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diff --git a/25540-h/25540-h.htm b/25540-h/25540-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a0d55e5 --- /dev/null +++ b/25540-h/25540-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3572 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Anecdotes for Boys, by Harvey Newcomb + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + text-indent: 1em; + line-height: 1.5em; + } + p.cap {text-indent: -1em;} + div.drop p:first-letter {color: Window;} + div.drop p {margin-bottom: 0;} + img.cap {float:left; + margin: 0em .6em 0 0em; + position:relative;} + + h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + h1 {text-align: center; + clear: both; + font-size: 2em; + margin: 2em auto 2em auto; + } + h2 {text-align: center; line-height: 2em; clear: both;} + h2 small {letter-spacing: .2em; word-spacing: .2em; clear: both;} + h3 {margin: 2em auto 0 auto; text-align: center; line-height: 2em; clear: both;} + h3.nc {margin: 2em auto 0 auto; text-align: center; line-height: 2em; clear: right;} + + hr { margin: 50px auto 60px auto; + height: 1px; + border-width: 1px 0 0 0; + border-style: solid; + border-color: #999999; + width: 75%; + clear: both; + } + hr.hr2 {width: 100px; margin: .5em auto .5em auto;} + hr.hr3 {width: 150px; margin: .5em auto 1em auto;} + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 15%; + margin-right: 15%; + } + + em {font-style: italic;} + + .pagenum {/* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /*visibility: hidden;*/ + position: absolute; + right: 5%; + font-size: 10px; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + font-style: normal; + letter-spacing: normal; + text-indent: 0em; + text-align: right; + color: #999999; + background-color: #ffffff; + } /* page numbers */ + .pagenum2 {position: absolute; + right: 11%; + text-align: right; + } + + + .blockquot{margin: 2em 4em 2em 4em; font-size: .8em;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: 3em auto 3em auto; text-align: center; clear: both;} + .figcenter2 {margin: 3em auto 5em auto; text-align: center; clear: both;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin: -1.5em .8em 0 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + .link {line-height: 0em;} + .tnb {border: 1px solid; padding: 1em; margin: 3em auto 3em auto; text-align: center; width: 300px; background-color: #f5f5f5;} + .tnt {text-indent: 0em; font-size: .8em;} + .sub {letter-spacing: .1em; word-spacing: .2em; font-variant: small-caps;} + + .title {font-size: 250%; line-height: 3em;} /*title page*/ + .title2 {font-size: 150%; line-height: 1.5em;} /*title page*/ + .ls {letter-spacing: .5em;} + .ls2 {letter-spacing: .2em;} + .ws {word-spacing: .3em;} + .ws2 {word-spacing: .3em;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Anecdotes for Boys, by Harvey Newcomb + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Anecdotes for Boys + +Author: Harvey Newcomb + +Release Date: May 20, 2008 [EBook #25540] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANECDOTES FOR BOYS *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Jacqueline Jeremy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The University of Florida, The Internet +Archive/Children's Library) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<h1>Anecdotes for Boys</h1> + +<div class="link"><a name="front" id="front"> </a></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 347px;"> +<img src="images/i-001.jpg" width="347" height="281" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption smcap">Mrs. S. C. Hall’s Residence Brompton.—</span> +<span class="caption"><a href="#illus1"><em>See page</em> 118.</a></span> +</div> + + +<p class="center"><span class="title ls"><big>ANECDOTES</big></span><br /> + +<small>FOR</small><br /> + +<span class="title ls"><big><strong>BOYS.</strong></big></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="ws2 ls2"><small>ENTERTAINING NARRATIVES AND ANECDOTES,</small></span><br /> +<span class="ws"><small>ILLUSTRATIVE OF PRINCIPLES AND CHARACTER.</small></span><br /> +<br /> +<small>BY</small><br /> +<br /> +<span class="title2 ls ws">HARVEY NEWCOMB</span>,<br /> + +<span class="ws"><small>AUTHOR OF “HOW TO BE A LADY,” “HOW TO BE A MAN,” ETC.</small></span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<small>SIXTH THOUSAND.</small><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span class="ls">BOSTON:</span><br /> + +<span class="ls ws">GOULD AND LINCOLN,</span><br /> + +59 <span class="smcap">washington street</span>.<br /> + +<big>1851.</big></p> + +<hr /> + +<h5>Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847,<br /> + +<span class="smcap">By Gould, Kendall and Lincoln</span>,<br /> + +In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +STEREOTYPED BY S. N. DICKINSON, BOSTON.</h5> + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span> +PREFACE.</h2> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">I have</span> noticed that young people are fond of reading anecdotes, +narratives, parables, &c. This taste of theirs sometimes leads them to +devour all the trash that comes in their way, with no other object than +mere amusement. But, if properly guarded, it may be the means of +conveying truth to their minds in a form not only more attractive, but +more readily understood. The design of this book is, to supply reading +of this kind, which shall be not only <em>entertaining</em> but <em>instructive</em>. +I never write for the amusement of the reader merely. But I am glad if +he is entertained at the same time that he is instructed.</p> + +<p>This book is not a mere compilation of stories. Its main object is to +illustrate truth and character. No anecdote has been admitted but such +as could be turned to this account; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span> if suited to this purpose, the +question has not been asked whether it was new or old. But nearly every +one has been entirely rewritten, presented in a new dress, and made to +bear on the object in view. The work was suggested, while writing my +last two publications, “How to be a Man,” and “How to be a Lady.” I had +designed to illustrate the topics there treated of, in this manner, but +could not find space. The favor with which these works have been +received, has encouraged me to undertake something of the kind +separately. I have prepared two volumes, one for boys and one for girls, +but the matter in each is entirely distinct. The same anecdote is in no +instance introduced into both books; though in some cases the topics are +similar. They form <em>a pair</em>, for the rising youth of both sexes; and if +they shall contribute in any degree towards forming their characters, +after the true model, my object will be attained.</p> + +<p><em>Grantville, Mass., Sept.</em> 1847.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span> +<a name="con" id="con"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<h4>CHAPTER I.</h4> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Boy makes the Man.</span>—Benedict Arnold—George +Washington—Gov. Ritner—Roger Sherman. +<span class="pagenum2"><a href="#i">9</a></span></p> + +<h4>CHAPTER II.</h4> + +<p><span class="smcap">Filial Piety.</span>—George Washington—obey God +rather than man—a son’s love—filial piety rewarded—filial +tenderness—filial impiety punished—think how +you will feel when your parents are gone—benefit of +obedience—reward of disobedience—conscientious obedience—cheerful +obedience, sullen obedience, and disobedience. +<span class="pagenum2"><a href="#ii">16</a></span></p> + +<h4>CHAPTER III.</h4> + +<p><span class="smcap">Social Virtues and Vices.</span>—Brotherly affection—the +golden rule—gratitude and benevolence—manners—overcome +evil with good—use of the tongue—contention—punctuality. +<span class="pagenum2"><a href="#iii">31</a></span></p> + +<h4>CHAPTER IV.</h4> + +<p><span class="smcap">Bad Company and Bad Habits.</span>—Green, the reformed +gambler—profaneness—playing truant—ruin +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span> +of a deacon’s son—bad books—intemperance—going +to the theatre—gaming +<span class="pagenum2"><a href="#iv">70</a></span></p> + +<h4>CHAPTER V.</h4> + +<p><span class="smcap">Industry—Labor</span>, &c.—An Indian story—business +first and then pleasure—industry. +<span class="pagenum2"><a href="#v">90</a></span></p> + +<h4>CHAPTER VI.</h4> + +<p><span class="smcap">True Greatness.</span>—Anecdotes of President Jefferson, +Chief Justice Marshall, Chancellor Kent, and +Dr. Franklin. +<span class="pagenum2"><a href="#vi">97</a></span></p> + +<h4>CHAPTER VII.</h4> + +<p><span class="smcap">Advantages of Honesty.</span>—Colbert—two opposite +examples—fruits of dishonesty. +<span class="pagenum2"><a href="#vii">101</a></span></p> + +<h4>CHAPTER VIII.</h4> + +<p><span class="smcap">Pursuit of Knowledge.</span>—Reading—love of +learning—dislike of study. +<span class="pagenum2"><a href="#viii">109</a></span></p> + +<h4>CHAPTER IX.</h4> + +<p><span class="smcap">Miscellaneous Subjects.</span>—Fickleness—independence +of character—contentment—the old black +sheep. +<span class="pagenum2"><a href="#ix">115</a></span></p> + +<h4>CHAPTER X.</h4> + +<p><span class="smcap">Religion.</span>—Religious knowledge—the Sabbath—early +piety recommended—uncertainty of life. +<span class="pagenum2"><a href="#x">124</a></span></p> + + + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +<a name="i" id="i"></a>ANECDOTES FOR BOYS.</h2> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<h2>CHAPTER I.<br /> +<small>THE BOY MAKES THE MAN.</small></h2> + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/a.jpg" alt="I" width="120" height="289" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">A MAN’S character is formed early in life. There may be some exceptions. +In some instances, very great changes take place after a person has +grown to manhood. But, even in such cases, many of the early habits of +thought, feeling, and action still remain. And sometimes, we are +disappointed in the favorable appearances of early life. Not +unfrequently the promising boy, in youth or early manhood, runs a rapid +race downward in the road to ruin. All the promising appearances failed, +because they were not formed upon religious principle and a change of +heart. But, as a general rule, show me the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> <em>boy</em>, and I will show you +the <em>man</em>. The following cases afford illustrations of this principle.</p> +</div> + +<h3 class="nc"><em>Benedict Arnold.</em></h3> + +<p>I suppose all my readers have heard of Benedict Arnold, the traitor; and +of his attempt to betray his country into the hands of the British, +during the Revolutionary War. His name is a by-word in the mouth of +every lover of liberty in the land. But there are few that know how he +came to be such a character. When we come to learn his early history we +feel no more surprise. His father was an intemperate man; and at an +early age, Benedict was placed with an apothecary, in Norwich, +Connecticut, his native town. His master soon discovered in him the most +offensive traits of character. He seemed to be entirely destitute of +moral principle, and even of conscience. He added to a passionate love +of mischief a cruel disposition and a violent, ungovernable temper. He +had no sympathy with any thing that was good. His boyish pleasures were +of the criminal and unfeeling cast. He would rob the nests of birds, and +mangle and maim the young ones, that he might be diverted by their +mother’s cries. He would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> throw broken pieces of glass into the street, +where the children passed barefooted, that they might hurt their feet. +He would persuade the little boys to come round the door of his shop, +and then beat them with a horse-whip. All this showed a malicious +disposition, and great hardness of heart. He hated instruction and +despised reproof; and his master could not instil into his mind any +religious or moral principles, nor make any good impression upon his +heart.</p> + +<p>Before Benedict had reached his sixteenth year, he twice enlisted as a +soldier and was brought back by his friends. He repaid his mother’s +kindness with baseness and ingratitude; so that, between the +intemperance and wretchedness of the father, and the cruelty and +depravity of the son, she died of a broken heart. When he grew up, the +same character followed him. We need not be surprised, then, that, in +the most critical period of his country’s history, he betrayed his +trust. He was a General in the American Army, in the Revolutionary War; +and by his extravagance, and his overbearing behavior, he brought upon +himself a reprimand from the American Congress. His temper, naturally +impetuous, had never been controlled, and he could not bear reproof. He +was bent on revenge; and to accomplish it, he entered into a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +negotiation, through Major André, to deliver up West Point, of which he +had the command, to the enemy. If the plot had not been discovered and +prevented it would have been a very great calamity to our country. It +might have turned the scale against us. I have some personal reason to +feel indignant at the traitor, besides what arises from the love of +country; for my father was on picket guard at West Point, the night in +which it was to have been delivered up, and would have been the first +man killed. If Arnold had been caught, he would have closed his career +on the gallows; but, as it was, he escaped, and a more worthy man +suffered. He received, as the reward of his treachery, the appointment +of Brigadier General in the British Army, and ten thousand pounds +sterling. But his name will go down with the history of his country, to +the latest generation, black with infamy. He was a bad boy, and he made +a bad man. And, as Solomon has said, “The name of the wicked shall rot.”</p> + + +<h3>GEORGE WASHINGTON.</h3> + +<p>A single incident, in the history of <em>George Washington as a boy</em>, +furnishes a clew to the character of <em>George Washington as a man</em>. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +refer to the well known story of the new hatchet and the cherry-tree, +with his refusing to tell a lie; which I need not repeat, because it is +preserved in the books that are read in our common schools, and embalmed +in the memory of the rising generation. This incident shows that he had +already in his bosom a deep-seated principle of stern integrity, which +no temptation could shake. This was the leading feature in his character +when he became a man. We have evidence, also, from other incidents which +have been related of his early life, that strong, deep-seated, filial +piety, was one of the prominent elements of his youthful character. He +had learned, in early life, to honor and obey his parents; and this +taught him to love and reverence his country, instead of making himself +a despot, as most successful generals do. But, at the bottom of all, was +the religious element. Religious principle controlled his conduct both +in private and public life.</p> + + +<h3>GOVERNOR RITNER.</h3> + +<p><em>Joseph Ritner</em>, who was for some time a member of the legislature of +Pennsylvania, and afterwards Governor of that state, was once a bound +boy to Jacob Myers, an independent farmer, who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> brought him up. While he +was governor, there was a celebration of the fourth of July, at which +Mr. Myers gave the following toast:—“<span class="smcap">Joseph Ritner</span>—he was always a +<em>good boy</em>, and has still grown better; every thing he did, he always +did <em>well</em>; he made a good <em>farmer</em>, and a good legislator; and he makes +a <em>very good governor</em>.” All this man’s greatness was the result of his +being a <em>good boy</em>.</p> + + +<h3>ROGER SHERMAN.</h3> + +<p><em>Roger Sherman</em>, in his public life, always acted so strictly from his +own convictions of what was right, that Fisher Ames used to say, if he +happened to be out of his seat in Congress when a subject was discussed, +and came in when the question was about to be taken, he always felt safe +in voting as Mr. Sherman did, “<em>for he always voted right</em>.” This was +Mr. Sherman’s character everywhere. But, if we inquire how it came to be +such we must go back to his early life.</p> + +<p>Mr. Sherman’s character was formed upon the principles of the Bible. +And, when he was an apprentice, instead of joining in the rude and +vulgar conversation, so common among the class to which he then +belonged, he would sit at his work with a book before him, devoting +every moment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> to study, that his eyes could be spared from the +occupation in which he was engaged. When he was twenty-one years of age +he made a profession of religion. He was as familiar with theology as he +was with politics and law. He read the Bible more than any other book. +Always, when he went to Congress, he would purchase a copy of the Bible, +at the commencement of the session, to read every day; and when he went +home, he would present it to one of his children. Mr. Macon, of Georgia, +said of him, that he had more common sense than any man he ever knew. +Mr. Jefferson, one day, as he was pointing out to a friend the +distinguished men in Congress, said of him, “That is Mr. Sherman, a man +who <em>never said a foolish thing in his life</em>.” Mr. Sherman was a +self-educated man, a shoemaker, <em>and a Christian</em>. He was brought up, +after the old New-England fashion, in a pious Connecticut family. <em>And, +as was the boy, so was the man.</em> If you would be a good man, you must be +a good boy. If you would be a wise man you must be a studious boy. If +you would have an excellent character, it must be formed after the model +delineated in the Holy Bible. The basis must be a change of heart. The +superstructure must be laid up on the principles of God’s word.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +<a name="ii" id="ii"></a>CHAPTER II.<br /> +<small>FILIAL PIETY.</small></h2> + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/b.jpg" alt="B" width="120" height="292" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">BY <em>Filial Piety</em>, I mean the exercise of those feelings of reverence, +submission, and love; and the faithful and conscientious discharge of +those duties, which children owe their parents.</p> +</div> +<p>The first duty which man owes, is to <em>God</em>; the second, to his +<em>Parents</em>. They are his appointed guardians, in the season of +helplessness and inexperience. God has entrusted him to their care; and +in return for that care, he requires <em>honor and obedience</em>. A child +cannot be pious toward God without being pious toward his parents. The +<em>corner stone</em> of a good character must be laid in piety towards God; +the rest of the foundation, in piety towards Parents. Show me the boy +that honors his parents, and I will show you the man that will obey the +laws of his country, and make a good citizen. Show me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> the boy that is +disobedient to his parents, and turbulent and ungovernable at home, and +I will show you the man that will set at naught the laws of his country, +and be ready to every evil work. When a boy ceases to respect his father +or to love his mother, and becomes tired of home and its sacred +endearments, there is very little hope of him.</p> + + +<h3 class="nc">GEORGE WASHINGTON.</h3> + +<p>When George Washington was about fourteen years of age, he wanted to +join the Navy. Accordingly, all the arrangements were made for him, in +company with several of his young companions, to go on board a man of +war. When the time arrived, he went into the sitting-room, to take leave +of his mother. He found her in tears. He threw his arms about her neck +and kissed her, and was about bidding her “farewell;” but seeing her so +much afflicted, he suddenly relinquished his purpose. The boat which was +taking officers, men, and baggage, from the shore to the ship, went back +and forth, in his sight. At length it came ashore for the last time. A +signal flag was raised to show that all was ready. George was standing, +viewing all these movements. Several of his companions now entered the +boat,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> and as they approached the ship, signal guns were fired; and soon +after, the sails rose majestically, one after another. George could no +longer bear the sight, but entered the room where his mother sat. +Observing that his countenance bore a strong expression of grief, she +said, “I fear, my son, that you have repented your determination to stay +at home and make me happy.” “My dear mother,” he replied, placing his +arms round her neck, and giving vent to his feelings in a gush of tears, +“I did strongly wish to go; but I could not endure being on board the +ship, and know that you were unhappy.” He was young, ardent, and +ambitious, and had doubtless anticipated, with great delight, the +pleasure he should have, in sailing to different places, on board a man +of war; and, although the expectation of pleasure which boys sometimes +indulge, in the prospect of a sea-faring life are delusive; yet, it was +a noble generosity to sacrifice all the high hopes he had cherished, to +the feelings of his mother.