president's backyard all the children meet on a common level, children of all races and of all classes. Neither their father's position nor their mother's social standing concerns them. Two little strangers will meet and play and romp together as if they had been companions all their days. All the little children carry with them the little baskets and in the baskets are the prettiest Easter eggs that can be made. Some are painted and striped and spotted with bright colors. Others are covered with silver and gilt paper. When the merry-makers get to the great big gates where the policemen always stand, they march right through because they know the policemen won't stop them this time. The little fellows hold their heads high and feel very important and the policemen smile as they pass by. The children keep coming and coming until buying by the lot is almost filled all the way from the White House to the tall white monument with laughing children and with eggs. It would seem that there were no children left anywhere in Washington. The children are allowed to run on the grass just as much as they pleased for this one day. If you go near one of the little hills or long banks you may hear one small girl say to another, my egg will roll farther than your egg and the other small girl will answer no, mine will roll further. And then they will start their eggs rolling down the hills and racing after them to see whose egg goes the farthest. Many of the boys throw their eggs along the ground like nine pinballs and see whose will go the farthest. When they get tired of this, they stand on a little distance apart and roll their eggs against each other to see whose will break. There's another way that they try to break each other's eggs. One holds an egg in his hand so that the top is uncovered and another takes his egg and taps it gently against the first one. He keeps hitting a little harder and harder until one of them breaks and the one whose egg doesn't break is the winner. Most of the eggs are boiled hard first so that the children are not very sorry after all if their eggs do break because they can eat them and their mothers or nurses will give them crackers and salt to go with them. In such a crowd where the children are allowed to run where they pleased, there are sure to be some little ones who will wander away from their guardians. All the little lost children as fast as the officers can find them are taken to a small house in the center of the lot and the mothers know just where to look for them. Often there are 20 or 30 little tops all tired out waiting to be claimed by their guardian. On the highest mound of all, there is a band, the United States Marine Band, and they play some of their nicest music on this day. So when the little ones get weary from running after their eggs, they can go watch the man pound the big bass drum and listen to the music. Sometimes while the music is playing, the president will come out of the back porch high overall and watch the festivities. A mighty shout from old and young alike always greets the appearance of the president. No wonder this is one of the big days for the little folks. Buy and buy all the eggs are broken or eaten and then it's time for the tired and happy little fairies to go home. End of Chapter 31. Chapter 32 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas X. Floyd. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter number 32, Keeping One's Engagements. What would happen if everybody should begin tomorrow to keep all his promises and fulfill all his engagements? I think it would make a new world at once. There is great need that the attention of young people should be called to the importance of keeping engagements. Much of the confusion and annoyance and trouble of this world would be done away with if people would learn to keep their promises. The oft-repeated excuse I forgot is not reasonable. If the memory is in the habit of playing tricks with you, then you ought to make notes of your engagements. Write them down in some ways that you will not forget them. Arnold Rugby said, Thoughtlessness is a crime, and he was right. The great Ruskin has also uttered strong words in condemnation of thoughtlessness in youth. He said, But what excuse can you find for willfulness of thought at the very time when every crisis of future fortune hangs on your decisions? A youth, thoughtless. When the career of all his days depends on the opportunity of a moment, a youth, thoughtless. When his every act is a foundation stone of future conduct and every imagination a fountain of life or death. Be thoughtless in any after-years rather than now, though. Indeed, there is only one place where a man may be nobly thoughtless, his deathbed. No thinking should ever be left to be done there. And then boys and girls should remember that promptness should always accompany the fulfilling of an engagement. Otherwise, the engagement is not really kept. A person's time is a valuable possession which should be respected by all. Who has not been exasperated by someone with apparent indifference to keeping an engagement? A half or three quarters an hour late. And often a whole train of troubles will follow in the wake of tardiness. The punctual boy or girl in this life is the one who advances most rapidly. The punctual boy or girl will make a punctual man or woman. A promise breaker or one who is late in keeping his appointments cannot in the true sense of the term be considered a first-class person. End of Chapter 32. Chapter number 33 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas X. Floyd. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. A Midnight Mishap. Uncle Ned returned from his possum hunt about midnight, bringing with him a fine fat possum. He built a glowing fire, dressed possum-paired, and split the sweet potatoes. And pretty soon he had possum and taters in the oven. While the meal was cooking, Uncle Ned amused himself with his favorite old banjo. When the possum had been baked brown and crisp, he took it out of the oven and set it on the hearth to give it time to cool. Mentally congratulating himself upon the glorious repast he thought he'd soon enjoy. He sat silently for a while in the old armchair, but presently he was snugly wrapped in the arms of tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep. It happened that two young fellows who were pretty well acquainted with Uncle Ned's habits had been stealthily watching about the house, waiting this particular chance. As soon as they were convinced that the old man was safe in the arms of Morpheus, they crept into the house and hurriedly helped themselves to Uncle Ned's supper, including even the coffee and bread. When they finished the hasty meal by way of attempting to cover up their tracks, they smeared Uncle Ned's hands and mouth with the possum gravy, and then beat a retreat. After time, Uncle Ned aroused from his peaceful slumber. It is needless to say that he had dreamed about his supper. At once, he dived down to inspect the vines, went low and behold, the hearth was empty. Uncle Ned studied himself and studied a while. Well, he said finally, I musta ate that possum, I musta ate that possum in my sleep. He looked at his hands. They were greasy. He smelt his hands. As he did so, he said, that smells like possum grease. I sure musta ate that possum. He discovered grease on his lips, out went his tongue. That tastes like possum grease, he said. He got up. He looked about the house. There was no sign of intruders. He rubbed his stomach. He resumed his seat and giving up all for lost. He said, well, if I did eat that possum, it says lighter on my appetite than any possum I ever ate before. End of Chapter 33 Chapter 34 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas X. Floyd This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Frederick Douglass In 1893, the World's Columbian Exposition, or World's Fair, was held in Chicago in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America. A Negro man, the honorable Frederick Douglass, attended that Exposition and delivered an address on Negro Day. Speaking of this great man's visit to the advance, one of the Chicago's great religious papers said, It was fine to see at the Congress on Africa the tall form and magnificent head of the grand old man Frederick Douglass, now 75 years of age. Perfectly erect, kindly majestic. The ancient fires of inspiration welling up through all his being yet affable to all. Finding it still to be as natural to be eloquent as to speak at all. Sympathetic to the core with the people of his own race, yet nonetheless loyal to the common interests of all the people of his country. Neither blind to the obstacles in their path and the cruel social injustice and meanness to which they are often exposed. Nor on the other hand unmindful of the friends they have in the South as also in the North or above all to the overshining care and purpose of God himself. With the far off divine intent that so clearly takes in the future of both the American and African continents, few Americans have had a more conspicuously providential mission than Frederick Douglass. And hardly anything in this remarkable Congress was more eloquent or more convincing than his personal presence. Frederick Douglass was born a slave and his life as a slave was one of peculiar hardship. Of what he himself says in his autobiography, I suffered little from any punishment I received except from hunger and cold. I could get enough neither of food or clothing but suffered more from cold than hunger. In the heat of the summer or the cold of the winter alike I was kept almost in a state of nudity. No shoes, jackets, trousers, or stockings. Nothing but a coarse toe linen shirt reaching to the knee. That I wore night and day. In the day time I could protect myself by keeping on the sunny side of the house and in the bad weather the corner of the kitchen chimney. The great difficulty was to keep warm at night. I had no bed. The pigs in the pan had leaves and the horses in the stable had straw but the children had nothing. In a very cold weather I sometimes got down in the bag which corn was carried to the mill and got into that. My feet have been so cracked by frost that the pen with which I'm writing might have been laid in the gashes. With regard to his food he said that he often disputed with the dogs