Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from A Leader of Freemen: The Life Story of Samuel Chapman Armstrong, Brevet Brigadier-General, U. S. A
General Armstrong had two qualities that distinguished him from others. In his life he did not drift and he did have a mark at which he was aiming. And because he had these two qualities there are thousands today who honor his memory as they do that of very few.
Years ago one winter day there was a sharp contest in the band of boys who attended a district school as to which one could make the straightest tracks in the snow across a certain well-remembered ten-acre lot. There was one there who won every time and he won eas ily. The determination of the others to beat him was keen, but did not bring success. They watched their feet with increasing care; they walked slowly and carefully across the snow-clad field; but in spite of all their efforts the winner still won. At last he explained to the others the secret of his success. You fellows watch your footsteps. I don't watch them at all. I fix my eyes on that old elm on the other side of the lot and then put straight for it. I don't once look, away. I don't pay any attention to my feet or to my tracks.
They will take care of themselves if I take care to look straight at that old tree that stands by the line fence.
And General Armstrong's eyes were fixed upon a mark. Of course it was in front of him and it always remained ahead of him. But he followed it and his tracks were straight and led him in a straight way nearer the goal he had set.
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