</p> + + +<h3><em>Obey God rather than man.</em></h3> + +<p>As a general thing, it is the duty of children to obey their parents; +but, when a parent commands what is wrong, the child should not obey.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> A +poor woman told her son to cut down a large pear tree, which stood in +the garden of the cottage where they lived, for firewood, as they were +suffering from cold. The boy made no answer. His mother repeated her +command; but he still hesitated, and said, “Mother, I ought to obey you, +but I must first obey God. The tree is not ours. It belongs to our +landlord; and you know that God says, ‘Thou shalt not steal.’ I hope you +will not make me cut it down.” She yielded, for the time; but after +suffering from cold a day or two longer, she told him he must cut down +the tree. He then said to her, “Mother; God has often helped us, and +supplied our wants when we have been in trouble. Let us wait till this +time to-morrow. Then, if we do not find some relief, though I am sure it +will be wrong, yet if you make me do it, I will cut the tree in +obedience to your command.” To this she agreed. The boy retired to his +closet, and prayed earnestly that God would help them, and save him from +being compelled to break his law. The next morning, he went out and +found a man whose wagon had broken down under a heavy load of coal. He +told the man his case, who agreed to let him carry away the coal, and +they might pay for it, if they were able, when he called for it. But he +never called. It is <em>always safe to do right</em>.</p> + + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +<em>A son’s love.</em></h3> + +<p>A man in Sweden was condemned to suffer death for some offences +committed while he held a public office. He had a son, about eighteen +years of age; who, as soon as he heard of it, hastened to the judge and +begged that he might be allowed to suffer instead of his father. The +judge wrote to the king about it; who was so affected by it that he sent +orders to grant the father a free pardon, and confer upon the son a +title of honor. This, however, the son refused to receive. “Of what +avail,” said he, “could the most exalted title be to me, humbled as my +family already is in the dust?” The king wept, when he heard of it, and +sent for the young man to his court.</p> + + +<h3><em>Filial piety rewarded.</em></h3> + +<p>Frederick, king of Prussia, one day rung his bell, and nobody answering, +opened the door and found his page fast asleep. Seeing a letter in his +pocket, he took it out and read it, and found it was a letter from his +mother, thanking him for having sent a part of his wages to relieve her +wants. The king was so much pleased that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> slipped a bag full of +ducats into the young man’s pocket, along with the letter.</p> + + +<h3><em>Filial Tenderness.</em></h3> + +<p>A young man, newly admitted to the military school in France, would eat +nothing but bread and soup, and drink nothing but water. He was reproved +for his singularity; but still he would not change. He was finally +threatened with being sent home, if he persisted. “You will not, I hope, +be displeased with me,” said he to the Principal of the institution; +“but I could not bring myself to enjoy what I think a luxury, while I +reflect that my dear father and mother are in the utmost indigence. They +could afford themselves and me no better food than the coarsest of +bread, and of that but very little. Here I have excellent soup, and as +much fine wheat bread as I choose. I look upon this to be very good +living; and the recollection of the situation in which I left my +parents, would not permit me to indulge myself by eating any thing +else.”</p> + + +<h3><em>Filial impiety punished.</em></h3> + +<p>God has promised long life and prosperity to the child that honors his +parents. Of course,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> this promise is not meant to be <em>absolute</em>; for +many die before they have an opportunity of obeying the command, and +others are taken away for wise reasons. But, as a general principle, the +promise is verified. On the contrary, the word of God declares, “The eye +that mocketh at his father, and scorneth to obey his mother, the ravens +of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it;” +meaning that God will visit with sore punishment those that despise and +ill-treat their parents. Boys, when they begin to approach manhood, are +very apt to think themselves wiser than their parents, and to be restive +and turbulent under restraint. Two young men in England, the sons of +pious and wealthy parents, wanted the family carriage to ride out and +seek their pleasure on the holy Sabbath. This being repeatedly refused, +they resolved to resent it; and accordingly went off with the +determination to go to sea. Their father sent word to Rev. Mr. Griffin, +of Portsea, requesting him to find them, and try to persuade them to +return. He did so; and among other things, urged the feelings of their +parents; who, after watching over them with so much care and tender +anxiety, must now see all their hopes blasted. This touched the heart of +the younger, and he consented to return; but the elder was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> obstinate. +The carriage, he said, had been refused, he had made up his mind to go +to sea, and to sea he would go. Mr. Griffin then requested the young man +to go with him to his house, and he would get him a ship that he might +go out as a man and a gentleman. This he declined, giving as a reason, +that it would make his parents <em>feel</em> to have it said that their son +went out as a common sailor; as a common sailor, therefore, he would go. +“Is that your disposition?” said Mr. Griffin; “then, young man, go; and +while I say, God go with you, be sure your sin will find you out, and +for it God will bring you into judgment.” The younger son was restored +to his parents, while all traces of the elder were lost, and he was +mourned for as for one dead.</p> + +<p>After a considerable time, a sailor called on Mr. Griffin, and informed +him that there was a young man on board one of the ships in the harbor, +under sentence of death, who wanted to see him. What was his +astonishment, on finding the young man, who had gone to sea to be +revenged on his parents for refusing him a sinful indulgence, a +prisoner, manacled and guarded! “I have sent for you,” said the young +man, “to take my last farewell of you in this world, and to bless you +for your efforts to restore me to a sense of my duty. Would to God that +I had taken your advice; but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> it is now to late. My sin <em>has</em> found me +out, and for it God <em>has</em> brought me into judgment.” Mr. Griffin spent +some time with the young man in conversation and prayer; and then +hastened to London, to see if he could not get him pardoned. But, when +he arrived there, the warrant had already been sent for the young man’s +execution. He returned home, and arrived on the morning that the young +man was to be executed. Within a few minutes after his arrival came a +pardon, with which he hastened to the ship, where he met the young man’s +father, in the greatest agony, as he was returning from taking, as he +supposed, his last farewell of his son. Mr. Griffin entered the vessel +at the moment when the prisoner, pinioned for execution, was advancing +towards the fatal spot. In a few moments, he was restored to the +embrace, of his father. Thus he suffered shame and ignominy, and the +agonies of death, as a punishment for his disobedience to his parents; +though, in consequence of his penitence, his life was spared.</p> + + +<h3><em>Think how you will feel when your parents are gone.</em></h3> + +<p>A young man was lamenting the death of a most affectionate parent. His +companions, to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> console him, said that he had always behaved to the +deceased with tenderness, duty, and respect. “So I thought,” he replied, +“while my parent was living; but now I recollect with pain and sorrow, +many instances of disobedience and neglect, for which, alas, it is too +late to make any atonement.” If you would avoid this bitter reflection, +ask yourself, when disposed to do any thing that will grieve your +parents, “With what feelings shall I think of this, when they are dead +and gone?”</p> + + +<h3><em>Benefit of Obedience.</em></h3> + +<p>A boy wishing, one afternoon, to go with some other boys, on a sailing +excursion, asked permission of his mother, which was not granted. After +a severe struggle in his mind between inclination and duty, he gave up +his anticipated pleasure, and remained at home. The other boys went. A +sudden flaw of wind capsized their boat, and two of them were drowned. +The boy, when he heard of it, was much affected, and said to his mother, +“<em>After this I shall always do as you say.</em>”</p> + + +<h3><em>Reward of Disobedience.</em></h3> + +<p>Another boy was charged by his father, as he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> was going away, to be gone +a few days, not to go on the pond. Saturday, being his holiday, he asked +permission of his mother to go a skating. She told him he might skate +about in the fields and by the sides of the road, on such patches of ice +as he could find; “but,” said she, “be sure you do not go on the pond.” +He went out; and contrary to the strict charges he had received from his +parents, he went on the pond. He thought there was no danger; for the +ice was a foot thick. But there was a place that had been cut open to +get ice, where he and his companions fell in, and he was drowned!</p> + +<p>Some years ago, a boy in Woburn, named William Wheat, came to a terrible +end in consequence of disobedience to his parents. Three Sabbaths before +his death, he left the Sabbath School, and went to a public house—a +place where no boy should go, on any day, unless sent on business. The +next Sabbath, his teacher reproved him, and he was very angry, and +declared it was the last time he should ever enter the Sabbath School; +which proved true. The next Sabbath, he did not go; and the following +Wednesday, he got an old gun barrel, which his parents had repeatedly +forbidden him to meddle with, and charging it with powder, applied a +lucifer match, to “fire off his <em>cannon</em>,” as he called<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> it. The gun +burst and killed him instantly. Here was a boy of a turbulent +ungovernable disposition, despising the authority of his parents and the +law of God. He only came to the end to which the road, in which he +walked, naturally leads.</p> + +<p>Boys should never attempt to set up their own judgment against that of +their parents. When a parent denies the requests of his children, he +does it, not to deprive them of pleasure, but because he sees a good +reason for it. If the child submits, he will one day see that his +parents had a good reason, although he could not then perceive it. Let +this reflection silence all murmuring: “<em>My father and mother know +better than I.</em>” The truth of this is clearly proved in the foregoing +cases.</p> + + +<h3><em>Conscientious Obedience.</em></h3> + +<p>Some children obey their parents because it is right, and because they +love them. This is true, conscientious obedience—the obedience of the +heart. And those who render to their parents this kind of obedience, +will be just as careful to obey them, when out of their sight, as in +their presence; and they will be careful not to <em>evade</em> their commands. +They only want to know<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> the wishes of their parents, promptly to obey +them.</p> + +<p>The shouts of half a dozen children were heard from the piazza of one of +the large boarding houses at Saratoga Springs—“O yes; that’s capital! +so we will! Come on now! there’s William Hale! Come on, William, we’re +going to have a ride on the Circular Railway. Come with us?” “Yes, if my +mother is willing. I will run and ask her,” replied William. “O, O! so +you must run and ask your <em>ma</em>. Great baby, run along to your ma! Ain’t +you ashamed? I didn’t ask my mother.” “Nor I.” “Nor I,” added half a +dozen voices. “Be a man, William,” cried the first voice,—“come along +with us, if you don’t want to be called a coward as long as you live. +Don’t you see we are all waiting?”</p> + +<p>William was standing with one foot advanced, and his hand firmly +clenched, in the midst of the group, with flushed brow, flashing eye, +compressed lip, and changing cheek, all showing how the epithet <em>coward</em> +rankled in his breast. It was doubted, for a moment, whether he would +have the true bravery to be called a coward rather than do wrong. But, +with a voice trembling with emotion, he replied, “I <em>will not</em> go +without I ask my mother; and I am no coward either. I promised her I +would not go from the house without<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> permission, and I <em>should</em> be a +base coward, if I were to tell her a wicked lie.”</p> + +<p>In the evening, William was walking in the parlor, among the crowd, with +his mother, a Southern lady, of gentle, polished manners, who looked +with pride on her graceful boy, whose fine face was fairly radiant with +animation and intelligence. Well might she be proud of such a son, who +could dare to do right, when all were tempting him to do wrong.</p> + + +<h3><em>Cheerful Obedience, Sullen Obedience, and Disobedience.</em></h3> + +<p>When children are away from home, they are bound to obey those to whose +care their parents have entrusted them. Three boys, Robert, George, and +Alfred, went to spend a week with a gentleman, who took them to be +agreeable, well-behaved boys. There was a great pond near his house, +with a flood-gate, where the water ran out. It was cold weather, and the +pond was frozen over; but the gentleman knew that the ice was very thin +near the flood-gate. The first morning after they came, he told them they +might go and slide on the pond, if they would not go near the +flood-gate. Soon after they were gone, he followed them to see that they +were safe.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> When he got there, he found Robert sliding in the very place +where he had told him not to go. This was disobedience outright. George +was walking sullenly by the side of the pond, not so much as sliding at +all, because he had been forbidden to venture on the dangerous part. +This was <em>sullen obedience</em>; which is, in reality, no obedience at all, +because it comes not from the heart. But Alfred was cheerfully enjoying +himself, in a capital long slide, upon a safe part of the pond. This was +true obedience. Suddenly, the ice broke where Robert was sliding, he +immediately went under water, and it was with difficulty that his life +was saved. The gentleman concluded that Alfred was a lad of integrity, +but that his two brothers were not to be trusted. Obedience secured him +happiness, and the confidence of the kind gentleman with whom he was +staying; while the others deprived themselves of enjoyment, lost the +gentleman’s confidence, and one of them nearly lost his life; and yet, +to slide on the dangerous part of the pond would have added nothing to +their enjoyment. They desired it from mere wilfulness, <em>because it was +forbidden</em>. This disposition indulged, will always lead boys into +difficulty; and if they cherish it while boys, it will go with them +through life, and keep them always “<em>in hot water</em>.”</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +<a name="iii" id="iii"></a>CHAPTER III.<br /> +<small>SOCIAL VIRTUES AND VICES.</small></h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Section I.—Brotherly Affection.</span><br /> +<em>Sergeant Glanville.</em></h3> + + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/c.jpg" alt="C" width="120" height="284" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">CUSTOMS vary in different countries. In England, when a man dies without +making a will, his property goes to his eldest son. Mr. Glanville, who +lived in the days of Charles II., had an eldest son, who was incurably +vicious; and seeing no hope of reforming him, the father gave his +property to his second son. When Mr. Sergeant Glanville died, and his +eldest son learned what was done, he became greatly dejected, and in a +short time his character underwent an entire change. When his brother +perceived this, he invited him and a party of his friends to a feast. +After several dishes had been served,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> he ordered one, covered up, to be +set before his brother; which on being opened, was found to contain the +writings that conveyed to him the estate. This, he remarked was what he +was sure his father would have done, had he lived to witness the happy +change which they saw.</p> +</div> + +<h3 class="nc"><em>Generosity of an elder brother.</em></h3> + +<p>Mr. H——, an ingenious artist, for want of employment, was reduced to +great distress, and applied to his elder brother, who was in good +circumstances, and begged some little hovel to live in, and some +provision for his support. His brother was melted to tears: “You, my +dear brother,” said he, “you live in a hovel! You are a man; you are an +honor to the family. I am nothing. You shall take this house and estate, +and I will be your guest, if you please.” The two brothers lived thus +affectionately together, as if it had been common property, till the +death of the elder put the artist in possession of the whole. How happy +every family of brothers would be, if they would thus share with each +other all they have! It would save all disputing about <em>mine</em> and +<em>thine</em>. Every one would be equally pleased that his brother was +enjoying any thing, as if he had it himself.</p> + + + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +<span class="smcap">Section II.—The Golden Rule.</span><br /> +<span class="sub">generous blacksmith.</span></h3> + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/m.jpg" alt="M" width="120" height="302" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">MR. Wilson, passing late one evening by a blacksmith’s shop, and hearing +the sound of the hammer much later than usual, stepped in to inquire the +cause. The man told him that one of his neighbors had just been burned +out, and had lost every thing; and he had undertaken to work an hour +earlier in the morning and an hour later at night to help him.</p> +</div> + +<p>“This is kind, in you,” said Mr. Wilson; “for I suppose your neighbor +will never be able to pay you again.”</p> + +<p>“I do not expect it,” replied the blacksmith; “but if I were in his +situation, and he in mine, I am sure he would do as much for me.”</p> + +<p>The next morning, Mr. Wilson called and offered to lend the blacksmith +fifty dollars without interest, so that he might be able to buy his +iron<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> cheaper. But the man refused to take it, but told Mr. Wilson that, +if he would lend it to the man whose house was burned down, it would go +far towards helping him rebuild his cottage. To this, Mr. Wilson +consented, and had the pleasure of making two men happy.</p> + +<h3><em>Michael Verin.</em></h3> + +<p>Michael Verin, a Florentine youth, was always foremost; and his +compositions being more correct than those of any other boy in school, +he always obtained the first prize. One of his school-fellows, named +Belvicino, studied hard night and day, but could never get the prize. +This grieved him so much that he pined away and grew sick. Verin was +strongly attached to Belvicino; and, discovering the cause of his +illness, he determined to remove it. The next composition day, he made +several faults in his Greek version. Belvicino’s was judged the best, +and he took the prize. This so delighted him that he quickly recovered +his health and spirits. But he would never have known to whom he was +indebted for his success, had not the preceptor pressed Verin to tell +him why he had made such palpable faults in his composition.