over the crumbs that fell from his master's table. Now this man, born so lowly and surrounded by such circumstances turned out to be in the course of time by hard work and self-application one of the most influential American citizens and one of the greatest orators that this country has ever known. Among other high offices of trust and responsibility he was once Marshal of the District of Columbia, Recorder of Deeds of the District of Columbia and United States Minister to Haiti. He died February 20th, 1895 at his home in Anacostia, D.C. at the age of 77 years. A monument to his memory has been erected in Rochester, New York where he once lived. What Frederick Douglass, made of himself, is possible for any American boy with great. Every boy and girl in America should read the life of this preeminent Negro and strive to emulate his virtues. His memory is worthy to be honored to the last day of time. End of Chapter 34 Chapter 35 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas X. Floyd This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Our dumb animals. Domestic animals like horses, cats and dogs seem to be as almost dependent upon current treatment and infection as human beings. Horses and dogs especially are the most keenly intelligent of our dumb friends and are alike sensitive to cruelty in any form. They are influenced to an equal degree by kind and affectionate treatment. If there is any form of cruelty that is more reprehensible than another, it is abuse of a faithful horse who has given his whole life to the service of the owner. When a horse is pulling a heavy load with all his might, doing the best he can to move under it, to strike him, spur him or swear at him is simply barbarious. To kick a dog around, to tie tin cans to his tail or strike him with sticks just for the fun of hearing him yelp or seeing him run is equally barbarious. No high-minded man, no high-minded boy or girl would do such a thing. We should never forget how helpless in a large sense dumb animals are and how absolutely dependent upon the humanity and kindness of their owners. They are really the slaves of man having no language by which to express their feelings or needs. The poet Cowper said, I would not enter on my list of friends though grace with polished manners and fine sense. Yet wanting sensibility, the man who needlessly sets foot upon a worm, every boy and girl should be willing to pledge himself to be kind to all harmless living creatures and every boy and girl should strive to protect such creatures from cruel usage on the part of others. It is noble boys and girls for us to speak for those that cannot speak for themselves and it is noble also for us to protect those that cannot protect themselves. End of Chapter 35 Chapter 36 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas X. Floyd This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. A plucky boy. The boy marched straight up to the counter. Well, my little man, said the merchant, what can I do for you? If you please, said the boy, I came in to see if you wouldn't let me work for you. The boy was not yet ten years old and he was small for his age but there was something in his speech or manner that held the man's attention. Do some work for me, eh? said the man. What kind of work can you do? You can hardly look over the counter. Oh yes, I can, said the little fellow as he stood on tiptoe and peeped over the counter. Out of sheer curiosity, the merchant came from behind the counter so asked to get a good look at the boy. Oh, he said, I see you've got copper taps on your shoes. I suppose your mother couldn't keep you in shoes if they didn't have taps on them. She can keep me in shoes anyway, sir. And the little boy's voice hesitated. How old are you? asked the merchant. I'm older than I look. Folks say that I'm small for my age. Well, what is your age? I'm going on ten, said Davy, with a look of great importance. You see, he continued, my mother hasn't anybody but me and this morning I saw her crying because she could not find five cents in her pocketbook and she thinks she must have lost it and it was the last sense that she had in the world and I have not any breakfast, sir. The voice again hesitated and the tears came into the little boy's eyes. Oh, don't cry, my little man. I guess I can help you to a breakfast. Here, take this quarter. He pulled a quarter from his vest pocket and handed it to the boy. The boy shook his head. Mother wouldn't let me beg, was his simple answer, said the merchant. Where's your father? We never heard of him, sir, after he went away. He was lost in the steamer city of New York. That's too bad, but you're a plucky little fellow anyhow. Let me see. And he looked straight down into boy's eyes and the boy looked straight up at him. Turning to the head man after a while, the merchant said, Palmer, is Cash Boy number five still sick? Dead, sir, died last night, was the reply. I'm sorry, but here's a boy you might use. Put him down in number five's place. We'll try him for a while anyhow. What's your name, my little man? He asked, turning again to the boy. Davy Thomas. Well, Davy, we'll give you $3 a week to start with. You come tomorrow morning and I'll tell you what to do. Here's a dollar of your wages in advance. I'll take it out of your first week's pay. Do you understand? Yes, sir, I understand and I thank you too. I'll be back in the morning. Davy shot out of the store and lost no time in getting home. The old creaky steps in the old ramshackle house fairly sang with delight as the weight of the little boy hurried up them. I've got it, mother, exclaimed Davy. I'm a Cash Boy. The man's going to give me $3 a week and he says I've got to pluck too. And here's a dollar to get some breakfast with and don't you cry anymore if I'm going to be the man of this house now. At first the mother was dumbfounded. Then she looked confused and then she looked, well, it passes my power to tell you how she did look as she took Davy in her arms and hugged him and kissed him. The tears streaming down her cheeks but they were tears of joy and thankfulness. End of chapter 36. Chapter number 37 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas X. Floyd. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. A heart-to-heart talk. Henry, I asked you to remain after school a few minutes because I wanted you to help me rearrange the desk and furniture but I had another reason for asking you to remain and I think it is more important than the one I've just stated. The desks had all been arranged according to the teacher's notion and Henry Holt had gathered up his books to go home. It was then that his teacher Miss Aida Johnson addressed him. Won't you sit down here a minute, David? She continued. I wish to speak to you a minute or two. David quietly took a seat. He was one of the largest boys in school and had been given an unusual amount of trouble during the day. In fact, he had been a source of annoyance ever since the new teacher had taken charge. David, the teacher went on. I wonder if you realize how hard you have made it for me in school today. Is there any reason why we cannot be friends and work together? And I wish to be friends to you if you would let me. You could help me so much and you could help your schoolmate so much if you only would. I want to ask you if you think your conduct has been manly today. Has it been kind? David said nothing but hung his head. I heard before I came here that you were an unruly boy. People say that you would neither study nor work and some people say that you are a very mean boy. Some of these things may be true, David. I'm sorry to say it, but I want to tell you that you are the only hope of a widowed mother and I want to say so also that I think you are breaking her heart. The teacher's voice faltered at the last words. I know that your father, the low voice went on, was a brave and noble man. And when I hear people say it's a good thing that Henry Oliver died before he knew what his son was coming to, I think what a pity it is that they cannot say. How sad it is that Henry Oliver died before he could know what a fine manly fellow his son would be and what a stay and comfort to his mother. The boys had dropped to the desk in front of him and he began to sob. The teacher went over to him and said gently, you can be all this. It's in your power to be all that your father would have you, all that your mother would have you. Will you not turn over a new leaf now? Not only in your behavior and work in school, but in your whole life as well. David raised his head. I'm with you, I'll do it teacher. He replied, a new resolve shining in his face. All that day he did some of the most serious thinking of his life and he kept his promise. The years have been many since then. The little teacher has long since passed to her rest but David Oliver is a living monument to the power of a few searching words. The equivalency of a little personal interest and kindliness manifested at a critical time. End of chapter 37. Chapter 38 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas X. Floyd. