that battle to victory at
some time, or life is a failure. He who conquers himself can conquer
other men. He who does not rule himself cannot control other people. For
the first time that boy was conscious of his lack of WILL. He was
painfully ashamed. He could not again meet the boys, or the one girl who
was at the post-office, unless he solved that riddle. It was far worse
to him than the riddles of the ancient oracles or the questions of
Samson had been to the ancients. No victory so glorious to any man as
that when he rises over his dead self and can shout with unwavering
confidence, I WILL. That young man's battle was furious and a strain on
body and soul; he kept saying over and over again, "I will solve that
riddle." He was sorely tempted by hunger, as he would not stop to eat.
He determined to win out alone, and did not ask aid even of his mother.
That night the rings fell apart in his hands and rolled on the floor.
He had won! Life has few joys like that hour of victory. The rings had
little value as pieces of steel, but his triumph over self was worth
millions to him, and worth a thousand millions to his country.

The next morning his parents were surprised to see him the first one at
the breakfast-table. He told of his solution of the puzzle, and said to
his astonished but delighted parents that he had loafed around long
enough and that he had determined to take hold and do things. He asked
for an especially hard place in the shop, and entered that week on a
noble, triumphant career, having few equals save those of like
experience. His health became robust, his work became profitable, new
business ideas were developed, and in a few years he controlled the
inside business and far distanced all outside competitors. He said to
his wife, "I will have a million dollars, and every dollar shall be a
clean and honest dollar." In those days a million looked like a mountain
of gold. But he secured the million and steadily raised the pay of his
workmen. He became the sheik of the town, the father and adviser of
every local enterprise. He was sent to Congress by a nearly unanimous
vote. For eleven years he was a safe counselor of the administration at
Washington and was a close friend and trusted supporter of President
Lincoln.

One day in 1864 the Federal armies had been defeated by the Confederate
forces and gloom shadowed the faces of the people. President Lincoln had
a sleepless night--it looked like defeat and dis