</p> + + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +<span class="smcap">Section III.—Gratitude and Benevolence.</span><br /> + +<span class="sub">planting trees.</span></h3> + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/a.jpg" alt="A" width="120" height="289" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">AN old man was busily employed in planting and grafting an apple tree. +Some one passing by, rudely accosted him with the inquiry, “Why do <em>you</em> +plant trees, who cannot hope to eat the fruit of them?” The old man +raised himself up, and leaning on his spade, replied, “Some one planted +trees before I was born, and I have eaten the fruit; I now plant for +others, that the memorial of my gratitude may exist when I am dead and +gone.” It is a very narrow, selfish feeling that confines our views +within the circle of our own private interests. If man had been made to +live for himself alone, we may justly conclude that every one would have +been made by himself, and his bounds marked out, so that he might live +alone. But since God has made us to live in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> society, he designs that we +should be helpful to each other. The truly ingenuous, benevolent mind, +takes more pleasure in an act which will confer blessings upon others, +than in one that terminates on himself. The selfish man wraps himself in +his cloak, and cares not for the sufferings of others, so that he keeps +warm himself. This old man, however, remembered how much he was indebted +to those who had lived before him, and resolved to pay his debts. If we +would look around us, we should find ourselves indebted to others, on +every side, for the comforts which we now enjoy—first to God, and under +him, to those whom he has employed as his agents to give them to us. +Ought we not, then, to strive in some measure to repay these +obligations, by doing something to promote the happiness and well-being +of others? Who gave us the Gospel? The missionaries, who preached the +gospel to our Saxon ancestors, and the Reformers, who opened the +treasures of God’s word, when they were hid under the rubbish of Popish +superstition. Ought we not, then, in return for this, to send the +blessed gospel to those who are now destitute? Who gave us our civil and +religious liberties? Our fathers who braved the ocean and the wilderness +to establish it, and the sword of the mother country to maintain it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +Ought we not, then, to transmit this precious boon to our posterity? And +so in whatever direction we look, we shall find some blessing for which +we are indebted to the noble generosity, public spirit, or christian +benevolence of others. Let us return the blessing, with interest, into +the bosom of others. Dr. Franklin, having done a favor to some one, and +being pressed with thanks, requested the person whom he had obliged to +embrace the first opportunity of doing a kindness to some other person, +and request him to pass it round, as all mankind are friends and +brothers. A greater than he has said, “It is more blessed to give than +to receive.”</p> +</div> + +<h3><em>Thomas Cromwell.</em></h3> + +<p>Francis Frescobald, a rich Florentine merchant, had become noted for his +liberality to the needy and destitute. A young Englishman, named Thomas +Cromwell, the son of a poor man, had gone into Italy with the French +army, where he found himself in a destitute condition. Hearing of the +liberality of Frescobald, he applied to him for aid; who, having +inquired into his circumstances, took him to his house, clothed him +genteelly, and kept him till he had recovered his strength. He then gave +him a good horse, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> sixteen ducats of gold in his pockets; with +which, after expressing his gratitude to his benefactor, he made his way +home. After his arrival in England, he was taken into the service of +Cardinal Wolsey, who was then the favorite of King Henry VIII., and his +Prime Minister. After the death of the Cardinal, Cromwell became the +King’s favorite; who made him a baron, a viscount, Earl of Essex, and +finally, lord chancellor of England.</p> + +<p>Frescobald the rich Florentine merchant, by repeated losses both at sea +and on the land, was now reduced to poverty. Some English merchants, +however, were owing him fifteen thousand ducats, and he came to England +to collect the money. The lord chancellor, as he was riding to court, +met him in the street, and immediately alighted and embraced him; and +without waiting for his old friend to recognize him, invited him to dine +with him. Frescobald, after recollecting himself, concluded it must be +the young Englishman whom he had assisted, and therefore complied with +the invitation. When the chancellor returned from court, with a number +of the nobility, he introduced them to the merchant, and related the +story of the assistance he had received from him in a time of need. +After the company were gone, Cromwell inquired of Frescobald<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> what had +brought him to England, who related to him his misfortunes. “I am sorry +for them,” said he; “and I will make them as easy to you as I can. But, +because men ought to be just before they are kind, it is fit I should +repay the debt I owe you.” Then leading him to a closet, he took out +sixteen ducats and gave them to Frescobald, saying, “My friend, here is +the money you lent me at Florence, with ten pieces you laid out for my +apparel, and ten more you paid out for my horse; but, considering that +you are a merchant, and might have made some advantage by this money in +the way of trade, take these four bags, in every one of which are four +hundred ducats, and enjoy them as free gifts of your friend.” These +Frescobald would have refused, but Cromwell forced them upon him. He +then took the names of his debtors and the sums they owed, and sent his +servant to demand their payment in fifteen days. In a short time, the +entire sum was paid. During this time Frescobald lodged at Cromwell’s +house; and the latter would have persuaded him to remain in England; but +he chose to return to Florence. Here is a fine illustration of that +passage of Scripture, which says, “Cast thy bread upon the waters, for +thou shalt find it after many days.”</p> + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +<em>Lending to the Lord</em>.</h3> + +<p>Solomon says, “He that hath pity on the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and +that which he hath given will he pay him again.” The following anecdote +affords a very striking illustration of the truth of this passage:</p> + +<p>In the year 1797, as Mr. M.—— was travelling among the mountains in +Vermont he was overtaken by a thunder shower, and sought shelter in a +small house, on the borders of a great forest. On entering the house and +finding no one but a woman and her infant he apologized, and asked the +privilege of stopping till the shower was over. The woman said she was +glad to have him come in, for she was always terrified by thunder. The +gentleman told her she need not be terrified at thunder, if she only +trusted in God. After conversing with her some time on this subject, he +inquired whether she had any neighbors, who were religious. She told him +she had neighbors about two miles off, but whether they were religious +or not, she could not tell. She heard that they had preaching there once +a fortnight, but she never attended their meetings. She appeared to be +extremely ignorant on the subject of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> religion. The rain had now passed +over, and all nature smiled. The traveller, as he was about to leave, +thanked the woman for her kindness, and expressed to her his earnest +desire for the salvation of her soul, and besought her to read the Bible +daily, and give diligent heed to its instructions. But she, with tears +in her eyes, confessed that she had no Bible. They had never been able, +she said, to buy one. “Could you read one if you had it?” he inquired. +She said she could, and would be very glad of the privilege. “Poor +woman,” said he, “I do heartily pity you: farewell.”</p> + +<p>As the traveller was preparing to go, he thought to himself, “This woman +is in very great want of a Bible. O that I had one to give her! But I +have not. As for money to buy one, I have none to spare. I have no more +than will be absolutely necessary for my expenses home. I must go: but +if I leave this woman without the means to procure the word of God, she +may perish for lack of knowledge. What shall I do?” These passages of +Scripture then came to his mind, “He that hath pity on the poor lendeth +to the Lord.” “Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it +after many days.” He said in his heart, “I will trust in the Lord.” He +took a dollar from his purse, went back and gave it to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> the woman, +telling her to buy a Bible with it. She promised to do so, and said she +knew where one could be obtained.</p> + +<p>The traveller set out, and when night came he took lodgings at a private +house. He had a little change left, but as he had two days more to +travel, he thought he would make his supper on a cold morsel, which he +had with him. But, when the family came to the table, he was urged to +take a seat with them, and invited to ask a blessing. He now began to +feel himself among friends, and at liberty to speak of divine things; +and the family seemed gratified in listening to his conversation. In the +morning, he offered to pay for his lodging, but the people would take +nothing. He travelled on, till late in the morning, when, finding no +hotel, he stopped at a private house for breakfast. While waiting, he +lost no time to recommend Christ to the family. When ready to depart, +the mistress of the house would take nothing for his breakfast, or the +oats, which his horse had eaten. And so he went on, asking for and +receiving refreshment when he wanted it, and offering to pay for it, as +any other traveller would do; but no one would take any thing, although +they did not know but he had plenty of money. “What does this mean?” +said he to himself. “I was never treated in this manner on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> a journey +before.” He recollected the dollar he had given the poor woman, and the +passage of Scripture, which induced him to do it, and said, “I have been +well paid. It is indeed safe lending to the Lord.” On the second day +after he left the cottage in the wilderness, he arrived safely at home, +having been at no expense on the way. The Lord has the control of all +events. The hearts of all men are in his hands. It was He who inclined +the hearts of the people to be kind and hospitable to his servant, and +to ask no pay for what they gave him.</p> + +<p>About a year and a half after this, a stranger called at Mr. M.’s house, +and asked for some refreshment. In the course of their conversation, Mr. +M. asked the stranger whether the people in those parts where he lived +paid much attention to religion.</p> + +<p>“Not much,” he replied; “but in a town twenty or thirty miles distant, +there has been a powerful revival. The commencement of it was very +extraordinary. The first person that was awakened and brought to +repentance, was a poor woman, who lived in a very retired place. She +told her friends and neighbors that a stranger was driven into her house +by a thunder storm, and talked to her so seriously, that she began, +while listening to his discourse to feel concerned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> about her soul. The +gentleman was much affected, when he found she had no Bible; and after +he had left the house to go on his journey, returned again, and gave her +a dollar to buy one; and charged her to get it soon, and read it +diligently. She did so; and it had been the means, as she believed, of +her salvation. The neighbors wondered at this; and it was the means of +awakening them to a deep concern for the salvation of their souls. As +many as thirty or forty are rejoicing in God their Savior.” Mr. M. who +had listened to this narrative, with his heart swelling more and more +with wonder, gratitude, and joy, could refrain no longer; but with hands +and eyes raised to heaven, exclaimed, “My God, thou hast paid me again!”</p> + +<p>When we lend to the Lord, he always pays us with “good measure, pressed +down and running over.”</p> + +<h3><em>An Indian story</em>.</h3> + +<p>In the early settlement of this country a strange Indian arrived at an +inn in Litchfield, Connecticut, and asked for something to eat; at the +same time saying that, as he had been unsuccessful in hunting, he had +nothing to pay. The woman who kept the inn, not only refused his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +reasonable request, but called him hard names. But a man who sat by, +seeing that the Indian was suffering for want of food, told her to give +him what he wanted at his expense. When the Indian had finished his +supper, he thanked the man, and assured him that he should be faithfully +recompensed, whenever it was in his power.</p> + +<p>Some years after this, the man had occasion to go from Litchfield to +Albany, where he was taken prisoner by the Indians, and carried to +Canada. Some of them proposed that he should be put to death; but an old +woman demanded that he should be given to her, that she might adopt him +in place of a son, who had been killed in the war. This was done, and he +passed the winter in her family. The next summer, while he was at work +alone in the woods, a strange Indian came and asked him to go to a +certain place on a given day, which he agreed to do; though he had some +fears that mischief was intended. His fears increased, and his promise +was broken. But the Indian came again and renewed the request. The man +made another engagement, and kept his word. On reaching the spot, he +found the Indian provided with ammunition, two muskets, and two +knapsacks. He was ordered to take one of each; which he did, and +followed his conductor. In the day time, they shot the game that came +in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> their way, and at night, they kindled a fire and slept by it. But +the Indian observed a mysterious silence as to the object of their +expedition. After travelling in this manner many days, they came to the +top of a mountain, from which they saw a number of houses in the midst +of a cultivated country. The Indian asked him if he knew the ground, and +he eagerly answered, “<em>It is Litchfield?</em>” The Indian then recalled to +his mind the scene at the inn, and bidding him farewell, exclaimed, “<em>I +am that Indian!</em> Now I pray you go home.”</p> + +<h3><em>Example of Disinterested Benevolence.</em></h3> + +<p>A traveller in Asia Minor, in a time of distressing drought, found a +vase of water under a little shed by the road-side, for the refreshment +of the weary traveller. A man in the neighborhood was in the habit of +bringing the water from a considerable distance, and filling the vase +every morning, and then going to his work. He could have had no motive +to do this, but a kind regard to the comfort of weary travellers, for he +was never there to receive their thanks, much less their money. This was +benevolence.</p> + + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +<span class="smcap">Section IV.—Manners.</span><br /> + +<span class="sub">politeness.</span></h3> + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/r.jpg" alt="A" width="120" height="282" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">REV. Dr. Witherspoon, President of New-Jersey College, once gave out +<em>Politeness</em>, to a division of one of his classes, as a subject for +composition. The young gentlemen were delighted with it; and when the +time came for reading, some of them expatiated upon it largely, +learnedly, and politely. After they had all read, they waited for the +President to sum up their observations, and then state his own views. +But, he told them, he should only give them a short definition, which +they might always remember. “<span class="smcap">Politeness</span>,” said he, “<span class="smcap">is real kindness, +kindly expressed</span>.” This is the sum and substance of all true politeness; +and if my readers will put it in practice, they will be surprised to see +how every body will be charmed with their manners.</p> +</div> + + +<h3 class="nc"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +<em>Good Breeding</em>.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Gassendi</span> was a youth of such extraordinary abilities and attainments as +to command universal admiration; but in his manners he was generally +silent, never ostentatiously obtruding upon others his own knowledge. He +was never in a hurry to give his opinion before he knew that of the +persons who were conversing with him. He was never fond of displaying +himself.</p> + +<p>I knew a young man whose behavior was directly the opposite of +Gassendi’s: a <em>compound of ignorance</em>, <em>self-conceit</em>, <em>and impudence</em>. +He was forward to talk in all companies. His opinion, on all subjects, +was <em>cheap</em>—a gift that went a-begging. He could tell the farmer how to +till the soil; the mechanic how to use his tools; the merchant, how to +make his gains; the doctor, how to cure his patient; the minister, how +to preach; and the cook, how to bake her bread. He wanted only a <em>pair +of long ears</em> to complete his character.</p> + + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +<span class="smcap">Section V.</span>—<span class="smcap">Overcome Evil With Good.</span><br /> + +<span class="sub">a black boy</span></h3> + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/s.jpg" alt="A" width="120" height="290" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">SOME boys are mean enough to ridicule others for natural defects, for +which they are not to blame; and it is a very common thing to consider +the color of the skin as a mark of inferiority. But even if it were so, +it would be no ground of reproach, for it is the color which God gave. +Mr. Southey, the poet, relates that, when he was a small boy, there was +a black boy in the neighborhood, who was called <em>Jim Dick</em>. Southey and +a number of his play fellows, as they were collected together one +evening at their sports, began to torment the poor black boy, calling +him “<em>nigger</em>,” “<em>blackamoor</em>,” and other nicknames. The poor fellow was +very much grieved, and soon left them. Soon after, these boy’s had an +appointment to go a skating, and on that day Southey broke his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> skates. +After all his rude treatment of poor Jim, he was mean enough to go and +ask him to lend his skates. “O yes, John,” Jim replied, “you may have +them and welcome.” When he went to return them, he found Jim sitting in +the kitchen reading his Bible. As Southey handed Dick his skates, the +latter looked at him with tears in his eyes, and said, “John, don’t ever +call me blackamoor again,” and immediately left the room. Southey burst +into tears, and from that time resolved never again to abuse a poor +black—a resolution which I hope every one of my readers will make and +never break. But, if you will follow the example of this poor colored +boy, and return good for evil, you will always find it the best +retaliation you can make for an injury.</p> +</div> + +<h3><em>The converted soldier.</em></h3> + +<p>A soldier in the East Indies, a stout, lion-looking, lion-hearted man, +had been a noted prizefighter, and a terror to those who knew him. With +one blow he could level a strong man to the ground. That man sauntered +into the mission chapel, heard the gospel, and was alarmed. He returned +again and again, and at last, light broke in upon his mind, and he +became a new creature. The change in his character was marked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> and +decided. The lion was changed into a lamb. Two months afterwards, in the +mess-room, some of those who had been afraid of him before began to +ridicule him. One of them said, “I’ll put it to the test whether he is a +Christian or not;” and taking a basin of hot soup, he threw it into his +bosom. The whole company gazed in breathless silence, expecting that the +lion would start up, and murder him on the spot. But after he had torn +open his waistcoat, and wiped his scalded breast, he calmly turned round +and said, “This is what I must expect: If I become a Christian, I must +suffer persecution.” His comrades were filled with astonishment. This +was overcoming evil with good. If the reader will follow this man’s +example, he will save himself a world of difficulty.