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. A ghost story. Uncle Moles, an old time colored man, once said in the company of a few people who were talking about ghosts that he wasn't afraid of any ghost that ever walked the earth. No son, not me, he said. I've got my first time to be scared of anything that's dead. Whereupon Noah Johnson told Uncle Moles that he would bet him a load of watermelons that he couldn't spend one night in the widow Smith's house. Now, the widow Smith's house was said to be haunted or in other words, it was filled with ghosts. Disnamed at night, said Uncle Moses, stay there and no hands won't bother me. No son, no hands won't bother with me and your watermelons is this good as gone already. The details were arranged. Judges were appointed and Uncle Moses was to stay in the haunted house that very night. He got him some pine knots to keep a good place in the old fashioned fireplace, carried along an extra plug of tobacco, secured a large dry goods box to be used for a chair and then he set out for the house. He made a blaze and seated himself on the pine box. For a time he sung a number of old plantation songs for his own amusement as well as to keep him company. About midnight, feeling somewhat drowsy, Uncle Moles got up, took a light and went on a tour of inspection. He examined every room in the house. His search revealed nothing unusual. He wound up his search chuckling to himself, I show is making this load of watermelons easy. Noah John Sting didn't know who he fooled with. I manned myself. I ain't afraid of nothing. I ain't down he sat on the box and pretty soon he was dozing. It was not very long before he suddenly awoke. He was at once seized with strange and sudden fear. He was too frightened to move. Although he did not look around, he was conscious that there was another presence in the room. His hair stood on ends. He felt a cold chill run up and down his back. By that time he knew that the object in the room, whatever it was, was moving towards him. Still he did not move because he could not. The ghost, for that was what all the people said it was, stood over Uncle Moles for a little while and then quietly sat down on the box beside him. Uncle Moles looked straight into the fireplace but his heart was beating like a runaway horse. The silence in the room at that moment was like unto the silence of death. Everything was still and solemn. Uncle Moles could almost hear his own heart beating. The ghost finally broke silence by saying with a loud sigh, they don't seem to be but two of us here tonight. It was then that Uncle Moles looked around for the first time and as he did so he exclaimed, yes and if this death won't be but one. And with that he jumped through the window taking part of the sash with him. The judges had been waiting in the open air near the house so as to watch the proceedings. They called to the fleeing Uncle Moles as he passed them in order to stop him. They said that they were all there and would protect him. But Uncle Moles, he kept on running and hello back, I'll see you later. He ran at the top of his speed for more than a mile for he was well not scared to death. By and by from sheer exhaustion he was compelled to stop for a little rest. He was wet with perspiration from head to foot and his clothes were as limp as a wet dish rag. But the poor old man had no sooner seated himself on a stone by the roadside than up jumps the ghost and sits down beside him once more. Ha! said the ghost. You seem to have made pretty good time tonight. Yes, said Uncle Moles. But what I has done ain't nothing to what I was given to do. And he jumped up and let out once more. He had not gone far on his second trip before an old rabbit ran out of the bushes and took out down the road ahead of him. Uncle Moles hallowed at the rabbit instead. Get out of the way rabbit and let somebody run where they can run. On and on the poor old man almost scared to death ran and ran. Perhaps he would have been running until now but for a very unfortunate accident. About five miles from the widow Smith's house he came in contact with the limb of a weeping willow tree that hung across the road. The poor old fellow already tied out was knocked speechless and senseless. Toward the break of day the judges who had followed him found him lying on the ground doubled up near the tree. Dim consciousness was slowly returning when they picked him up. They rubbed him and walked him around for a little while. And soon he was able to move himself. The first thing Uncle Moles said was tell Noah not to mind about dim water millings. I stayed in that house just as long as I could keep my conscience quiet. My old mama always told me that it was a sin and shame to bet it but now I believe it. And to this day boys and girls if you want to see a really mad man you just ask Uncle Moles if he ever saw a ghost. End of Chapter 38 Chapter 39 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas X. Floyd This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Good cheer. Everybody loves the cheerful boy or girl the cheerful man or woman and everybody ought to love such people. I wish all the boys and girls in America would organize one's grand sunshine society whose chief object should be the promotion of good feelings, good cheer, peace and happiness among all the people everywhere. But first a boy or girl man or woman must have sunshine in their own souls before they can communicate sunshine to others. And boys and girls it would greatly assist us in securing sunshine in our souls if we looked at our mercies with both eyes as I might say and at our troubles and trials with only one eye. What we enjoy in the world is always a good deal more than that which we do not enjoy but we do not magnify our blessings sufficiently. We do not make as much of them as we are we do not rejoice because of them as we are we ought to keep daily record of God's goodness and kindness and patience and love. Every morning and fresh every evening but we do not realize that they are so because we do not stop and count them up. We do not think about them. If we stop to weigh the matter I think we should find more in our lives to be happy about than to be sorry about. Our good fortunes always outweigh our misfortunes and we should find it so that we only acquired the habit of remembering God's goodness to us as well as the disappointments and sorrows and afflictions which are for us all. Then we should study contentment. We should study to be content. We must cultivate the habit of being satisfied with what we have at present and we should not worry about those things which we do not possess. Worry because of things they did not possess has made countless thousands more. Let us enjoy what we have. Let us make the most of what we have and let us not worry about things which we do not possess. No matter how miserable our own lot may be there is always someone whose lot is more miserable still. Worry kills more people than work. In fact, worry unfits a man for work. The man who has learned the philosophy of being content in whatsoever state he is is the man who is and will be happy. One of the things in this world that pays a hundred fold is contentment and there is nothing that casts so much light and mildew upon life's fairest flowers as discontent. Again, it would help us to keep cheerful if we kept steadily engaged in some work of usefulness. Let us go about doing good. Let us go about seeking opportunities of doing good. Doing good makes the heart healthy and the heart health makes sunshine, happiness and good cheer. A little thought will convince you boys and girls that your own happiness in this world is very largely on the way other people bear themselves towards you. The looks and tones at your breakfast table, the conduct of your playmates, the faithful or unreliable people that you deal with, what people say to you on the street, the letters you get, the friends or foes you meet, these things make up very much of the pleasure or misery of your day. Turn the thought around and remember that just so much you are adding to the pleasure or misery of today's. And this is the half of the matter that you can control. Whether any particular day shall bring you more happiness or suffering is largely beyond your power to determine. Whether each day of your life shall give happiness or suffering to others rest with yourself. And that is where the test of character comes. We must be continually sacrificing our wills to the wills of others, bearing without notice, sights and sounds that annoy us, setting about this or that task when we would rather be doing something else, persevering in it often when we are very tired of it, keeping company for duty's sake when it would be a great joy to us to be by ourselves. And then there are all the trifling and outward accidents of life, bodily pain and weakness. It may be long continued, losing what we value, missing what we desire, deceit and gratitude and treachery where we least expect them, folly, rashness and wilfulness in ourselves. All these little worries which we meet each day may lie as stumbling blocks across our way, or we may make them if we choose, stepping stones of grace. I want all the little boys and girls who read this book to be joy makers, to be burden bearers and to be among those who will assist in filling the whole world with good cheer. It is our duty to cheer and comfort others. It is our duty to make the world not only better, but happier happier because better for our having lived in it. To all the other Beatitudes might as well be added this month. Blessed are the cheerful people for they shall inherit the earth. End of Chapter 39 Chapter 40 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas Excloid This LibriVox recording is in the public domain, Life is a Battle. Boys and girls, I want to repeat to you now some words which were delivered long ago by the Honorable Shaila Kofax, a man who was once the Vice President of the United States. These words are wholesome and should be read and considered by parents and schoolteachers and by children themselves all over our land. Above all things teach children what their life is. It is not breathing, moving, playing, sleeping simply. Life is a battle. All thoughtful people see it so. A battle between good and evil from childhood. Good influences drawing us up toward the divine. Bad influences drawing us down toward the brute. Midway we stand between the divine and the brute. How to cultivate the good side of nature is the greatest lesson of life to teach. Teach children that they leave these two lives, the life without and the life within. And that the inside must be pure in the sight of God as well as outside in the sight of men. There are five means of learning. These are observation, reading, conservation, memory, reflection. Educators sometimes in their anxiety to secure a wide range of studies do not sufficiently impress upon their scholars the value of memory. Now, our memory is one of the most valuable gifts that has bestowed upon us. And one of the most mysterious. Take a tumbler and pour water into it. By and by you can pour no more. It is full. It is not so with the mind. You cannot fill it full of knowledge in a whole lifetime. Or in all you please and it's still thirst for more. Remember this. Knowledge is not what you learn for what you remember. It is not what you eat for what you digest that makes you grow. It is not the money you handle but that you keep that makes you rich. It is not what you study but what you remember and reflect upon that makes you learn it. One more suggestion. Above all things else