</p> + +<h3><em>The forgiving school boy.</em></h3> + +<p>In a school in Ireland, one boy struck another; and when he was about to +be punished, the injured boy earnestly begged for his pardon. The master +inquired why he wished to prevent so deserved a punishment; to which he +replied, that he had read in the New-Testament that Jesus Christ said we +should forgive our enemies; “and I forgive him, and beg he may not be +punished for my sake.”</p> + + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +<span class="smcap">Section VI.</span>—<span class="smcap">Use of the Tongue.</span><br /> +<span class="sub">advantages of speaking the truth.</span></h3> + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/i.jpg" alt="I" width="120" height="262" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">IT is a great advantage to any one to have the confidence of others, so +far that his word will always be taken for the exact truth. This +confidence is to be acquired only by always speaking the truth; and +especially, by adhering so closely to the fact that people will not only +believe that we mean to speak the truth, but that they will feel +confident that we have neither mistaken the facts, nor added any +coloring, nor kept back any thing, to make it appear different from the +reality. The following story shows how great an advantage one may derive +from having this confidence in his strict veracity established:</p> +</div> + +<p><em>Petrarch</em>, the celebrated Italian poet, by his strict regard for truth, +secured the unbounded confidence of Cardinal Colonna, in whose family<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +he resided. A violent quarrel broke out among the Cardinal’s numerous +family of servants, which ended in a fight. The Cardinal, in order to +investigate the affair, and punish the offenders, assembled all his +people and put them under oath to tell the whole truth. Everyone took +the oath, not excepting the bishop of Luna, the Cardinal’s own brother. +Petrarch, in his turn, presented himself, but the Cardinal closed the +book, saying, “As to you, Petrarch, your word is sufficient.” Our +readers will perceive how great an advantage it will be to them to have +always such a strict regard to the exact truth, that their word will be +considered as good as an oath.</p> + +<h3><em>Remember the bright side.</em></h3> + +<p>When Peter the Great heard any one speaking ill of another, he would +inquire, “Is there not a <em>fair side</em>, also, to the character of the +person of whom you are speaking? Come, tell me what <em>good</em> qualities you +have remarked about him.” If, in speaking of others, we should look +always at the <em>fair side</em>, and see what good things we can say of them, +it would make us feel better towards them; it would be doing them a +service instead of an injury; it would tend to make <em>peace</em>, rather than +foment strife.</p> + + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +<span class="smcap">Section VII.</span>—<span class="smcap">Punctuality.</span><br /> + +<span class="sub">example of washington.</span></h3> + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/i.jpg" alt="W" width="120" height="260" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">WHEN Washington appointed the hour of twelve to meet Congress, he never +failed to be passing the door of the hall while the clock was striking +twelve. His dinner hour was four o’clock. If his guests were not there +at the time, he never waited for them. New members of Congress, who were +invited to dine with him, would frequently come in when dinner was half +over; and he would say to them, “Gentlemen, we are punctual here. My +cook never asks whether the company has arrived, but whether the hour +has.” In 1799, when on a visit to Boston, he appointed eight o’clock in +the morning as the hour when he would set out for Salem. While the Old +South clock was striking eight, he was mounting his horse. The company +of cavalry,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> who had volunteered to escort him, was parading in Tremont +street, and did not overtake him till he had reached Charles River +Bridge. On their arrival, the General said, “Major, I thought you had +been too long in my family not to know when it was eight o’clock.”</p> +</div> + +<h3 class="nc"><em>Samuel Wesley, Esq.</em></h3> + +<p>Samuel Wesley, Esq., was one of the greatest musicians of his age. His +musical powers were developed while he was a child, and excited the +greatest admiration. But he was as great a lover of regular habits as of +song. No company or persuasion could keep him up beyond his regular time +for going to bed. For this reason, he could seldom be persuaded to go to +a concert in the night. The moment the clock struck eight, away ran +Samuel, in the midst of his most favorite amusement. Once he rose up +from the first part of the <em>Messiah</em>, saying, “Come, mamma, let us go +home, or I shan’t be in bed by eight.” When some friends talked of +carrying him to the queen, and his father asked him if he was willing to +go, he replied, “Yes, with all my heart; but I won’t stay beyond eight.” +This was a wise resolution; for children are sadly injured, by being +kept up late at night.</p> + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +<em>Five minutes too late.</em></h3> + +<p>The following amusing sketch, though perhaps fictitious, gives a pretty +faithful picture of many a man’s life:</p> + +<p>“When a child, I was scolded for being too late at school; when a boy, I +was cuffed and kicked for being too late at my work; and when a man, I +was turned away for being behind my time on a particular occasion when +my services were wanted.</p> + +<p>“My uncle Jonathan was well to do in the world, and as his nephews were +his nearest relations, we had reason to expect that his property would +come among us. He had, however, one peculiarity, which effectually shut +his door against me. He never was five minutes too late in an +appointment in his life, and thought most contemptuously of those who +were. I really believe that I was a bit of a favorite with him until my +unfortunate failing justly offended him.</p> + +<p>“He had occasion to go a journey, and I was directed to be with him at +seven in the morning, to carry his portmanteau to the coach. Alas! I was +“Five minutes too late,” and he had left the house.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +“Knowing his particularity, I hurried after him, and running till I +could scarcely stand, arrived at one end of the street just in time to +see the coach go off with my uncle at the other. Dearly did I pay for +being “Five minutes too late.”</p> + +<p>“My Uncle did not return for a month, and certainly showed more +forbearance toward me than he was ever known to do on a similar +occasion; for in a letter he stated, that if I could be punctual, he +should wish me to meet him on his return, to take charge of his +portmanteau, and thereby make some amends for my misconduct. Off I set, +but knowing that coaches frequently arrive a quarter of an hour after +their set time, I thought a minute or two could be of no consequence. +The coach unfortunately, was “horridly exact,” and once more I was after +my time, just “Five minutes too late.”</p> + +<p>“My Uncle Jonathan never forgave me, fully believing that I had done it +on purpose to get rid of the trouble of carrying his portmanteau. Years +rolled away, and I was not so much as permitted to enter the door of my +Uncle Jonathan.</p> + +<p>“Time, however, heals many a sore, and while it ruffles many a smooth +brow, smooths many a ruffled temper. My Uncle Jonathan so far relented, +that when about to make his will, he sent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> to me to call upon him +exactly at ten o’clock. Determined to be in time, I set off, allowing +myself some minutes to spare and pulling out my watch at the door, found +that for once in my life I had kept my appointment to the second. The +servant, to my surprise, told me, that my Uncle Jonathan had ordered the +door to be shut in my face for being behind my time. It was then I found +out my watch was too slow, and that I was exactly “Five minutes too +late.”</p> + +<p>“Had I been earlier on that occasion I might have been provided for, but +now I am a poor man, and a poor man I am likely to remain. However, good +may arise from my giving this short account of my foolish habit, as it +may possibly convince some of the value of punctuality, and dispose them +to avoid the manifold evils of being “Five minutes too late.””</p> + +<p>Few young persons are sensible of the importance of punctuality, because +they are not aware of the value of time. But time is money; and to rob a +man of his time, by obliging him to wait beyond the appointed hour to +meet your engagement with him, is equivalent to robbing him of so much +money as he could have earned in the lost time. The <em>habit</em> of +punctuality must be acquired early. Be punctual in the family and +school, and you will be a punctual man.</p> + + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +<span class="smcap">Section</span> VIII.—<span class="smcap">Contention</span>.<br /> + +<span class="sub">danger of contention</span>.</h3> + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/q.jpg" alt="Q" width="120" height="292" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">QUARRELLING generally arises from selfishness and anger. Selfishness is +grasping. It respects not the rights of others. It will yield none of +its own. The selfish person is therefore continually coming in conflict +with others; and, as impediments are thrown in the way of his +gratification, his passions are roused. Anger is a species of insanity. +When one yields to his passions, he loses self-control. He takes an +enemy into his bosom, and suffers himself to be nosed about by him at +will. No one can tell what dreadful thing he may do when once he gives a +loose rein to his passions.</p> +</div> + +<p>“The beginning of strife is as the letting out of waters.” When you open +a little drain to a pond of water, it runs slowly at first, in a very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +small stream; but the body of water above rushes into the channel and +wears it deeper, and that increases the pressure and widens it still +more, till presently the whole body comes pouring forth in an +irresistible torrent. One dry season, in the summer, a man in Vermont, +who owned a mill, on a small stream near a large pond, found his water +failing, so that his mill was likely to stop. To prevent this, he +collected together a few of the neighbors, and dug a little trench from +the pond to the stream that carried his mill. At first it ran very +slowly and quietly along, till it began to wear away the channel, and to +turn the force of the body of water in the pond in that direction, when +it increased violently, tore away the banks, and poured the whole +contents of the pond into the little stream, carried off the mill, and +rushed on with impetuous fury through the valley, sweeping away fences, +bridges, barns, houses, and every thing that came in its way.</p> + +<p>At a place called <em>Brag Corner</em>, in the State of Maine, a small stream +falls into the Sandy river, on which a superior grist-mill was erected a +few years since. The stream not affording water enough, a pond +containing fifty or one hundred acres, having no outlet, and lying two +hundred feet above the level where the mill stood, was connected with +the stream that carried the mill<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> by an artificial canal. The water of +the pond began to gully away the gravel over which it was made to run, +and having formed a regular channel, defied all human control, and, in +the space of six hours, cut a ravine seventy feet deep, and let out the +whole pond, sweeping away the mill, foundation and all, and carrying +away a house and blacksmith’s shop, which stood near, not giving the +owner time to save any thing of consequence from his house.</p> + +<p>Such, Solomon says, is strife. When you begin to quarrel, you know not +where it will end. It not unfrequently terminates in the death of one of +the parties, as in the following case: A boy about eleven years of age, +son of Mr. Philip Petty, of Westport, R. I., took his father’s gun, as +he said, to go a gunning. His elder brother attempted to take it from +him. A quarrel ensued, between the two brothers, and in the course of +the scuffle, the gun went off and lodged the contents in the younger +one’s bowels. He lingered a few hours in great agony and died. How must +the other one feel, to think that the quarrel, which he began, led to +the death of his brother. How much safer to take Solomon’s advice, and +“leave off contention before it be meddled with.”</p> + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +<em>Danger of Indulging anger.</em></h3> + +<p>Frederick Jones was the son of a rich manufacturer. His father being +engrossed in business, the children were left to the care of their +mother, who, being a weak woman, did not restrain them as she ought. +There were four, but three of them died; and Frederick being left the +only child, was indulged still more. At a very early age he showed his +angry temper; and he became such a little tyrant that the very dogs and +cats about the house were afraid of him. Once, when he was three years +old, he insisted that he would have the silver tea-urn, to drag about +the room by a string for his coach. And, because his mother refused to +let him do so, he seized her cap and tore it from her head.</p> + +<p>When Frederick was ten years old, he went into the kitchen, where the +servants used to let him do as he pleased for fear of his dreadful +temper; for they called him “<em>Mamma’s pet lion</em>.” He had not been long +there before he upset the table, knocked down the shovel and tongs, and +broke several plates. Not satisfied with this, he collected all the tin +things in the middle of the floor, and began battering them with the +tongs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> The cook, not being very well pleased with this destruction, +undertook to lead him out of the kitchen. But the little fury, by +shrieking and scratching, got free, and seizing a fork, he threw it at +the cook, which struck her in the eye and put it out. Thus, by the +foolish anger of this little boy, a poor woman lost the sight of her eye +entirely. This shows the danger of indulging angry passions; for no one +knows what a dreadful deed he may commit in a fit of anger. It shows +also the danger of throwing things at others. It is a very dangerous +practice, and sometimes leads to the loss of life.</p> + +<p>A little while after this, Frederick was playing at the front door of +the house, when a boy passing on the other side of the street, called +out, “Hallo, Master Fred., have you put any more people’s eyes out +lately?” This was enough to make him angry. He immediately picked up a +large stone, and chasing the boy some distance, threw it at him with all +his might. The boy was out of the way of the stone, but it struck a +large bull-dog, which, naturally enough, concluded that he was unjustly +attacked, and turning upon Frederick, gave him a severe bite in the leg, +and tossed him into the gutter. Frederick roared aloud with pain and +rage, and had to be carried home to his bed, where he lay for several +weeks. But<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> nobody pitied him. The people who heard of it, knowing his +temper, thought the dog had done a praiseworthy act.</p> + +<p>After this, Frederick’s father sent him to a boarding school, about +twenty miles from home, to a very strict master. Here he was in +continual broils with his school-fellows. There was scarcely a boy in +the school with whom he did not have a fight. But generally he came off +with a bleeding nose or a black eye, because his passions took away his +strength, and the other boys were an overmatch for him. His schoolmates +generally did not like to fight; but this angry boy would fly at them +for the most trifling thing, and force them to defend themselves.</p> + +<p>Frederick’s father died before he was twenty years of age; and as he +loved amusement better than business, he sold the manufactory, and +travelled in Europe; where he was very dissipated, and fought two duels, +in both of which he was wounded. During his absence, his mother had +become a good woman; and on his return, he found her company +disagreeable. She entreated him to break off his evil courses. But this +only made him angry. To get rid of her reproofs, he left her and went to +one of the Western States. There, while he was engaged at a public +house, with some of his wicked companions, talking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> politics, one of +them called him a liar, and he drew out his dirk and stabbed him to the +heart. He ran away from the place, but the image of the murdered man +haunted him day and night, and made him wretched. He gave himself up to +intoxication, and at the age of twenty-three years, fell into a +drunkard’s grave, some time after his mother had died of a broken heart +on his account. All this came upon Frederick, in consequence of not +restraining his passions while a boy. His violent, ungovernable temper +might have been subdued, when he was a child; but by indulgence it +increased in strength, till it became perfectly unmanageable.</p> + +<h3><em>Be kind to your sister.</em></h3> + +<p>The following affecting story, which is given in the language of the +brother himself, will admonish every boy who reads it, to be kind to his +sisters, and especially to avoid blows on the head, as it is probable +the blow given this little girl by her brother was the cause of her +death. What a shame for a brother to strike his sister!</p> + +<p>“One morning in my early life, I remember to have been playing with my +younger sister, not then three years old. It was one of those bright +mornings in spring, that bring joy and life to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> heart, and diffuse +gladness and animation through all the tribes of living creatures. Our +feelings were in perfect harmony with the universal gladness of nature. +Even now I seem to hear the merry laugh of my little sister, as she +followed me through the winding alleys of the garden, her cheek suffused +with the glow of health and animation, and her waving hair floating in +the wind.</p> + +<p>“She was an only sister, the sole companion of all my childish sports. +We were constantly together; and my young heart went out to hers, with +all the affection, all the fondness, of which childhood is capable. +Nothing afforded me enjoyment in which she did not participate; no +amusement was sought which we could not share together.</p> + +<p>“That morning we had prolonged our play till near the hour of breakfast, +with undiminished ardor, when at some slight provocation, my impetuous +nature broke forth, and in my anger, I <em>struck</em> my little sister a blow +with my hand. She turned to me with an appealing look, and the large +tears came into her eyes. Her heart was too full to allow her to speak, +and shame made me silent. At that moment the breakfast bell summoned us +away, and we returned to the house without exchanging a word. The +excitement of play was over, and as she sat beside my mother<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> at +breakfast, I perceived by occasional stolen glances at her that she was +pale and sad. A tear seemed ready to start in her eye, which her little +self-possession could scarcely repress. It was only when my mother +inquired if she was ill, that she endeavored to eat. I was ashamed and +grieved, and inwardly resolved to embrace the first opportunity when we +were alone, to throw my arms round her neck and entreat her forgiveness.</p> + +<p>“When breakfast was ended, my mother retired with her into her own room, +directing me in the meantime to sit down to my lesson. I seated myself +by the window, and ran over my lesson, but did not learn it. My thoughts +were perpetually recurring to the scene in the garden and at table. It +was long before my mother returned, and when she did, it was with an +agitated look, and hurried step, to tell me that my poor Ellen was very +ill. I asked eagerly if I might go to her, but was not permitted, lest I +should disturb her. A physician was called and every means used for her +recovery, but to no purpose. The disease, which was in her head, +constantly increased in violence, and she became delirious. It was not +until evening that I was permitted to see her. She was a little +recovered from the severity of her pain, and lay with her eyes closed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +and her little hand resting on the pillow beneath her head. How I longed +to tell her the sorrow I felt for my unkindness to her in the morning +and how much I had suffered for it during the day. But I was forbidden +to speak to her, and was soon taken out of the room. During that night +and the day following, she continued to grow worse. I saw her several +times, but she was always insensible of my presence. Once indeed, she +showed some signs of consciousness, and asked for me; but immediately +relapsed into her former state.</p> + +<p>“On the morning of the third day, I rose at an early hour, and repaired +to the sick room. My mother was sitting by the bed. As I entered, she +drew me to her, and for some time was silent, while the tears flowed +fast down her face. I first learned that my sweet sister was dead, as my +mother drew aside the curtain that concealed her from me. I felt as +though my heart would break. The remembrance of her affection for me, +and my last unkind deed, revived in my mind; and burying my face in the +folds of the curtain, I wept long and bitterly.</p> + +<p>“I saw her laid in the coffin, and lowered into the grave. I almost +wished to lie down there with her, if so I might see once more her smile +and hear my forgiveness in her sweet voice.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +“Years have passed away and I am now a man—but never does the +recollection of this incident of my early life fail to awaken bitter +feelings of grief and remorse. And never do I see my young friends +exchanging looks or words of anger, without thinking of my last pastime +with my own loved Ellen.”</p> + +<h3><em>Teazing and being teazed.</em></h3> + +<p>Some children take great delight in teazing. The way to avoid such +annoyances is, to take no notice of them. Respect yourself too much to +be disturbed by those who disregard the common courtesies of life. If +they find they cannot teaze you, they will cease to make the attempt. +The late Dr. Bowditch (a man who attained to great eminence, as a man of +learning and science), was the son of a poor sailor. His parents were so +poor that he was obliged to wear his summer clothes to school, during +the whole winter. His schoolmates would sometimes laugh at him, because +he wore such thin clothes. But they could never make him angry, or +disturb his equanimity. All the notice he took of their jeers was, to +laugh at them for thinking that he was unable to bear the cold. If you +follow his example, you will never suffer much from being teazed.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +<a name="iv" id="iv"></a>CHAPTER IV.<br /> + +<small>BAD COMPANY AND BAD HABITS.</small></h2> + + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/d.jpg" alt="D" width="120" height="262" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">DO you remember what Solomon says about bad company? “Enter not into the +path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. For they sleep +not except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, +unless they cause some to fall.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Mr. Green, the Reformed Gambler, relates that, at the age of sixteen, he +was laboring industriously, in the city of Cincinnati, and saving his +wages. But he became acquainted with a bad set of boys, who visited a +ten-pin alley. In his leisure hours, instead of spending his time in +reading and treasuring up useful knowledge, he would frequent this den +of iniquity; and Sabbath days, instead of going to meeting, he would go +with the same set of boys to a place of amusement and sin, a little way +out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> of the city. In a short time, this evil company had erased every +tender affection from his bosom. On one of these misspent Sabbaths, he +fell in with a rough set of lawless boys, and got into a fight with +them, and was seen thus engaged by the city marshal.</p> + +<p>The next morning, a stranger, whom he met at his boarding house, +inquired of him respecting the different places of amusement in the +city, and he took him to the ten-pin alley, where he was in the habit of +going. While they were there, engaged in bowling, a man came staggering +in, to all appearance, half drunk. He pulled out three thimbles, and +tried to find some one to play with him for drink. This is a swindler’s +game, through which he picks the pockets of fools, by persuading them to +bet that they can tell under which of three thimbles he places a ball. +It is all a cheat. The landlord played and won, and the man appeared +very angry; but this was only a bait, to blind the eyes of the young +men, and induce them to bet. They were caught; and they lost what money +they had, Mr. Green two dollars, and the stranger, twenty-five. They +tried in vain to get back their money. At length, the man who was with +Green went to the Mayor’s office, and related the story; and the city +marshal, having seen Green the day before engaged in a fight, suspected<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +that he was leagued with the gamblers, and had him arrested; and though +no proof was brought against him, he was fined and sent to jail. There +he was kept for several months, in company with counterfeiters, +murderers, highwaymen, and gamblers, whose principal amusement was +card-playing; when he was discharged penniless, in rags, and with a bad +character. This was the commencement of his career of vice, his +reformation from which is the next thing to a miracle. All this came +upon him in consequence of keeping bad company. Learn from it to avoid +evil company and <em>betting</em>. The boy that suffers himself to <em>bet</em> the +smallest amount, has already entered the downhill road of the gambler’s +career. And there is no evil that can be named but he may be drawn into, +who begins to keep bad company. You might as well expect to go into +<em>lazarhouse</em>, without being infected, as to go into bad company, and not +fall into evil habits.</p> + + +<h3><em>Profaneness.</em></h3> + +<p>Perhaps there is no bad company to which boys are more exposed than the +<em>profane</em>; and none which is more corrupting. Young people insensibly +fall into the habits of those with whom they associate. If they hear +them interlard their conversation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> with by-words and oaths, they will be +strongly tempted to do the same. They will begin, perhaps, with by-words +and little oaths, which show a disposition to be profane, without +courage to carry it out. But they will not long stop here. They will +soon overcome the chidings of conscience, and then they can be as +foul-mouthed as any of their companions. This vice hardens the heart, +and prepares it for every other; for he who despises God will despise +man. He who takes the name of God in vain, will not hesitate to break +all his commandments. Profaneness is one of the meanest of all vices. It +involves every thing that is little and mean. It is treating with the +utmost indignity our Greatest Benefactor. It is a kind of gratuitous +wickedness; for there is no motive for it but a disposition to do evil. +The profane boy is a dangerous companion. He will lead you into you know +not what mischief and difficulty. The only way is to avoid him, as you +would a black snake, or a person that has the small pox. If you go with +him, he will, most likely, lead you to ruin.</p> + +<h3><em>Washington’s opinion of profaneness</em>.</h3> + +<p>No <em>gentleman</em> will use profane language. It is an outrage upon good +manners. No one can be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> called a gentleman, who is guilty of it. It is a +vice that has always been held in detestation by the great and the good. +General Washington would never allow it in his army. In 1757, while a +colonel, at Fort Cumberland, when he was a young man, he issued an +order, expressing his “great displeasure,” at the prevalence of profane +cursing and swearing, and threatening those who were guilty of it with +severe punishment. The day after he took the command of the +Revolutionary army he issued a similar order. In August, 1776, he issued +another order against this vice, in which he speaks of it as “a vice so +<em>mean and low</em>, without any temptation, that every man of sense and +character detests and despises it.” He also strictly forbade gaming and +drunkenness.</p> + +<h3><em>Howard’s opinion of Swearers</em>.</h3> + +<p>Howard, the Philanthropist, standing in the street, heard some dreadful +oaths and curses from a public house opposite. Having occasion to go +across, he first buttoned up his pocket, saying to a by-stander, “I +always do this, when I hear men swear, as I think that any one who can +take God’s name in vain, can also steal, or do any thing else that is +bad.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +God has set a mark upon this vice. He not unfrequently punishes it, by +directly answering the prayer that is profanely uttered. J. H. was a +notorious swearer. He had a singular habit of calling on God to curse +his eyes. After some years, this awful imprecation was verified. He was +afflicted with a disease in his eyes, which terminated in total +blindness. This so affected his general system, that he gradually sunk +under it, and went to give up his account. A number of similar cases, +some of them still more awful, you will find in the tract entitled, “The +Swearer’s Prayer.”</p> + + +<h3><em>Playing Truant</em>.</h3> + +<p>Playing truant when sent to school, is almost always the means of +getting into bad company; and bad company leads to ruin. A boy thirteen +years old, was brought before the police court in Boston, charged with +stealing a gold pen from a lawyer’s office. He had been in the habit of +coming into the offices, in the building, and selling apples. The +gentleman from whom he stole the pen had furnished him money to fill his +basket; and he returned his kindness by stealing his pen, which was +worth three dollars. His mother appeared before the court, and plead +earnestly for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> her boy, saving that he was a good boy to her, except +that he <em>played truant from school</em>. He then got into the company of a +gang of boys, who peddle apples,—a thievish set,—and of them he also +learned to steal. He was sent to the House of Reformation; which is a +prison for boys, where they are kept at work and study, but not allowed +their liberty.</p> + + +<h3><em>Ruin of a Deacon’s son.</em></h3> + +<p>Several years ago, a young man about twenty years of age, filthy in his +appearance, and shabbily dressed, called at the house of a clergyman in +the city of New York. His countenance, though haggard, bore the marks of +intelligence. The young man said he had been at his church the previous +evening, and was desirous of having some conversation with the minister. +He was requested to open his mind freely. He said he was the son of a +deacon of a Congregational church in Connecticut. His father was a man +of property and influence, and he himself had always moved in the most +respectable society. He had come to New York in order to become +acquainted with business, and prepare himself for an active and useful +life. But he soon found himself surrounded with new temptations, +without<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> the restraining influences of home and friends. He fell into +bad company. His vicious associates led him to the theatre, and when his +passions were excited by what he saw, and stimulated by intoxicating +liquors, he was persuaded to visit places of infamy and crime. These +indulgences called for more money than he could honestly obtain; but his +appetites, once excited, could not be easily restrained; and he had +recourse to his employer’s money drawer to supply the deficiency. He +eased his conscience, in this act, and deceived himself, with the hope +of repaying it before he was detected. But in this he was mistaken. He +was detected, tried, found guilty, and sentenced to the penitentiary for +six months. He had now been out of prison a week, during which time he +had been wandering about the city, ashamed to be seen or known. He had +come to ask advice. The clergyman advised him by all means to go home to +his father; assuring him that it was his only hope, for if he remained +in the city, he would fall into the company of his old associates and be +ruined. With the deepest agony, he exclaimed, “How can I ever return to +my father’s house? How can I ever meet him or the virtuous companions of +my youth? No! No! I am fallen—disgraced! I have been a felon, and in +prison!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> No, I would rather die a vagabond in the street, than to see +the face of my father, or the faces of the young people, who were my +associates in the days when I felt myself as good as they.” He was yet +unhumbled. He was yet unwilling, like the prodigal, to return to his +father’s house. However, after much persuasion, he promised that the +next morning he would set off for home. But he had not the moral courage +to fulfil his purpose. He was ashamed to arise and go to his father. He +continued to roam about the streets, and was again detected in stealing.</p> + +<p>This anecdote shows not only the danger of bad company, but the peril of +young men who go from the country to the city to engage in business. +They had better remain at home, unless their principles are firmly +established upon the foundation of true religion. There is nothing to be +gained in the city that is worth the exposure of morals and character.</p> + + +<h3><em>Bad Books.</em></h3> + +<p>Books are company; and the company of bad books is as dangerous as the +company of bad boys or bad men. Goldsmith, who was a novel-writer of +some note, writing to his brother about the education of a nephew, says, +“<em>Above all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> things never let your nephew touch a novel or a romance</em>.” +An opinion given in such a manner must have been an honest opinion. And, +as he knew the character of novels, and had no nice scruples on the +subject of religion, his opinion ought to have great weight.</p> + +<h3><em>An Example for boys.</em></h3> + +<p>A boy in London, in destitute circumstances, was put out as an +apprentice to a mechanic. It is the business of the youngest apprentice +to do all the errands and drudgery of the establishment, and frequently +of his master’s family also. He was often sent by the workmen and older +apprentices, to procure intoxicating liquors for them; of which all of +them partook, except himself, because, as they said, it did them good. +But because he refused to drink he was made an object of ridicule among +them. They said he had not sufficient <em>manhood</em> to drink rum. But he had +sufficient manhood to <em>refuse to drink rum</em>; and it requires much more +to refuse than to drink.</p> + +<p>Nothing can be more false than the idea that it is courageous and manly +to fall in with the habits and practices of those with whom we are +obliged to associate. It is a sign of <em>cowardice</em> rather than of +<em>courage</em>. The <em>sheep</em> is the most timid of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> animals. But if a man is +driving a flock of sheep, and one of them gets frightened and turns out +of the way, all the rest will follow, no matter if it is over the +railing of a bridge into a river. The boy that drinks or swears or plays +truant, or breaks the Sabbath, because his companions do, is as +courageous as—<em>a sheep!</em></p> + +<p>While the workmen and apprentices were revelling over their rum, and +insulting and misusing this boy, he often retired and vented his grief +in tears. But a few years changed the aspect of things. As they grew up, +and entered upon the world for themselves, all the older apprentices +fell into habits of dissipation, and finally sunk into the drunkard’s +grave. But the little boy, at whose abstinence they used to scoff, grew +up a sober and respectable man, engaged in business for himself, and a +few years ago, was worth a hundred thousand dollars, and had in his +employ one hundred and ninety men, none of whom used ardent spirits. All +this came from his having courage to say <span class="smcap">no</span>, to those who held the +poisoned cup to his lips.</p> + +<h3><em>Poison.</em></h3> + +<p>A little boy, four years old, wandered from his home, one day, in the +town of Turin, N. Y., to a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> field where some men were at work. There he +found a bottle of spirits, of which he drank freely. When found, he was +lying on the ground, unable to speak. He was carried home to his mother, +and the Doctor was sent for; but he could do nothing for the poor boy. +He remained stupid till evening, and then died. The rum had poisoned +him. Not a great while before this, his father was drowned in a fit of +intoxication. “Touch not, taste not, handle not.”</p> + +<h3><em>“Am I to blame, Mother?”</em></h3> + +<p>A lad in Philadelphia, some years ago, joined the Temperance Society. +The father and mother, who were what are called <em>moderate</em> drinkers, +were displeased with him. The boy said nothing for sometime, but bore +patiently the chidings of his mother. At length, he undertook to +vindicate his conduct: “Am I to blame, mother? Sister Mary has married a +drunken husband, who abuses her every day. Sister Susan’s husband was +intemperate, and has gone off, and left her, and you are obliged to take +her home, and take care of her children. Brother James comes home drunk +almost every night. And because I have joined the cold water company, +and you are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> likely to have one sober person in the family, you are +scolding at me! Am I to blame?”</p> + +<h3><em>How it happened.</em></h3> + +<p>There was a young man in college, one of the brightest, who was greatly +beloved for his personal attractions, frankness, good nature, and +generosity. But he was occasionally found flushed with wine, and then he +was turbulent and ungovernable. At length, in one of these fits of +excitement, he committed a misdemeanor for which he was expelled from +college. Soon after this, he became very dissipated, abandoned his +studies, and finally became a sot. People wondered how such a lovely +young man could fall into such ruinous courses. A young lady, conversing +about him, said she remembered that, when he was a little boy, just +beginning to study Latin, she saw his mother bring him a loaf of cake +and a glass of wine for a lunch. She then thought that perhaps he would +become a drunkard, and so it turned out. Beware of the first glass.</p> + + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +GOING TO THE THEATRE.</h3> + + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/w.jpg" alt="W" width="120" height="260" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">WILLIAM R. was a young man of good habits—a lovely youth, “the only son +of his mother, and she was a widow.” He was sent from the country, where +he had been brought up, to the city of New York, where he was employed +as a clerk. Hearing much of the <em>Theatre</em>, and seeing it puffed in the +newspapers, he thought he would <em>go once</em>, just out of curiosity, to see +what was done there. But, he was so fascinated with what he heard and +saw there, that he went again; just as some birds are so charmed with +the gaze of the serpent, as to run straight into his mouth! There +William fell into evil company, who enticed him away to the haunts of +infamy. Intoxicated with these things, he continued to frequent the +theatre until the expense was more than his earnings. He then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> began to +steal money from his employer. He was detected and fled. After some +time, his friends, hoping he had learned something from experience, sent +him to another city. For a time he seemed to be thoroughly reformed. But +evil habits once acquired are not easily overcome. He soon fell into the +same round of folly and sin, till he lost his character and his +employment, and in his despair, committed suicide!