strive to fit the children in your charge to be useful men and women. Men and women you may be proud of in after life. While they are young teach them that far above physical courage which will lead them to face the truth in their mouth. Above wealth which would give them farms and houses and bank stocks and gold is moral courage. That courage by which they will stand fearlessly, frankly firmly for the right. Every man or woman who dares to stand for the right when evil has its legions is the true moral victor in this life and in the land beyond the stars. These brave and true words were spoken by Mr. Colfax long were true then and they're no less true now. Every boy in America should treasure them in his heart. Every girl in America should commit them to memory and make them the rule of her life. Mothers and fathers, school teachers and preachers and all who have the care of the young in any way would do well to study these wise counsels and reflect upon them and strive to impress upon those for whom they are laboring. If you would win the victory in the battle for your parents you must watch the little things. It is said that there is a barn upon Allegheny mountains so built that the rain which falls upon it separates in such a manner that that which falls upon one side of the roof runs into a little stream that flows into the Susquehanna and then onto Chesapeake Bay and on into the Atlantic. That which falls upon the other side is carried into the Allegheny river then onto the Ohio river to the Gulf of Mexico. The point where the waters divide is very small but how different the course of these waters. So it is with people, young or old a very little thing changes the channel of their lives. Much will depend on the kinds of tempers you have boys and girls. If you are sour and cross and crab no one will love you. If you are kind and cheerful you will have friends wherever you go. Much will depend on the way in which you live your days. Upon the kind of companions you have and upon the kind of habits you have more. If you would win a great victory in fighting the battle of life you must look well to the little things. End of Chapter 40 Chapter 41 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas X. Floyd This LibriVox recording is in the public domain ruled by primitive methods. I learned that the colored male citizens of Lawrence County, Georgia had organized a unique good government club and being anxious to learn something of it I called on the secretary. The secretary explained the club to me as follows. Our society is a voluntary organization and has for its object the betterment of the race. It doesn't cost anything to join and any male citizen upward of 21 years old may become a member by taking an oath to be governed by our constitution and by laws. There are no monthly dues now and then we make up a purse to help the needy brother. Our plan is to inquire into the mode of living of our members and correct if possible any faults. If any member fails or refuses to correct a fault complained of he is then tried by a sort of court martial. The man under charge is allowed to have counsel from among the members of the organization. If he is found guilty the punishment is usually a flogging given in the presence of other members. We whip a man for a number of things getting drunk wife beating, vagrancy selling his vote there to provide for his family failure to make an honest effort to pay his debts using profane language and so on. It was reported to the society that one man's wife was badly in need of a wash pot. The man was cited to show cause why he had not provided his wife with the article. When he failed to buy one before the trial came off and when he tried failed to show how his wife could get along without one and still be put to no great inconvenience. Conviction followed. He was whipped and ordered to get a pot within 30 days. In riding past the home of another man it was seen by one of our members that had fallen down. From appearances he had made no effort to put it up. At the trial it was proved that the gate had been down for several weeks and that his wife had tried many times to get him to take more pride in the care of his home. Conviction followed and the husband will remember a long time the flogging that he got that night. We had a man before us once charged with kissing a girl on the street. The girl did not appear against him. We could not get her to do so and the man stoutly denied the charge. He told our judge that he had never kissed a woman in his life. The judge asked him if he wasn't married. No sir he said my wife's dead and I'm the daddy of nine chillers and I never kissed a woman in my life. In the midst of much laughter the judge asked did you never kiss your wife? Without a moment's hesitation the man said no sir, no sir. Then the judge said Jim you are the biggest liar in town and I sentence you to be given 49 lashes but I'll suspend the sentence if you agree to leave town within the next five hours. Judge said Jim I don't want no five hours. I'll be going in five minutes. The strangest case I remember was the case of a man charged with beating his wife. His wife was a hard working washerwoman. She complained to us three four times but always repenting before the trial and would not appear against her husband. When she didn't come to our meeting she said now judge I was going to tell you everything and she told how her husband would get drunk and come home and curse and be her unmercifully. She gave a graphic account of the last weapon she had received. The judge said I sentence this man to be given 101 lashes the maximum of the law. Dare now explain the woman dare now I done fixed you with last I done told you about beating like I was a dog. Turn it to the judge she said judge I take the weapon for a myth if you let me I spec here be good at this. End of chapter 41 chapter 42 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas X. Floyd this Libber Box recording is in the public's name hunting in easy place a nicely dressed young man 15 or 16 years old who had just finished his course in the high school stepped onto the office of the president of smutville short line railroad well said the president looking up from a mass of correspondence what can I do for you sir I have just finished my course in high school the young man began nervously and I thought that I might be able to secure a desirable position with your company I came in to talk with you about it the president asked the young man to have a seat so said the president you want a desirable play say I do sir said the young man his heart beating high with hope a place continue the president that would pay you something like a hundred dollars a month something like that said the young man eagerly I guess she would like it very well too if I could arrange it so that you could report for work at nine o'clock in the morning and get off every afternoon at three or four o'clock in other words you want something easy I can see by looking at you that you are not accustomed to hard work and that you cannot fill a place that requires you to report at six o'clock every morning and work until six every afternoon do I size you up correctly I think so sir was the reply in plain English then you're looking for a soft place with the short line I am sir well sir said the president smiling for the first time I regret to inform you that there's only one such place on our railroad I occupy that place myself and I'm not thinking of resigning the young man's face flushed the president continued I hope you will not think that it's going beyond what is right and proper for me to say but I must tell you young man that you have started out in life with the wrong notion no brave and strong young man is going about looking for an easy place the brave and the true man asks only for work and the men who are occupying what you call the easy places in life today are the men who have climbed onto them by hard work you are very much mistaken if you think that they have stepped into them from high school in fact and you'll find it out soon enough for yourself there are really no soft or easy places in this world and the man who goes about seeking such places stamps himself at once as a failure nobody will ever employ such a boy and such a boy would be no good if he were employed let me as a friend advise you young man that in the next place you go to apply for a job you ask for a chance to begin at the bottom if it happens to be a railroad ask to be given a chance to do anything firing an engine or cleaning cars or laboring in the round house be willing to begin low down in the business and if you're made out to the right stuff you will fight your way to the front I started in with the short line as a day laborer myself and if I had not done so I would not be at his head today you advertise your own folly when you go and ask a sensible businessman to put you at the start at the head of something you must begin at the bottom and work up to the top that is the rule everywhere and you will not I'm sure there is an exception to it let us hope boys and girls that this young man left the president's office a wiser young man be sure not to follow his example don't go around hunting for easy places and of chapter 42 chapter 43 of floyd's flowers by sylas x floyd this liberal voxel courting is in the public domain burt bangston's bequest burt bangston was a noted kentucky gambler those who knew him best said that he had some redeeming traits he never drank whiskey he used tobacco in no form and he seldom indulged in profanity moreover he frequently went to church but he never made it any excuses for his gambling he rather defended it saying that gambling was not a sport or pastime with him but a business he said he gambled for the same reason that a man kept a store for his law his wife declared that he was peaceable and quiet at home the only force she found with him according to her own testimony was that he kept late hours and often spent the whole night away from home and she begged him many times to quit the gambling table her appeal always fell on deaf ears burt i'm going to quit i've got enough this is my last night at this kind of thing the speaker was bill mobley one of burt's chums i guess i'll follow you in a few days i'm getting old now the next morning bill mobley was found dead upon