</p> +</div> + +<p>Here, again, my readers will see that <span class="smcap">Total Abstinence</span> is the only safe +rule. This boy’s ruin was the consequence of going to the theatre <em>just +once</em>. If he had resisted an idle curiosity in the beginning, he would +have been saved. There are some things that we ought not to desire to +see. Among these, are the things that are done at theatres and other +places of amusement and pleasure, which abound in cities. It is +dangerous to look upon them. It is like looking down from a giddy height +upon a rapid current of water. It turns the head, the foothold is +endangered, and the life put in jeopardy.</p> + + +<h3><em>The Passion for Gaming.</em></h3> + +<p>The following anecdote shows the strength of this passion, when once it +has gained the ascendancy:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +A colored man employed as a fireman on board a steamboat, between +Cincinnati and New Orleans, lost all his money, at play with his +companions. He then staked his clothing, which he also lost. Having +nothing more, he laid down his free papers and <em>staked himself</em>. Losing +this time, also, he was actually sold by the winner to a slave dealer.</p> + +<p>What a power must this passion have over a man, when he will play at the +hazard of his own liberty, which most men esteem dearer than life! Young +man, if you once contract this habit, you will have no power to restrain +it. You will gratify the passion at the hazard of every thing. My mother +used to relate an anecdote of some young men, who retired to a garret to +play at cards, where they would not be seen. There was an open cask of +powder in the room, and they had stuck a lighted candle into the powder, +which served the purpose of a candlestick. The man at whose house they +were, coming to the loft for some purpose, observed them a few moments +before the candle had burned down to the powder, and creeping softly so +as not to alarm them, snatched away the candle. In a few moments more +they would have been blown to atoms.</p> + +<p>The only security against gambling is similar to that against +intemperance: <span class="smcap">Total abstinence from games of chance.</span> If you never<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> learn +any play that can be used in gaming, you will be safe from the snare. +But with the knowledge of such games, you will scarcely escape its +seductions.</p> + +<h3><em>Danger of Playing for amusement.</em></h3> + +<p>There was a family, consisting of the father and mother, two sons, and +one daughter, who lived in Tennessee. The father and mother used to play +cards with the children for amusement. The sons went to college, and the +father’s business required him to be much of the time from home. On one +occasion, while the sons were at home, during vacation, the father wrote +a letter requesting the eldest son to bring him five thousand dollars. +The young man was accordingly despatched with the money. He went on +board a steamboat, where he met a company of gamblers, in the garb of +gentlemen, who professed to be only playing for amusement. To this he +had been accustomed, from his childhood, at his father’s house, and +thought no harm of it. He was solicited to play, and consented. After +playing a few moments, they agreed to bet one dollar on the game. He +lost, and then doubled his bet, and went on so, till soon he had lost +what little money he had about him. He became much excited,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> went to his +state-room and drew out a large package of bills, and returned to the +table, where very soon he had lost twelve hundred dollars. He now came +to the place where he was to leave the steamboat and go to his father; +but he was so intoxicated with the excitement of the gaming table, that +he went on. He played on, and continued to lose. Several of the more +respectable passengers tried to get him away. But the passion for gaming +had taken such possession of his heart, that he was held to the spot, +till his package of five thousand dollars was all in the hands of three +hardened gamblers. Two of them afterwards won from him his watch and his +diamond breast pin, and left him without money enough to buy a meal of +victuals.</p> + +<p>About ten days after he left, his mother received a letter from his +father, saying that he had heard nothing from him. She immediately took +her younger son and went in pursuit of him. But, the only intelligence +they could gain concerning him was, that he had been ruined by a company +of gamblers. The father immediately started for New-Orleans, in search +of his son, but hearing nothing from him, he, +in despair, took to drinking, and returned, after two years’ +absence,—“his frame worn—his cheek pale—his eyes wild and +fevered—his lips parched—his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> hopes crushed—his very life only the +motion of excitement and passion—his very soul shattered—his property +mortgaged.” In a short time he went again in pursuit of his son, but +returned home, heart-broken, and died of <em>delirium tremens</em>, the +drunkard’s disease. The daughter and the other son, both became maniacs. +Thus was a whole family ruined, in consequence of the foolish habit of +playing cards for amusement. If that young man had never learned to play +cards, he would, in all probability, have gone on his way, and reached +his father in safety, with the money. And, if he had been firmly +principled against playing, his answer, “I <em>never play</em>,” would have +stopped all solicitation. I travelled on those Western waters, when I +was a young man, at a time when gambling was carried on every hour of +the day, and almost the live-long night; and yet I was never solicited +to play. And why not, as well as this young man? Because, (1.) I did not +know how to play; (2.) I felt a great aversion to it, and did not +hesitate to show it; and (3.) I made myself known as a <em>religious man</em>. +These three things will always be sufficient to defend a young man +against the most wily gamesters in the world.</p> + +<p>The case I have related, is only one among hundreds that might be +stated, in which the ruin<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> of many a promising young man has been +accomplished, by alluring him to play cards for amusement, and then +gradually leading him on to stake first small sums, which he is +permitted to win, and then he is persuaded to go on, till he has not a +farthing left. There is a set of men, in all parts of the country, who +make a business of gambling, and league together to draw in unwary youth +and strip them of all they possess, and of more, if they can lay their +hands upon money not their own.</p> + +<p>Beware, then, how you excite a passion for gaming, by playing for +amusement. I am afraid of <em>all games</em>; but, especially, all games of +chance. I think there is a strong tendency in them all to excite a +passion for gaming, which will not be satisfied without something more +stimulating than mere amusement. If I see a boy rolling marbles, or a +young man shuffling cards, I think he is in the high road to ruin. +Marbles is a dirty play. It treads on the heels of low company and +gambling. We frequently hear boys crying out, with all the braggardism +of a practiced gambler, “<em>I’ll bet</em>” so and so. But all betting is +gambling. “<span class="smcap">Touch not, taste not, handle not</span>.”</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +<a name="v" id="v"></a>CHAPTER V.<br /> + +<small>INDUSTRY, LABOR, &c.</small></h2> + + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/e.jpg" alt="E" width="120" height="304" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">EARLY discipline, in laborious and useful occupations, is indispensable +to the formation of a good character. If God had designed that we should +live at ease, without exertion, he would have furnished every thing to +our hand, without any effort of our own. In his holy word he has taught +us the necessity of helping ourselves, requiring us to labor six days +for one of rest, and ordaining that, “if any would not work, neither +should he eat.” The same lesson he taught an untutored Indian, by the +voice of Nature.</p> +</div> + +<h3 class="nc"><em>A lesson from the Birds and Fishes.</em></h3> + +<p>Rev. Mr. Heckewelder, a Moravian Missionary, remarked to an Indian, whom +he saw busily employed fencing his cornfield, that he must be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> very fond +of working, as he had never seen him idling away his time as was common +with the Indians. “My friend,” replied the Indian “the fishes in the +water, and the birds in the air have taught me to work. When I was a +young man, I loitered about, doing nothing, just like the other Indians, +who say that working is only for whites and negroes, but that the +Indians were made to hunt the deer, and catch the beaver, otter, and +other animals. But one day while I was hunting, I came to the banks of +the Susquehannah, and sat down near the water’s edge to rest awhile. +There I was forcibly struck at seeing with what industry the sun-fish +heaped small stones together to make secure places for their spawn; and +all this labor they did with their mouth and body, without hands. +Presently a little bird, not far from me, raised a song, and while I was +looking to see the little songster, its mate, with as much grass as it +could hold in its bill, passed close by me, and flew into the bush, +where I perceived them, both together, busily employed in building their +nest, and singing as their work went on. I entirely forgot my hunting, +to contemplate the objects that were before me. I saw the birds in the +air and the fishes in the water working diligently and cheerfully, and +all this without hands. I thought it was strange and I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> became lost in +wonder. I looked at myself, and saw two long arms, provided with hands +and fingers, and with joints that might be opened and shut at pleasure. +I could, when I pleased, take up any thing with these hands, hold it +fast, or let it loose, and carry it along with me. When I walked, I +observed that I had a strong body, capable of bearing fatigue, and +supported by two stout legs, with which I could climb to the top of the +highest mountains, and descend at pleasure into the valleys.”</p> + +<p>“And is it possible,” said I, “that a being so wonderfully formed as I +am, was created to live in idleness; while the birds, which have no +hands, and nothing but their little bills to help them, work with +cheerfulness, and without being told to do so? Has then the great +Creator given me all these limbs for no purpose? It cannot be: I will +try to go to work. I did so, and went away from the village to a spot of +good land, where I built a cabin, enclosed ground, sowed corn, and +raised cattle. Ever since that time, I have enjoyed a good appetite and +sound sleep. While others spend their nights in dancing, and are +suffering with hunger, I live in plenty. I keep horses, cows, hogs, and +fowls. I am happy. See, my friend, the birds and fishes have brought me +to reflection, and taught me to work!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +If any of my young friends, who read this book, think it a hardship to +work, I hope they will go into the fields, and like this untutored +Indian, learn lessons from the creatures whom God has made. There they +will find the little ants busy in rearing their habitation; the mole in +raising his hill; the birds in building their nests; and the little busy +bee, in sucking honey from every flower. Yet all these little creatures +appear happy and contented with their lot. If God made them to be happy, +as we suppose he did, why did he not make them to live an idle, inactive +life? Evidently because activity is necessary to enjoyment. If you would +be happy, then, you must be active. Laziness, or idleness, will +certainly make you discontented, wretched, and miserable.</p> + +<p>As I was one day walking in one of those beautiful avenues that lead out +of the village of Saratoga Springs, my attention was arrested by two of +those insects, which children call by the homely name of +“<em>grand-father-long-legs</em>.” They were laboriously occupied in rolling a +round ball, of the size of a walnut, covered with a glutinous substance, +dried hard in the sun. I could not be so cruel as to break it in pieces, +to gratify my curiosity; but I suppose it must have contained some +treasure that was dear to them—probably<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> their eggs. They would labor +and tug, with their long arms, to roll it up an ascent; and if it rolled +back again, they would patiently return, and roll it up, showing an +example of perseverance well worthy of imitation.</p> + +<p>Thus God has made all things to be active. All nature, animate and +inanimate, calls man to labor. If old ocean did not ebb and flow, and +roll its waves, it would stagnate, and become so noxious that no animal +could live on the face of the earth. If the earth did not pursue its +laborious course around its axis, one half of its inhabitants would be +shrouded in perpetual night, while the other half would be scorched to +death with the ever-accumulating intensity of the sun’s rays. Can you +find any thing, in all the vast creation of God, that is idle? The +sluggard, of all God’s works, stands alone—<em>idle</em>! He resembles the +stagnant pool, whose impure waters, filled with the loathsome creatures, +and all manner of filth, saturate the atmosphere with pestilential +vapors, and spread around it disease and death. But, the active, +industrious man, resembles the running brook, whose waters are kept +limpid and clear by their unceasing flow.</p> + + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +“<em>Business first, and then Pleasure</em>.”</h3> + +<p>A man who is very rich now, was very poor when he was a boy. When asked +how he got his riches, he replied, “My father taught me never to play +till all my work for the day was finished, and never to spend money till +I had earned it. If I had but half an hour’s work to do in a day, I must +do that the first thing, <em>and in half an hour</em>. After this was done, I +was allowed to play; and I could then play with much more pleasure than +if I had the thought of an unfinished task before my mind. I early +formed the habit of doing every thing in its time, and it soon became +perfectly easy to do so. It is to this habit that I now owe my +prosperity.” Let every boy who reads this, go and do likewise, and he +will meet a similar reward.</p> + + +<h3><em>Industry</em>.</h3> + +<p>A gentleman in England had an estate which was worth about a thousand +dollars a year. For a while, he kept his farm in his own hands; but at +length, he found himself so much in debt that he was obliged to sell one +half of his place, to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> pay up. The rest, he let to a farmer for +twenty-one years. Towards the end of that time, the farmer on coming to +pay his rent, asked him whether he would sell his farm. The gentleman +was surprised that the farmer should be able to make him an offer for +his place. “Pray tell me,” said he, “how it happens, that, while I could +not live upon twice as much land, for which I paid no rent, you are +regularly paying me five hundred dollars a year for your farm, and able +in a few years to purchase it?” “The reason is plain,” answered the +farmer: “You sat still, and said ‘<em>Go</em>.’ I got up and said, ‘<em>Come</em>.’ +You lay in bed, and enjoyed your ease. I rose in the morning, and minded +my business.”</p> + +<p>This anecdote shows the folly of those young men, who set up for +gentlemen, and despise labor and useful employment. Though they may +begin with a good capital, they will soon run down, if they depend upon +others to do their business. If they have nothing, they will certainly +gain nothing. Laziness, poverty, and rags, will go together.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +<a name="vi" id="vi"></a>CHAPTER VI.<br /> + +<small>TRUE GREATNESS.</small></h2> + +<h3><em>True Greatness does not consist in feeling above others</em>.</h3> + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/f.jpg" alt="F" width="120" height="300" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">FOOLS think themselves <em>great</em>, in proportion to the show they can make; +but it would take a great heap of copper coins to make as much value as +a very little piece of gold; and an empty tin kettle will make more +sound than a golden vessel filled with the choicest delicacies.</p> +</div> + +<p>When Mr. Jefferson was President of the United States, he was passing a +stream on horseback, in Virginia. A beggar approaching it at the same +time, asked him to help him over. The President let him get behind him +on the horse and ride over. When they had got over, the beggar +discovered that he had left his bundle; and Mr. Jefferson went back +again and brought it over. This was true greatness. A man can never be +too great to do a kindness to the humblest individual in the world.</p> + +<h3 class="nc"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +<em>True Greatness lies not in being too proud to wait on one’s self.</em></h3> + +<p>Chief Justice Marshall was in the habit of going to market himself, and +carrying home his purchases. Frequently he would be seen returning at +sunrise, with poultry in one hand and vegetables in the other. On one of +these occasions, a fashionable young man from the North, who had removed +to Richmond, was swearing violently because he could find no one to +carry home his turkey. Marshall stepped up, and asking him where he +lived, said “That is my way, and I will take it for you.” When they came +to his house, the young man inquired, “What shall I pay you?” “O, +nothing,” said the Chief Justice, “you are welcome, it was on my way, +and no trouble.” “Who is that polite old gentleman, who brought home my +turkey for me?” inquired the young man of a by-stander. “That,” replied +he, “is John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States.” “Why did he +bring home my turkey?” “To give you a severe reprimand, and teach you to +attend to your own business,” was the reply. True greatness never feels +above doing any thing that is useful; but especially, the truly great +man will never feel above<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> helping himself. His own independence of +character depends on his being able to help himself. Dr. Franklin, when +he first established himself in business, in Philadelphia, wheeled home +the paper which he purchased for his printing office, upon a +wheel-barrow, with his own hands.</p> + +<h3><em>True Greatness does not make a man difficult about his own +accommodations.</em></h3> + +<p>At a time when the court was sitting in Buffalo, N. Y., and all the +public houses were full, there came to the principal hotel a starched up +little Frenchman, and called for lodgings. He was shown into a small, +but well-furnished room, which was the only one in the house that was +vacant. He thought himself insulted; and with much warmth said, “Me +gem’man—me no sleep here!” A little while afterwards Chancellor Kent, +the highest judicial officer in the state, called for lodgings. The +landlord told him he was full, excepting one little room, which he did +not like to offer to such a man as he. But the Chancellor wished to see +it; and on being shown into it, said, “O, this will do very well—it is +a fine room.” Which do you think was the greater of these two men? A +small mind makes much ado about little things.</p> + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +<em>True Greatness does not consist in being in the fashion.</em></h3> + +<p>When Dr. Franklin was received at the French Court as American Minister, +he felt some scruples of conscience about complying with their fashions +of dress. “He hoped,” he said to the Minister, “that as he was a very +plain man, and represented a plain republican people, the king would +indulge his desire to appear in the court in his usual dress. +Independent of this, the season of the year,” said he, “renders the +change from yarn stockings to fine silk somewhat dangerous.” The French +Minister made him a bow, but said that fashion was too sacred a thing +for him to meddle with, but he would do him the honor to mention it to +his majesty. The king smiled and returned word that Dr. Franklin was at +liberty to appear at court in any dress that he pleased. In spite of +that delicate respect for foreigners for which the French are so +remarkable, the courtiers could not help staring at first at Dr. +Franklin’s Quaker dress. But it soon appeared as though he had been +introduced upon this splendid theatre only to demonstrate that great +genius, like beauty, “needs not the aid of ornament.”</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +<a name="vii" id="vii"></a>CHAPTER VII.<br /> + +<small>ADVANTAGES OF HONESTY.</small></h2> + + +<h3><em>Colbert.</em></h3> + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/g.jpg" alt="G" width="120" height="279" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">GO the world over, and you will find that “honesty is the best policy.” +Jean Baptiste Colbert was born at Rheims, in France, in the year 1617, +of poor parents. When a boy, he was apprenticed to M. Certain, a woollen +draper. Young Colbert was very fond of books, and spent his leisure in +reading. He had indeed a taste above his station. But his mind was so +much on what he read, that he was sometimes absent-minded and +forgetful. M. Certain, who thought of nothing but of selling cloth, +would ridicule him, and tell him he would never make any thing. One day +he sent him and the porter with four rolls of cloth, to the hotel of M. +Cenani, a French banker, who wished to buy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> hangings for a country house +which he had purchased. The pieces were marked 1, 2, 3, and 4; and as +Colbert left the house, M. Certain told him that No. 1 was marked three +crowns a yard; No. 2, six crowns; No. 3, eight crowns; and No. 4, +fifteen crowns. The banker selected No. 3, and asked the young man how +much it was a yard. Colbert replied, “fifteen crowns.” The porter +grinned, but seeing the mistake was on the side of his master he said +nothing. There were thirty yards in the piece, and the money was counted +out, four hundred and fifty crowns.</p> +</div> + +<p>When Colbert returned, M. Certain said, “you have made no mistake, I +hope.” “I don’t think I have,” replied Colbert. “But I think you have,” +said the porter. “Do you think so, Moline? Do you think so?” cried the +old man, throwing down the cloth and examining the tickets. “But, +indeed, I might have expected this; the little rascal could not do +otherwise. But I warn you, if you have made a mistake, you shall go to +M. Cenani to ask of him the surplus money; and if he refuses to give it, +you shall pay it out of your wages. No. 3 is wanting. No. 3 was +worth—it was worth six crowns; no, eight crowns. I am quite puzzled.” +“Eight crowns! Eight crowns! are you sure of that?” cried Colbert. +“Perhaps you would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> like to make out that it was I who made the mistake. +I tell you No. 3, was worth eight crowns. I am half dead with fear. I +will lay a wager that he sold it for six.” “On the contrary,” replied +Colbert, “stupid creature that I am, I sold it for fifteen.” “Fifteen! +Fifteen!” cried M. Certain. “You are a fine boy, a good boy, Baptiste. +You will one day be an honor to all your family. Fifteen!—I could cry +with joy! Fifteen crowns for a piece of cloth not worth six! Two hundred +and ten crowns profit! O happy day!” “How,” said Colbert, “would you +take advantage?” “O, perhaps you want to go shares. Certainly I agree to +let you have something.”</p> + +<p>“I cannot agree to any such thing,” said Colbert. “I will go to the +gentleman I have treated so badly, and beg of him to excuse me, and +return him the money he overpaid me.” So saying, he bounded out of the +door, leaving his master in a rage of disappointment. In a few moments, +he was at the hotel of M. Cenani. It was with great difficulty that he +was admitted to his presence, and then he was ordered away. But he +persisted in speaking; and after apologizing for his mistake, he +returned the money. The banker asked him if he knew that he was no judge +of cloth. Colbert assured him that it was not worth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> more than eight +crowns. “And you might easily have kept this money for yourself.” “I +never thought of that, sir,” replied the young man. “But, if you had +thought of it?” inquired the banker. “It was quite impossible, sir, that +such an idea could come into my head. I should as soon have thought of +carrying off all that you have here.” “Suppose I should make you a +present of this money that you have returned to me with such admirable +integrity?” “What right have I to it? And why should you give it to me? +I would not take it, sir.” “You are a fine fellow and an honest fellow,” +said the banker, and inquired his name. The conversation was suddenly +broke off by the arrival of the banker’s carriage. As young Colbert went +out, he was seized by the collar, by his enraged master, who abused him +in the most frantic manner, and dismissed him from his service.</p> + +<p>The young man went home; but his parents were affrighted to see him at +that time, fearing some disaster had happened to him. After hearing his +story, however, they heartily approved his conduct, and rejoiced that +they had such a son.</p> + +<p>It was but a little while, however, before M. Cenani arrived, and, +praising the nobleness and integrity of the boy, proposed to his parents +to take him to Paris and put him in his banking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> house, where he might +make a fortune; which was readily agreed to. Young Colbert soon found +himself in a new world. But, denying himself the brilliant attractions +with which the city abounded, he gave himself diligently to his +business, as clerk in the banking house. His diligence and faithfulness +gained for him the esteem of his employers. He soon mastered the +business. No accounts baffled him. And, on arriving at manhood, he +became a thorough financier. The most important duties were now +entrusted to him; and he soon became the travelling agent of the bank; +which enabled him also to gratify his taste for the arts and sciences. +He made the tour of the French provinces, making commerce his study, and +devising means to render it flourishing. In 1648, he was introduced at +Court, where his rare merit and conscientiousness in all affairs gained +him great esteem. He was created Marquis of Croissy, and afterwards +became Prime Minister. In this capacity, he was eminently useful to +France. He improved the roads; encouraged trade; founded a chamber of +commerce; colonized India and Canada; established naval schools; built +ships; introduced manufactures; encouraged the fine arts. One cannot go +even a small distance in Paris, even at this day, without finding a +trace of the great Colbert.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> The Observatory, the beautiful gardens of +the Tuilleries and Rue St. Dennis, the Hotel of Invalids, and many other +things of like nature which adorn and do honor to the city, owe their +existence to him. He also raised up his father’s family from great +poverty to wealth and honor.</p> + +<p>Colbert’s first step to distinction was an act of honor and honesty +which deprived him of the means of earning his daily bread. If there was +ever a case, which, to human appearance, would seem to contradict the +old proverb, and show that honesty was not the best policy, one would +think his was such a case. But the event proved its truth. And to this +single trait in his character may be traced all his greatness. His +honesty and integrity made him faithful to his employers. This raised +him in their esteem, and contributed to strengthen and confirm this +trait of character. This he carried into public life; and his honesty +there led him to regard the public benefit as paramount to private +interest. The whole of this story may be found in Chambers’ Miscellany, +published by Gould, Kendall and Lincoln.</p> + +<p>Would you be <em>great</em>? Honesty and integrity of character lie at the +foundation of all true greatness. You must cultivate sincerity, honesty, +and fair dealing in early youth, if you would lay the foundation of +future greatness.</p> + + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +<em>Two opposite examples</em>.</h3> + +<p>Two boys were passing an orchard on their way from school, in which +there were some plum trees, full of nice fruit. “Come, Thomas,” said +Henry, “let us jump over and get some plums. Nobody will see us. We can +scud along through the tall corn, and come out on the other side.” +Thomas replied, “It is wrong. I don’t like to try it. I would rather not +have the plums than steal them, and I will run along home.” “You are a +coward,” said Henry. “I always knew you was a coward; and if you don’t +want any plums, you may go without them. But I shall have some very +quick.” Just as Henry was climbing the wall, the owner of the field rose +up from the other side. Henry jumped back and ran off as fast as his +legs could carry him. Thomas had no reason to be afraid, and he walked +along as if nothing had happened. The owner, who had heard the +conversation between the two boys, then asked Thomas to step over and +help himself to as many plums as he wanted.</p> + +<p>This story teaches two lessons: (1.) It shows the advantages of +<em>honesty</em>. An honest person is not afraid to look others in the face; +and honesty,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> in the end, always turns out more to one’s advantage than +dishonesty. (2.) It teaches wherein true courage consists: It is, in +being <em>afraid to do wrong</em>. Henry called Thomas a coward, because he was +afraid to do wrong; but he himself sneaked away like a whipped spaniel, +the moment he saw any danger. Henry was the coward. He had neither the +courage to resist temptation nor to face danger.</p> + + +<h3><em>Fruits of dishonesty</em>.</h3> + +<p>A young man from the State of Maine, of good abilities, went to +Washington city, where he was admitted as a member of the bar, to +practice law, with fine prospects. He was respected in society, and was +a leader in the choir, in one of the churches in the city. But, in an +evil hour, he discovered that there was a considerable amount of money +in the Treasury, which had been allowed to claimants, but which had +never been called for, and was not likely to be. The young man, thinking +he should not be likely to be detected, forged drafts, and obtained +money to the amount of several thousand dollars. But, it was not long +before his sin found him out. He was detected, found guilty, and sent to +the state’s prison.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +<a name="viii" id="viii"></a>CHAPTER VIII.<br /> + +<small>PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE.</small></h2> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">Section I.—Reading</span>.</h3> + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/h.jpg" alt="H" width="120" height="279" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">HE that reads to be amused, will be like him that eats to gratify his +appetite—an <em>epicure</em>. But he who reads to obtain useful information, +and to improve his mind, will be like him who eats to sustain +nature—<em>strong and healthy</em>. The former will be satisfied with nothing +but dainties—the latter will prefer plain strong food.</p> +</div> + +<p>Sir William Jones rose to great eminence. When he was a mere child, he +was very inquisitive. His mother was a superior woman of great +intelligence, and he would apply to her for the information which he +desired; but her constant reply was, “<span class="smcap">Read and you will know</span>.” This gave +him a passion for books, which was one of the principal means of making +him what he was. But, it is not every one who <em>reads</em> that will become +wise.</p> + +<h3 class="nc"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +<em>Robert Hall</em>.</h3> + +<p>This great man, when he was a boy about six years of age, was sent to a +boarding school, where he spent the week, coming home Saturday and +returning Monday. When he went away on Monday morning, he would take +with him two or three books from his father’s library to read at the +intervals between the school hours. The books he selected, were not +those of mere amusement, but such as required deep and serious thought. +Before he was nine years old, he had read over and over again, with the +deepest interest, <em>Edwards on the Affections</em>, <em>Edwards on the Will</em>, +<em>and Butler’s Analogy</em>.</p> + +<div class="figcenter2" style="width: 400px;"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +<img src="images/i-002.jpg" width="400" height="288" alt="Robert Hall" title="" /> +</div> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Section II.—Love of Learning Encouraged</span>.</h3> + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/t.jpg" alt="T" width="120" height="286" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">THERE are many young persons, who have an ardent thirst for knowledge, +and a strong desire to obtain an education; but their circumstances in +life seem to forbid the attempt. There are many examples, which afford +them encouragement to make the attempt. A large proportion of the men +who have risen to the highest distinction, have struggled against the +same difficulties which they have to encounter; and, when they see what +has been done by others, they will perceive that it can be done by +themselves.</p> +</div> + +<h3 class="nc"><em>Sir Isaac Newton</em>.</h3> + +<p>When Sir Isaac Newton was a boy he was employed in servile labor. +Sometimes he was sent to open the gates for the men that were driving +the cattle to market. At other times, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> carried corn to market, or +attended the sheep. One day his uncle found him in a hay-loft, working +out a mathematical problem, and he was sent to school. There he +discovered his great and various talents. At the age of eighteen he was +sent to the University at Cambridge, England, where he soon +distinguished himself.</p> + +<h3><em>Benjamin West</em>.</h3> + +<p>West, the celebrated painter, early manifested a genius for this art. +His first attempt was made with pens, and red and black ink, upon a +portrait of his sister’s child, lying in the cradle. For a long time he +had no pencil. Having been told that they were made of camel’s hair, he +pulled hairs out of the tail of a cat, of which he made his first brush.</p> + +<h3><em>Other eminent Persons</em>.</h3> + +<p>Dr. Franklin was the son of a tallow-chandler, and served an +apprenticeship to a printer; Rev. Dr. Scott, author of the Commentary, +was employed in the most laborious work on a farm; William Gifford, one +of the most celebrated literary men of his age, was an apprentice to a +shoemaker, and wrought out his problems in algebra on a piece of +sole-leather, with the point of an awl.</p> + + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +<span class="smcap">Section III.—Dislike of Study</span>.<br /> + +<span class="sub">latin and labor.</span></h3> + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/j.jpg" alt="J" width="120" height="282" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">JOHN ADAMS, the second President of the United States, used to relate +the following anecdote:</p> + +<p>“When I was a boy, I had to study the Latin grammar; but it was dull, +and I hated it. My father was anxious to send me to college, and +therefore I studied the grammar, till I could bear it no longer; and +going to my father, I told him I did not like study, and asked for some +other employment. It was opposing his wishes, and he was quick in his +answer. ‘Well, John, if Latin grammar does not suit you, you may try +ditching; perhaps that will; my meadow yonder needs a ditch, and you may +put by Latin and try that.’</p> +</div> + +<p>“This seemed a delightful change, and to the meadow I went. But I soon +found ditching harder than Latin, and the first forenoon was the longest +I ever experienced. That day I ate the bread of Labor, and glad was I +when night came<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> on. That night I made some comparison between Latin +grammar and ditching, but said not a word about it. I dug next forenoon, +and wanted to return to Latin at dinner; but it was humiliating, and I +could not do it. At night, toil conquered pride; and though it was one +of the severest trials I ever had in my life, I told my father that, if +he chose, I would go back to Latin grammar. He was glad of it; and if I +have since gained any distinction it has been owing to the two days +labor in that abominable ditch.”</p> + +<p>Boys may learn several important lessons from this story. It shows how +little they oftentimes appreciate their privileges. Those who are kept +at study frequently think it a hardship needlessly imposed on them. But +they must do something; and if set to ditching, would they like that any +better? The opportunity of pursuing a liberal course of study is what +few enjoy; and they are ungrateful who drag themselves to it as to an +intolerable task. You may also learn from this anecdote, how much better +your parents are qualified to judge of these things than yourselves. If +John Adams had continued his ditching instead of his Latin, his name +would not probably have been known to us. But, in following the path +marked out by his judicious parent, he rose to the highest honors which +the country affords.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +<a name="ix" id="ix"></a>CHAPTER IX.<br /> + +MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS.</h2> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">Section I.—Fickleness</span>.<br /> + +<em>Hunting Squirrels</em>.</h3> + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/j.jpg" alt="J" width="120" height="282" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">JOHN ALSOP was about fifteen years old, when his father, who had just +moved into a new settlement, was clearing land. One day the father and a +neighbor were engaged in building a <em>log fence</em>; which was made of the +trunks of the trees that were cleared off the lands. First, they laid +the fence one log high, with the ends of each length passing a little +way by each other. Notches were cut in the ends, and a block was laid +crosswise, where the ends lapped, and then another tier was laid on the +cross pieces, till the fence was high enough. To roll up the top logs, +they would lay long poles, called <em>skids</em>, one end on the top of the +logs, and the other on the ground, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> roll up the logs on these. But, +as the logs were very heavy, they were obliged to stop several times to +rest, or to get a new hold; and it was John’s business, when they +stopped, to put a block the under side of the log, above the skids, to +keep it from rolling back. Having given a hard lift, and tugging with +all his might, the father called out, “There, Johnny, put under your +block quick.” John started nimbly, and snatched up his block, when +suddenly the loud chirp of a squirrel struck his ear. Instantly, down +went his block, and away he ran after the squirrel, leaving his father +and the other man to hold the log till he came back.</p> +</div> + +<p>This anecdote gives you John’s character. He was too fickle to follow +any one object or pursuit long enough to accomplish any thing. Thirty +years after this, a gentleman who had known him in his youthful days, +inquired about him of one of his neighbors, who related this anecdote, +and added, “<em>he has been running after squirrels ever since</em>.” He never +was steady and persevering in pursuit of any thing. When he was a young +man, he could never make up his mind decidedly what employment to +follow. He would try one, and get tired of it, and take another; but +followed no business long enough to get well acquainted with it. When he +had a family, and found it necessary to make exertion, he was busy +early<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> and late, but to little purpose. He moved from one place to +another; and “a rolling stone gathers no moss.” He very often changed +his employment, and by that means lost all the advantage of past +experience. Now, he was a farmer, then a trader, then a post-rider, then +a deputy sheriff, then a mechanic, without having learned his trade. By +the time he had got fairly started in a new business, he would hear or +think of something else, and before any body thought of it, he would +change his business. In this way he wasted his money, and kept his +family poor, and neglected his children’s education. He was always +<em>hunting the squirrel</em>.