the streets of lakompton whether he had taken his own life or been sandbagged on his way home was never found out from that day forward no man ever saw burt bankston in a gambling house he opened a grocery store that failed he started a laundry that fell through he tried a peanut stand he peddled flowers about the street compared with his former high living burt's existence was miserable his wife died after a few years friends said that she died of remorse or a broken heart or something of that kind she could not bear to live on after her husband's downfall that is his downfall in the eye of the world soon after she died burt was stricken with a dreadful sickness he came near dying by and by he was restored to health but he was broken and bent with old age friends pitied him and secured him a place as watchman at a celebrated orphan's home at last one day burt bankston died everybody believed him to be a pauper when his will was probated it was found that he left an estate worth nearly $500,000 this sum burt designated to be divided into three parts one part to be devoted to the common school education of the masses another part to the work of the ymca and the third to the orphan asylum among other things in the body of the will burt bankston said for 20 years i was a gambler the past 20 years i spent repenting i advised all young men to let gambling alone and i hope that those who may be benefited by my bequest may be willing to follow the advice of one who has passed through the fire end of chapter 43 chapter 44 of floyd's story chapter 44 of floyd's flowers by sylas x floyd this libra vox recording is in the public domain the big black burglar one cold winter night about midnight my good wife called me saying dan dan get up get up what's the matter i asked with much along somebody's in the dining room i heard them rattling the dishes just a minute ago i don't hear anything wife i said slowly there's somebody in there sure i heard them myself do get up dan before they take everything we've got haven't got a gun or any kind of weapon i said still fighting for time well get up and make a noise walk around heavy that'll frighten them and make them leave i got up quietly turned up the lamp and looked about me with a sigh be quick said my wife in a minute said i i tipped around to the wall on the side of the bed and took down an old iron sword which had done duty in the mexican war which we had preserved as an heirloom hurry hurry dan said my wife all right i said with meekness i took the sword in one hand and the lamp in the other and moved gently toward the door which opened from our bedroom into the dining room pausing at the door i said hello hello in there the response came from my wife in bed open the door dan open the door humbly i placed the lamp on the floor close by the door caught a tight grip on my old war piece and then quickly shoved the door wide open i intended of course after getting my parents to pick up the lamp and enter the dining room on a tour of inspection but i assure you there was no time for any such careful procedure as soon as the door was open and the light went streaming into the dining room something fell to the floor with a terrible thud and quicker than it takes to tell it a great big black something that looked to me like a buffalo or elephant came bounding toward me it was all so sudden that it surprised me and i fell back trembling over when the lamp it broke out came the oil it took fire and pretty soon the lambric when close by took fire also down i snatched it and threw it into the grate i reached for the first thing handy and tried to smother the fire on the floor in doing so i stepped on a piece of glass and cut my foot i burnt my hands terribly and to beat it all my night shirt caught on fire i ran to the bed and sat down in order to quench the blades this shows that i still had some presence of mine left although as a matter of fact this new extinguishing process scorched my legs awfully when all was quiet again i lit another lamp in order to take an inventory my bedroom was a sight to be hold i found that in the struggle my bedroom sword had been plunged a midship into the handsome mirror of our dresser and had also made havoc of a reproduction of millis angeles i discovered also that i had used my brand new $50 overcoat to extinguish the fire and that many of the handsome photos of our friends that stood on the mantle had been ruined all together that one night's experience cost me in the neighborhood of $100 not to mention my own personal injuries it was a terrible night i'll tell you and far off in the corner i saw a crouching and abject fear because of all my troubles the burly black burglar and what do you think it was it was nothing in the world but an old black tomcat who had been a member of our family for many years end of chapter 44 chapter 45 of floyd's flowers by stylus x floyd this liberal vox recording is in the public domain pin money made with the needle surely all young girls ought to know how to sew and not only sew but all girls i think ought to love the purely feminine occupation of sewing since i'm sure that many of the little girls who will read this book know how to sew i'm going to tell you about some little sewing that my wife did in 1903 the ladies home journal of philadelphia offered a prize of $50 for the best way to make pin money at home you know girls that pin money means pocket change or spending money many hundreds of women all over the world sent in suggestions to the ladies home journal each one hoping i'm sure that her suggestion would win the first prize the following letters sent to my wife will tell you just how her suggestion was received the ladies home journal philadelphia february 5th 1903 dear madam it gives me much pleasure to tell you that among the hundreds of letters received in response to the offer made in our january magazine in connection with the editors want box mr. bach has chosen your offering as the one entitled to the first prize of $50 he congratulates you upon your success and thanks you for your interest you have shown our treasurer will send you a check within a week very truly yours william v alexander mrs. elah floyd the check came on right girls and my wife thought as she said to me that in winning the prize she had found a new way to make pin money that is by telling others how to make pin money at home 200 of the little articles were afterwards published from time to time in the ladies home journal the first article of the series appeared in the magazine for january 1904 and my wife's little story which won first money was at the head of the list I'm going to give here the whole of the little article as published in the ladies home journal of course I'm proud that she won the prize and I hope other young ladies by and by may be happy winners in such contests and here's the article when once pin money is all gone but 25 cents the question comes as to the way to replenish it one day when I found that I had only that amount I invested it as follows 1 yard of lawn 10 cents 1 yard of lace 10 cents 1 spool of cotton 5 cents total 25 cents the same day I made 3 baby caps as daintily as I could with these materials the next day I sold them for 25 cents each and then I had 75 cents then I bought 1 yard of lawn 15 cents 2 and a half yards of lace 25 cents 2 yards of ribbon 25 cents 2 tiny buckles 5 cents 1 spool of cotton 5 cents total 75 cents with these materials I made 2 baby caps somewhat larger than the first ones and trimmed more prettily I found no trouble in selling them straight way I invested the sum in lawn, lace, ribbon, etc and as I had done so well with the caps I thought I would try my hand on little bonnets I made 2 a friend offered me $5 for them before they were finished I accepted her offer and from that day to this I have never been troubled about pin money in 4 weeks time I made and sold 20 caps and 11 bonnets the material for the caps cost me $2.50 12 and a half cents for each I sold them for 25 cents each the material for the bonnets cost me $8.25 or 75 cents each I sold them for $2.50 each so I netted $21.75 for my work the time I devoted to this enterprise was that which ordinarily I would have used in calling or in running up bills for my husband to pay since the first 4 weeks of which I have spoken in detail I have made more expensive caps and bonnets for babies from 6 months to about 3 years old the last one I made was of silk beautifully trimmed tucked and hem stitched I sold it for $6 making a clear profit of $3 my husband says I'll soon be in position to organize a trust End of Chapter 45 Chapter 46 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas X Floyd this LibriVox recording is in the public domain self help if there is one idea for which more than any other public school system should stand it is the idea of self help self help is the best kind of help in the world and one cannot learn this lesson too early in life even little children 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 should be taught to work any little child is just as capable of doing the little things in work as he is in play why should not the little girl be taught to trim and wash the dress of her doll why should not the little children be taught to sweep up the dirt that they have scattered in play why should they not be taught to remove the dishes from the table brush up the crumbs set back the chairs pick up chips, put the kindling wood bring the potatoes in from the garden help to pick over the berries and so forth we might argue this question from now until doomsday and nobody I think would be able to give any good reason why children should not be taught to do the little things little children who are accustomed to having everything done for them by others are very soon beset with the rust of laziness and the canker of pride whereas on the other hand if children are taught to help themselves with the humanness and as much as they are able it will tend to improve their faculties and will at the same time have a good influence upon their dispositions. Childhood and youth are periods of life which materially influence all of its following periods and whether the early years of one's life be passed in idleness and indolence or in well directed industry is the point on which greatly depends the worth or the worthlessness of human character where is the man who guides his affairs with discretion or the woman that looketh well to the ways of her household and yet was not in some measure imbued with industrious and private habits in early life. On the other hand who that has been treated until the age of 15 or 20 like a helpless infant and had every want supplied without being put to the necessity of their mental or bodily exertion was ever good for anything afterwards. The tendency of the age is by far too much in the direction of keeping our young boys solely for the purpose of loafing about the streets or standing around the soda fountains on Sunday and our young girls for parties, social entertainments picnics, excursions and the like so that by the time our boys and girls reach manhood and womanhood they despise honest labor and are afraid to engage in real hard work. A young woman may know how to read and write and understand grammar, history and geography may sing sweetly and play the piano well but whatever else she may know or may not know if she does not know how to bake a whole cake of bread make her little brother or sister a pair of pants or a plain dress she is only half educated. In fact every young woman should not only know how to perform every duty connected with a household but every young woman should take some part in the household girl need tell me that she really loves her mother if she's willing to leave her mother to the work of washing the dishes sweeping and scouring the floors caring for the little children doing the Monday washings, the household cleaning and the like while she devotes herself to pleasure, novel reading social calling, butterfly parties or playing ragtime music or singing ragtime songs the home and the public school are the two greatest agencies which are jointly engaged should be jointly engaged in teaching children to help themselves if children are taught as boys and girls to think for themselves, speak for themselves and act for themselves when they are old they will not forget the precious lesson and will be less likely to become burdens on the community the highest ambition of every American man and woman should be to be of some useful service to the world and the first step will be taken toward this noble end when we have thoroughly learned the value and importance of the lesson of self-help first learn to help yourself and then you'll be able to see more clearly how to help others end of chapter 46 chapter 47 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas X. Floyd this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Henry Ward Beecher's Test along first impressions are always most lasting we may not recognize or understand it at the time but the boys and girls, the very young people whom God has committed to our care in the home or the Sunday school or the public school gather in their early days in the formative years an impressionable period of their lives the inspirations and impulses which shall guide them in after years either on the road to good or on the road to ruin I happen to have high testimony on this point the testimony of the grandest preacher who ever stood in an American pulpit I mean Henry Ward Beecher the following testimony is taken from a sermon of his preached in Plymouth Church Brooklyn on Sunday, January 18th, 1874 the subject of the sermon was soul power among other things Mr. Beecher said in reading the life of Garda, written by himself you will notice how he remarks the various stages of his self culture and says at this point I met such a man and he was of great use to me in such and such respects Garda, educators were living men active and powerful around about him I can look back upon my own early life and see how one and another took me and how one prepared me for another I can see how the largest natures did not always get access to me it was late in life before my father influenced me very much I think it was a humble woman who was in our family that first gained any considerable control over me I feel the effects of her influence to this day I next came under the influence of a very humble serving man he opened up new directions to me and gave me new impulses he was a colored man and I'm not ashamed to say that my whole life my whole career respecting the colored race in the conflict which was so long carried on in this country was largely influenced by the effect produced in my own mind when I was between 8 and 10 years of age by a poor old colored man named Charles Smith who worked on my father's farm he did not set out to influence me he did not know that he did it I did not know it until a great while afterwards but he gave me new impulses and impulses which were in the right direction for he was a godly and hymn singing man who made wine fresh every night from the cluster he used to lie upon his humble bed I slept in the same room with him and read his testament unconscious apparently that I was in the room and he would laugh and talk about what he read and chuckle over it with that peculiarly anxious throat tone which belongs to his race I never had heard the bible really read before but there in my presence he read it and talked about it to himself and god it was a testament into living forms right before me it was a revelation and an impulse to me what noble testimony is this and from what a noble source all of us have what is called influence and consciously or unconsciously we are all influencing others especially the young it is a matter worth our deepest and most prayerful thought if Charles Smith a poor old colored man if Charles Smith the very humble serving man if Charles Smith the godly and him singing man was used of god to give impulses and impulses which were in the right direction to a little boy who was afterwards to become a greatest preacher that America has ever known may not some of us be likewise used of god for the glory of our common master even christ and for the good of our fellow men I tell you friends we may and when we think of a great friend of humanity Henry Ward Beecher let us not forget to think of Charles Smith who had so much to do according to Beecher's own testimony with giving this great man a right start end of chapter 47 chapter 48 of Floyd's flowers by Silas X. Floyd this liver box recording is in the public domain rounding up with chicken thief I was not the chief actor in the story which I shall now tell I played only a minor part my father-in-law was bleeding man soon after I married I accepted a very cordial invitation to take up my residence with my wife's parents our bedrooms happened to be on the same floor so that it was very easy for us to hear in one room any unusual noise made in the other my mother-in-law was a great hand at the poultry business with a large number of the choicest breeds and she found great pleasure in looking after them now the old folks bedroom was at the rear our room was in front late one night I heard a voice calling Thomas, Thomas it sounded sad and far away at first I thought it might have been a ghost I raised myself up and listened pretty soon I heard the voice again calling in strangely skeptical tones Thomas, Thomas and then I could not be mistaken it was my mother calling the old man father drawled out sleepily what is it there's somebody out there at my hen house just as sure as you're born don't you hear the chickens calling for help there was a short silence after a while I heard the old lady say impetuously, Thomas why don't you get up and go and see the chickens there was another pause by and by mother spoke again Thomas you don't need on your top shirt go on just as you are my chickens are in danger if I were a man I wouldn't have stopped to put on my pants even you're a coward that's what you are next I heard the old man speak I do not know whether he was looking out the window or not but I heard his say hi there look out I'm coming out there look out if the old man meant this for Martin press his wife with his bravery the effect was certainly lost on the woman because I heard her say louder than ever get out of the way you cow with baby you I'll go myself where's my slippers in less than a minute I heard the old lady's voice at the back door and at the head of the steps which ran down into the yard she said bring the lamp Thomas bring the lamp curiosity pulled me and my wife out of bed I stepped quietly into the hall and stood well in the dark not desiring to be in any way conspicuous in the investigations which were proceeding my wife was by my side trembling anxious her angelic mother had already descended the steps and neither of us knew what fate might befall her there wife whispered that we had better go to the rescue he started for the door where father stood with the lamp on the way I stumbled against the little table and knocked off a picture of ice water which fell to the floor with a terrific crash it sounded louder than usual not only on account of the stillness of the night but also on account of the fact that our nerves were already keyed up to a very high tension by the exciting events then taking place at the sound in the hall father turned quickly and looked behind the light flashed in our faces he must have thought we were ghosts or burglars immediately the lamp fell out of the old man's hands and he went sailing down the back stairs hallowing at the top of his voice they're in the house wife they're in the house when wife and I reached the door father was already as I afterwards learned safely buried behind the chicken house and mother was lodged under the steps father I called out father there was no response it's me and nanny mother I said still we heard nothing I went back to our room and got our lamp my wife was following me foot to foot returning I descended the steps and stood on the last one wife remained at the head of the steps anxious waiting and ready to fly back into the house at the first outcry father I called again father mother there's nobody in the house but me and nanny I made that noise myself father where are you simultaneously the old folks emerged from their hiding places the old lady said Thomas you're the biggest coward in all the world I'll never speak to you again father addressed me ignoring his wife's complaint said he son it's a mighty lucky thing for you and nanny that I didn't have my gun and the chapter 48 chapter 49 of Floyd's flowers by Silas X Floyd this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Shields green the martyr near the southeast corner of the cemetery in Oberlin, Ohio there stands an unpretentious monument of clouded marble about eight feet in height bearing the following inscriptions S. Green died at Charleston, Virginia December 2nd 1859 aged 23 years J. A. Copeland died at Charleston, Virginia December 2nd, 1859 aged 25 years L. S. Leary died at Harpers Ferry, Virginia October 20th 1859 aged 24 years these colored citizens of Oberlin the heroic associates of the immortal John Brown gave their lives for the slave et non servitude etium mortua est last deal in 1876 Frederick Douglass who was once an associate and intimate friend of John Brown lectured at Oberlin College among other things Mr. Douglass said that Shields Green who had once been a student of Oberlin College was residing in the Douglass family shortly before the raid on Harpers Ferry at the call of Brown Green went with Douglass to an appointed spot near the borders of Virginia there John Brown confided to them the details of his plans including the capture of Harpers Ferry Mr. Douglass objected to the plans as unwise and hazardous and finding entreaty unveiling he withdrew from the enterprise Shields Green nevertheless followed his old commander when John Brown was finally surrounded Green and one other companion were in the mountains on some errand when they returned they saw at a glance that the rescue of Brown was impossible Green's companion counseled flight and did himself escape but Shields Green the former Oberlin student replied that he preferred to go down and die with the old man meaning John Brown and he did a more touching incident than this in all our national history End of Chapter 49 Chapter 50 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas X. Floyd this LibriVox recording is in the public domain aiming at something it is true boys and girls that it is what you hit not what you aim at that counts but nevertheless it is a very important thing to take the right aim the man who aims deliberately at the center of the target stands a better chance 100 to 1 than the man who shoots without taking aim so in life that boy or girl who has a purpose who is aiming at something will be more successful than those boys and girls who have no plans and who aim at nothing it is not sufficient in the moral world to aim at something but every boy and girl should aim at the best thing the best and highest things in this world are the unseen things the eternal things the things that will last forever money is a good thing but there is something higher than money a high position in the business or professional or political world is a good thing but there is something higher and better than office and position character is the grandest the highest and the best thing in this world we include in this one little word character a world of things honor, uprightness speaking the truth dealing fairly with people being willing to help the lowly and unfortunate paying your debts promptly these things and many other things like them are included in the one word character and these are the things that are worthwhile in this world that every boy and girl should aim at it may not be possible for every boy and girl to become a millionaire it may not be possible for every boy and girl to fill high offices in this world or succeed in large business enterprises but one thing is certain every boy can be a good and true boy every girl can be a noble and beautiful girl beautiful as to conduct as to words and deeds I mean good boys are the fathers of good men pure girls are the mothers of pure women for what after all is a boy and what is a girl what is a man what is a woman I will tell you a boy is a little man that's all and a man is a grown up boy a girl is a little woman that's all and a woman is a grown up girl it is important then that boys and girls should aim at the right things the good the true and noble things early in life boys and girls aim at in 9 cases out of 10 they will reach as many women and to help you in taking the proper aim early in life I'm going to give you something to aim at let every boy and girl make this little model his rule of life know something know it well do something do it well and be somebody end of chapter 50 chapter 51 of Floyd's flowers by ex Floyd this LibriVox recording is in the public domain the black sheep of the Reynolds family will Reynolds was the black sheep of the Reynolds family he knew it and felt it because he had been frequently slighted and treated with contempt by his relatives the only person who never lost faith in him was his mother she always felt that there was something good in her way with son and often said it would show herself someday but will's mother died in the early stages of his back sidings will's father married the second time and the boy finding it impossible to get along with his step mother left home he went from bad to worse being arrested on the charge of drunkenness and vagrancy he sent to his two brothers who were prosperous brokers in D Street asking them to pay his fine word came back that they would not fear in his behalf his brothers sent word that he had brought the trouble upon himself and he must get out of it the best way he could will was sent to the workhouse for six months and nobody's hand was raised to help him while he was serving his time his only sister a young woman not yet grown died he knew nothing of it until about a month after it occurred and then he read the account in an old newspaper which he had borrowed from a fellow owner the news of his sister's death deeply affected him his sentence was shortened by one month on account of his good behavior the first thing he did on coming to the city was to visit the family lot in myrtle hill cemetery he carried with him some wild flowers and green leaves being too poor to purchase a floor offering from the dealers in such things with uncovered head he knelt and placed these tokens of respect on the graves of his mother and sister this done he stood in silence for a moment and then wept like a little child while riveted to the spot he made a solemn vow that he would quit the old life and make a man of himself it's in me he said to himself and I'm going to prove it slowly he turned away from the sacred place he went directly to the offices of his brothers he had been furnished with a new suit of clothes according to custom upon leaving prison his soul made quite a decent appearance he found his oldest brother John B Reynolds seated at a desk in the front office he entered at once and said well John I suppose sisters did how dare you to speak of Annie as your sister you jailbird you miserable convict get out of here this minute leave this room at once and never set foot in it again there was fire in the man's eyes as he spoke will attempted to speak but was not permitted with tears streaming down his cheeks he left the room he had gone to tell of his new determination and asked for another chance and this was the reception which he met on his way down the steps he came face to face with his other brother Thomas Reynolds Thomas tried to pass without speaking but will intercepted him Tom he said I'm your brother still I'm not asking help now I only came to tell you that I'm going to do better I thought you would be glad to hear it I want to hear nothing from you said Thomas you've disgraced us forever and you can go your way we don't want anything to do with you we don't want to see you again will went forth into the streets weeping 30 years have come and gone since will was driven away from the offices of his brothers what changes have these years worked soon after leaving prison will was a constant visitor at the railroad men's branch of the ymca through the secretary of the association he soon secured a place as a day laborer in the machine shops of the big Ben railroad after securing regular employment he went to live in the ymca building at the close of his first year's service with the railroad he was promoted from a common laborer and made a apprentice after four or five years he had learned to trade and was receiving the daily wages of a machinist after 12 years with the company he was made the master machinist at the end of 15 years service he was made superintendent of construction five years later he was made a division superintendent at the expiration of more than 25 years of faithful service will reynolds able to write after his name general manager of the big Ben railroad he had also been married for several years and was the father of five children will's father and brother lost sight of him for nearly 12 years or until the paper announced his appointment as master machinist of the big Ben railroad they suddenly awoke to find that their conclusions that he had probably long since died a drunkard's death or had gone off as a tramp and killed or was again serving a sentence in prison somewhere were wrong the same week that will was made superintendent of construction of the big Ben railroad the newspapers spread all over the country the news that Colonel Oliver P. Reynolds had committed suicide according to their way the newspapers gave all the sickening details of the tragedy together with the whole family history they said that Colonel Reynolds had been committed suicide by his wife they said that she was much younger than he and that she was extravagant that she was a leader in gay society they told how on her account colonel reynolds had driven his son away from home 15 years before they declared that the old man's wife had been a hell to him and that his wife had brought him almost to the verge of bankruptcy and in order to escape facing open disgrace he had murdered himself when will heard of his father's death he hastened at once to the city but was denied admission to the family residents and had to attend the funeral in the little church around the corner not as a member of the family but merely as an outsider we are not concerned in this story with the fate of will's stepmother but as to will's brothers well the crash came eight or ten years after the death of colonel reynolds or a short while before will became the general manager of the big band railroad john b reynolds and thomas reynolds members of the firm of john b reynolds and brothers had been arrested and placed in the tombs charged with misappropriating $175,000 of trust fines again the family history was rehearsed in the newspapers the papers did not fail to recall the suicide of colonel reynolds nor did they fail to tell how these two brothers had early in life turned their backs on a younger brother will read the papers and saying to his wife well Mary perhaps they'll be glad to see me this trip he went immediately to offer his services to his brothers he had prophesied correctly john and thomas were very glad to see him they had no friends among those high in financial circles because they had for many years conducted their business in such a way that the businessmen had no confidence in them they had no credit and could get nobody to go on their bonds will took in the situation at a glance he had been thoughtful enough to bring along with him the leading attorney of the big band railroad and he put matter straight way into his hands they always arranged the brothers were released and the lawyer then turned his attention to the prosecutors it was discovered that almost half of the amount stolen from the property of Simon B. Nessmith president of the big band railroad when will Reynolds and the lawyer found that their own superior officer had been so heavily hit by John B. Reynolds and brothers they came near fainting fortunately Nessmith when he heard the whole story agreed not to prosecute and not only said that he would be satisfied with any settlement that the railroad's attorney might arrange but also volunteered to see the police and having them do likewise in a short time matters were adjusted and John Reynolds and Thomas Reynolds were saved from prison but they lost all their earthly possessions and their brother the black sheep of the family had to secure for them the sum of $40,000 besides John B. Reynolds and Thomas Reynolds came to their senses it was their time to cry out now amidst great they said we treated you wrongly we ought to have helped you many years ago we are so sorry we didn't and it was such a small matter too but will said don't talk about the past I'm your brother still go and do as I did start over and make men of yourselves you'll have enough time that's all I ask end of chapter 51 chapter 52 of Floyd's flowers by Silas X Floyd this liberal Vox recording is in the public domain the holy Bible I heard a minister say the other day that a mother had not necessarily done much for her boy because she had bought him a nice Bible and put it in his trunk when he was about to leave home to seek his fortune in the world I think it's wrong for anybody minister or whatnot to indulge in such loose and flippant talk the effect is bad always bad and no hair splitting and no higher criticism and no curiously ingenious explanations can mend the matter as for me give me the old fashioned mother who sends her son out into the world with a Bible in his trunk and give me the old fashioned boy who reads that Bible every night with tears in his eyes as he thinks of the old folks at home and of their simple lives devoted to Jesus Christ give me the man woman or child whose hands touch the Bible reverently instead of slinging it about as a dictionary or some common dime novel give me the plain old fellow who quickly takes leave of that circle in which critics are proceeding to ably explain away certain chapters of the Bible as for me I want no new theories about the Bible no new versions, no new criticisms no man has a right to weaken the faith of others no man has a right to knock away the staff that supports the crippled Wayfarer and no man has a right to tell an aged mother that it does no good to give her boy a Bible unless he can suggest a better substitute destroy the old fashioned idea concerning the Bible and we shall have a nation of infidels defying God defying the law and repeating the licentiousness and horrors of the French Revolution we should make the Bible first in all things make the Bible first in the family in the Sunday school and church make it first in state and society and we shall have a republic that will grow brighter and brighter as the years come and go and then we shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace and the mountains and the hills shall break forth before us unto singing and all the trees of the fields shall clap their hands end of chapter 52 chapter 53 of Floyd's flowers by Silas X Floyd this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Andrew Carnegie's advice to young men one of the bravest and truest friends of humanity that I know of is Andrew Carnegie the Iron King who is retired from business now and is spending his time in giving away his money for the good of his fellow men in addition to smaller gifts he is given to the city of New York $5,200,000 for libraries for all the people he is given $10,000,000 to universities in Scotland his native country and he is also founded the Carnegie Institution of Washington DC with the liberal sum of $10,000 every colored boy and girl in America has a special reason for thanking Mr. Carnegie for his splendid gifts to Tuskegee and Wilberforce and other colored schools in addition to the $600,000 given toward Tuskegee's endowment fund he is given to Tuskegee and Wilberforce library buildings costing about $20,000 each the words of such a humanitarian and philanthropist should carry weight everywhere and should be studied by all among other things Mr. Carnegie says in speaking to young men do not make ridges but usefulness your first aim and let your chief pride be in that your daily occupation is in the line of progress and development that your work in whatever capacity it may be is useful work honestly conducted and as such ennobles your life whatever your salary be save a little, live within your means the man who saves a little from his income has given the surest indication of the very qualities that every employer is seeking for the great successes of life are made by concentration do not think you have done your full duty when you have performed the work assigned to you you will never rise if you only do this you hear a good deal about poverty nowadays and the cry goes up to abolish poverty but it will be the saddest day of civilization when poverty is no longer with us it is from the soil of poverty that all the virtues spring without poverty where will your inventor, your artist your philanthropist come from there are three classes of young men in the world one starts out to be a millionaire another seeks reputation perhaps at the cannon's mouth a third young man who will be successful is he who starts out life with self-respect and who is true to himself and his fellow men he cannot fail to win end of chapter 53 chapter 54 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas X Floyd this liberal voxel courting is in the public domain recording by Lola Janey of Alexandria, Virginia September 2019 directions for little gentlemen one the essential part of good breeding is the practical desire to afford pleasure and to avoid giving pain any boy possessing this desire requires only opportunity and observation to become a little gentleman two never be guilty of what are called practical jokes this is to say never place a pin chair so that somebody may come along and sit on the pin's point never pull back a chair when a person is about to sit down and in that way cause such a person to fall on the floor no little gentleman will play such tricks three whenever a lady enters a room it is proper for boys to rise if they are seated but you must never offer a lady a chair from which you have just risen if there is another chair in the room four never engage in conversation while a person is singing it is an insult not only to the singer but to the company five always take off your hat when assisting a lady to or from a carriage six if in a public place you pass and repass persons of your acquaintance it is only necessary to salute them on the first occasion seven do not wear anything that is so conspicuous as to attract attention and particularly avoid the ruffian style eight do not lose your temper particularly if you are playing innocent games for amusement and happen to lose avoid the exhibition of anxiety or vexation at the lack of success nine in all your associations keep constantly in view of the old adage the hilarity breathes contempt end of chapter 54 chapter number 55 of Floyd's Flowers by Silas X. Floyd this LibriVox recording is in the public domain the letter of the law it was a bright and balmy afternoon in spring Mrs. Anderson in keeping with the practice of neighborly kindness which was in vogue in the Berkshire village I sent a large plate of ice cream across the street to Mrs. Van Ingan the cream was quite toothsome and little Annie Van Ingan six years old going on seven felt when the plate had been empty that she would like to have some more with tears in her eyes she confided her wish to her mother the maternal explanation my darling mama didn't make any cream today failed to satisfy Annie well where did you get that we had she asked Mrs. Anderson was kind enough to send it to us answered the patient mother I'm going over there and ask her for some more abruptly interposed little Annie no no no my precious said Mrs. Van Ingan you mustn't think of doing such things mama doesn't want the neighbors to know that her little Annie is a beggar full reply Annie's tears flow fast and faster seeing that nothing else would avail to pacify Annie Mrs. Van Ingan said I'll tell you what to do dearie you go over to Mrs. Anderson and tell her that you've come to play a while with her little girl now be careful don't ask her for any cream but I'm sure she'll offer you some before you come back the crying stopped immediately and pretty soon Annie went tripping across the street to play with Mrs. Anderson's little girl Mrs. Anderson met her at the door and kissed her affectionately I want some more cream volunteered little Annie the cream you sent mama was very nice and I wanted some more mama told me not to ask you for any more but she said that I would come over here and play with Bessie you would give me some more before I went back home so I've come over to play with Bessie and having relieved her mind of its burden little Annie with perfect delight and joyous innocence ran hastily up the stairs to the nursery in search of Bessie End of chapter 55