</p> + +<p>Now, boys, don’t hunt the squirrel. Whatever you begin, stick to it till +it is finished—done, and well done. If you always follow this rule +faithfully, you cannot fail of being somebody and doing something. But, +if you go through life hunting the squirrel, when you die, nobody can +tell what you have done, and the world will be neither wiser nor better +for your having lived in it.</p> + + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +<span class="smcap">Section II.—Independence of Character</span>.</h3> + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/t.jpg" alt="T" width="120" height="286" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">THERE is a certain kind of Independence of Character, which is +indispensable to success in any undertaking. I do not mean a proud, +self-confident spirit, which despises advice, and makes one self-willed +and headstrong. This is <em>obstinacy</em>. But true independence is that sort +of self-confidence and resolution which leads one to go forward in what +he has to do, with decision and energy, without leaning upon others. +Without this, a man will gain to himself that unenviable distinction +described by the homely but expressive term <em>shiftless</em>. The following +description, from Mrs. S. C. Hall’s <a name="illus1" id="illus1"></a>“<a href="#front"><em>Sketches of Irish Character</em></a>,” +furnishes an admirable illustration of the results of a want of +independence of character:—</p> +</div> + +<p>“Shane Thurlough, ‘as dacent a boy,’ and Shane’s wife, as ‘clane-skinned +a girl,’ as any in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> the world. There is Shane, an active, handsome +looking fellow, leaning over the half-door of his cottage, kicking a +hole in the wall with his brogue, and picking up all the large gravel +within his reach, to pelt the ducks with. Let us speak to him. ‘Good +morning Shane.’ ‘Och! the bright bames of heaven on ye every day! and +kindly welcome, my lady; and won’t ye step in and rest—its powerful +hot, and a beautiful summer, sure,—the Lord be praised!’ ‘Thank you, +Shane. I thought you were going to cut the hay-field to-day; if a heavy +shower comes, it will be spoiled; it has been fit for the scythe these +two days.’ ‘Sure, it’s all owing to that thief o’ the world, Tom Parrel, +my lady. Didn’t he promise me the loan of his scythe; and by the same +token I was to pay him for it; and <em>depinding</em> on that, I didn’t buy +one, which I have been threatening to do for the last two years.’ ‘But +why don’t you go to Carrick and purchase one?’ ‘To Carrick. Och, ’tis a +good step to Carrick, and my toes are on the ground, (saving your +presence,) for I <em>depinded</em> on Tim Jarvis to tell Andy Cappler, the +brogue-maker, to do my shoes; and, bad luck to him, the spalpeen, he +forgot it.’ ‘Where’s your pretty wife, Shane?’ ‘She’s in all the wo o’ +the world, ma’am, dear. And she puts the blame of it on me, though I’m<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +not in the fault this time, any how. The child’s taken the small pox, +and she <em>depinded</em> on me to tell the doctor to cut it for the cow-pox, +and I <em>depinded</em> on Kitty Cackle, the limmer, to tell the doctor’s own +man, and thought she would not forget it, becase the boy’s her bachelor; +but out o’ sight out o’ mind—the never a word she tould him about it, +and the babby’s got it nataral, and the woman’s in heart trouble, (to +say nothing o’ myself;) and its the first and all.’</p> + +<p>“’I am very sorry, indeed, for you have got a much better wife than most +men!’ ‘That’s a true word, my lady, only she’s fidgety-like sometimes, +and says I don’t hit the nail on the head quick enough; and she takes a +dale more trouble than she need about mony a thing.’</p> + +<p>“’I do not think I ever saw Ellen’s wheel without flax before, Shane?’ +’Bad ’cess to the wheel!—I got it this morning about that too. I +<em>depinded</em> on John Williams to bring the flax from O’Flaharty’s this day +week, and he forgot it; and she says I ought to have brought it myself, +and I close to the spot. But where’s the good? says I; sure, he’ll bring +it next time.’</p> + +<p>“‘I suppose, Shane, you will soon move into the new cottage at Churn +Hill? I passed it to-day, and it looked so cheerful; and when you get +there, you must take Ellen’s advice, and <em>depind<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></em> solely on yourself.’ +‘Och! ma’am dear, don’t mention it; sure it’s that makes me so down in +the mouth this very minit. Sure I saw that born blackguard, Jack Waddy, +and he comes in here, quite innocent-like—‘Shane, you’ve an eye to +squire’s new lodge,’ says he. ‘Maybe I have,’ says I. ‘I’m yer man,’ +says he. ‘How so,’ says I. ‘Sure I’m as good as married to my lady’s +maid,’ said he; ‘and I’ll spake to the squire for you my own self.’ ‘The +blessing be about you,’ says I, quite grateful—and we took a strong cup +on the strength of it—and <em>depinding</em> on him, I thought all safe; and +what d’ye think, my lady? Why, himself stalks into the place—talked the +squire over, to be sure—and without so much as “by your lave,” sates +himself and his new wife on the lase in the house; and I may go +whistle.’ ‘It was a great pity, Shane, that you did not go yourself to +Mr. Churn.’ ‘That’s a true word for you, ma’am dear; but it’s hard if a +poor man can’t have a frind to <em>depind</em> on.’”</p> + +<p>If you want any thing well done, you must see to it yourself. If you +want it half done, leave it to servants. If you want it neglected, +impose it upon your friend, to save yourself the trouble.</p> + + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +<span class="smcap">Section</span> III.—<span class="smcap">Contentment</span>.</h3> + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/t.jpg" alt="T" width="120" height="286" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">THE true secret of happiness lies in a <em>contented mind</em>. If we would be +happy, we must be satisfied with our lot as it is. There is no condition +in which there is not something unpleasant. If we seek for perfection, +we may roam the wide world over, and never find it; but, if we learn to +bear patiently what we cannot help, almost any situation in life will be +tolerable. Every one, however, is disposed to think his troubles the +worst of all. The following story shows that no situation is exempt from +trouble.</p> +</div> + +<h3 class="nc"><em>The old black sheep</em>.</h3> + +<p>A gentleman in England was passing by where a large flock of sheep were +feeding; and seeing the shepherd sitting by the road-side, preparing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> to +eat his dinner, he stopped his horse, and began to converse with him. +“Well, shepherd,” he said, “you look cheerful and contented, and I dare +say, have very few cares to vex you. I, who am a man of large property, +cannot but look at such men as you with a kind of envy.” “Why, sir,” +replied the shepherd, “’tis true, I have not trouble like yours; and I +could do well enough, was it not for that <em>black</em> ewe that you see +yonder among my flock. I have often begged my master to kill or sell +her; but he won’t, though she is the plague of my life; for no sooner do +I sit down at my book or take up my wallet to get my dinner, but away +she sets off over the down, and the rest follow her; so that I have many +a weary step after them. There! you see she’s off, and they are all +after her!” “Ah, my friend,” said the gentleman, “I see every man has a +black ewe in his flock, to plague him, as well as I.”</p> + +<h3><em>Hunting after contentment</em>.</h3> + +<p>A man had a number of houses, and would move from one to another, +because he could be contented but a little while in a place. A person +asked him why he moved so often, and he said he was <em>hunting after +contentment</em>. But <em>content</em> is never found by <em>seeking</em>.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +<a name="x" id="x"></a>CHAPTER X.<br /> + +<small>RELIGION.</small></h2> + + +<h3><span class="smcap">Section</span> I.—<span class="smcap">Religious Knowledge</span>.<br /> + +<span class="smcap">the will.</span></h3> + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/k.jpg" alt="K" width="120" height="295" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">KNOWLEDGE is acquired not only by <em>reading</em>, but by <em>thinking</em> of what +we read.</p> + +<p>A minister in Ireland met a boy going to school, and asked him what book +it was which he had under his arm. “It is a <em>will</em>, sir,” said the boy. +“What will?” inquired the minister. “The last will and testament that +Jesus Christ left to me, and to all who desire to obtain a title in the +property therein bequeathed.” “What did Christ leave you in that will?” +“A kingdom, sir.” “Where does that kingdom lie?” “It is the kingdom of +heaven, sir.” “And do you expect to reign as a king there?” “Yes, sir; +as joint-heir with Christ.” “And will not every person get there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> as +well as you?” “No, sir; none can get there but those who found their +title to that kingdom upon the ground of the will.” This boy was not +only a <em>reader</em> but a <em>thinker</em>. The minister told him to take care of a +book of such value, and to mind the provisions of the will.</p> +</div> + +<h3 class="nc"><em>A Little Reasoner</em>.</h3> + +<p>A little boy asked his mother how many gods there were. A younger +brother answered, “Why, one to be sure.” “But how do you know that?” +inquired the other. “Because,” answered the younger, “God fills every +place so that there is no room for any other.”</p> + +<h3><em>A Wise Answer</em>.</h3> + +<p>A boy six years old was offered an orange, if he would tell where God +was. “Tell me,” said the boy, “where he <em>is not</em>, and I will give you +two.”</p> + +<h3><em>A Bad Bargain</em>.</h3> + +<p>A Sabbath School teacher was talking to his class about that passage in +Proverbs, which says, “Buy the truth and sell it not.” “He who buys the +truth,” said he, “makes a good bargain. Can<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> any of you recollect any +instance of a <em>bad bargain</em>, mentioned in Scripture?” “I do,” replied +one of his scholars:—“Esau made a bad bargain, when he sold his +birth-right for a mess of pottage.” Another said, “Judas made a bad +bargain, when he sold his Lord for thirty pieces of silver.” A third +observed, “Our Lord tells us that he makes a bad bargain, who, to gain +the whole world, loses his own soul.” Alas! how many such bad bargains +are made every day!</p> + +<h3><em>Simple Faith</em>.</h3> + +<p>A missionary in Africa asked a little boy if he was a sinner. The boy +replied by asking if he knew any one who was not. The missionary then +asked him who could save him from his sins. He replied, “Christ.” “What +has Christ done to save sinners?” “He has died on the cross.” “Do you +believe Jesus Christ will save you?” “Yes.” “Why do you believe it?” “I +<em>feel</em> it; and not only so, but I consider that, since he has died, and +sent his servants the missionaries from such a far country to publish +salvation, it would be very strange if, after all, he should reject a +sinner.” It would be so indeed, with respect to all that come to Him; +for he has said, “Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.”</p> + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +<em>Proof that there is a God</em>.</h3> + +<p>A converted Greenlander, conversing with a missionary concerning his +former state, said that, before he had ever heard about God or Jesus +Christ, he used to have such reflections as these: A boat does not grow +into existence of itself, but must be made by the labor and ingenuity of +man. But the meanest bird has far more skill displayed in its structure +than the best boat, and no man can make a bird. But there is far more +art shown in the formation of man than in any other creature. Who was it +that made him? I thought perhaps he proceeded from his parents, and they +from their parents; but some must have been the first parents—whence +did they come? Common report informs me that they grew out of the earth; +but if so, why do not men now grow out of the earth? And from whence did +this same earth, the sea, the sun, the moon, and the stars, arise into +existence? Certainly, there must be some Being, who made all these +things—a Being that always was, and can never cease to be. He must be +inexpressibly more mighty, knowing, and wise, than the wisest man. He +must be very good too; for every thing that is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> made is good, useful, +and necessary for us. Ah! did I but know him, how would I love him and +honor him! But who has seen him? Who has conversed with him?</p> + +<p>This poor heathen, groping in the dark, was led to the same train of +reasoning to prove the existence of God that is used by the learned +Christian philosopher; thus proving the truth of that passage in +Rom. i. 20:—“The invisible things of God, from the creation of the +world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, +even his eternal power and Godhead.”</p> + +<h3><em>How to prove the Bible true</em>.</h3> + +<p>At one of the South Sea Islands, which had been converted from +heathenism by the labors of the English Missionaries, they were holding +the annual meeting of their Missionary Society. A British vessel +arrived, and the officers and crew attended the meeting. A native took +the chair, and native speakers addressed the meeting, with great effect. +Every thing was done in good order; and the speeches were interpreted by +the missionaries to the Englishmen present from the ship. But some of +them said the natives were mere parrots, and only repeated what the +missionaries<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> had taught them. Others said that was impossible. After a +warm dispute, they agreed to submit it to Mr. Williams, the missionary; +who declined deciding the question, but told them if they would visit +him in the afternoon, he would collect ten or twelve natives, whom they +might ask any questions they pleased. They came, and about fifteen +natives were present, but without knowing the object of the meeting.</p> + +<p>The first question asked was, “Do you believe the Bible to be the word +of God?” They were startled. They had never heard such a question +stated before. A doubt had never entered their minds. After a moment’s +pause, one of them replied, “Most certainly we do; undoubtedly we do.” +“Why do you believe it?” they were again asked. “Can you give any reason +for believing the Bible to be the word of God?” He answered: “Why, look +at the power with which it has been attended, in the utter overthrow of +all that we have been addicted to from time immemorial. What else could +have abolished that system of idolatry, which had so long prevailed +among us? No human arguments could have induced us to abandon that false +system.”</p> + +<p>The same questions were put to another, who replied, “I believe the +Bible to be the word of God, on account of the pure system of religion<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +which it contains. We had a system of religion before; but look how dark +and black that system was compared with the bright system of salvation +revealed in the word of God! Here we learn that we are sinners, and that +God gave Jesus Christ to die for us; and by that goodness salvation is +given to us. Now, what but the wisdom of God could have produced such a +system as this presented to us in the word of God? And this doctrine +leads to purity.”</p> + +<p>Another made the following singular reply, which is worthy of a learned +philosopher: “When I look at myself, I find I have got hinges all over +my body. I have hinges to my legs, hinges to my jaws, hinges to my feet. +If I want to take hold of any thing, there are hinges to my hands to do +it with. If my heart thinks, and I want to speak, I have got hinges to +my jaws. If I want to walk, I have hinges to my feet. Now here is +wisdom, in adapting my body to the various functions which it has to +discharge. And I find that the wisdom which made the Bible exactly fits +with this wisdom which has made my body; consequently I believe the +Bible to be the word of God.”</p> + +<p>The argument, in this last answer, is the same as that which proves the +existence of God: the perfect adaptation of all the works of nature to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +their design, shows them to have been the work of a Supreme +Intelligence. The perfect adaptation of the Bible to the condition, +wants, and necessities of man, proves it to be of divine origin. The +Bible just suits the design for which it professes to have been given. +It gives us just that information and instruction, which we should +expect a revelation from heaven to give. It gives a rational account of +the origin of all things; of the object of man’s existence, and of his +relations and duties to God. It explains how man came to be in his +present fallen, wretched condition, and makes provision for his +restoration to the favor of God. It provides for a radical reformation +of character; gives a perfect code of morals, and takes hold on the +heart, and inspires a devotional spirit. Human wisdom could not have +produced such a book; but if it could, <em>good</em> men would not have been +guilty of imposing a work of their own upon mankind, as a revelation +from heaven; and <em>bad</em> men would not have made a book to condemn +themselves, as the Bible condemns all wickedness. We must, then, +conclude, that the Bible is a divine book.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/deco.jpg" width="150" height="98" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +<span class="smcap">Section</span> II.—<span class="smcap">The Sabbath</span>.<br /> + +<em>Nothing lost by keeping the Sabbath</em>.</h3> + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/a.jpg" alt="A" width="120" height="289" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">A PIOUS sailor, on board the steamboat Helen McGreggor, in 1830, was +ordered by the Captain to assist in handling freight on the Sabbath; +which he objected to do, because he wished to keep the Sabbath. “We have +no Sabbaths here at the West,” the Captain replied. “Very well,” said +the sailor, “wherever I am, I am determined to keep the Sabbath.” After +a few more words, the Captain settled with him, and he left the boat. He +was soon offered higher wages, if he would come back; but he refused. In +a few days, he shipped at New Orleans for Europe. The first newspaper he +took up on his arrival contained an account of the terrible disaster +which happened to this boat soon after he left it. On the morning of the +24th of February, 1830, she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> burst her boiler at Memphis, Tenn., and +nearly one hundred lives were lost. This dreadful disaster he had +escaped, by adhering, at all hazards, to his determination, wherever he +was, to keep the Sabbath.</p> +</div> + +<p>When George III. was repairing his palace, he found among the workmen a +pious man, with whom he often held serious conversations. One Monday +morning, when the king went to view the works, this man was missing. He +inquired the reason. At first, the other workmen were unwilling to tell. +But the king insisted on knowing; when they confessed that they had +returned Sabbath morning, to complete a piece of work which they could +not finish on Saturday, and that this man had been turned out of his +employment because he refused to come. “Call him back immediately,” said +the king. “The man who refused doing his ordinary work on the Lord’s day +is the man for me. Let him be sent for.” He was restored to his place; +and always afterwards, the king showed him particular favor. Here was a +strong temptation to break the Sabbath, for the man’s employment +depended on it. But he found it both safe and profitable to keep the +Sabbath.</p> + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +<em>A wise answer</em>.</h3> + +<p>A wicked man said to his son, who attended the Sabbath School, “carry +this parcel to such a place.” “It is the Sabbath,” said the boy. “Put it +in your pocket,” said the father. “God can see into my pocket,” the +little boy answered.</p> + +<h3><em>Danger of breaking the Sabbath</em>.</h3> + +<p>It is believed that more sad accidents happen to young persons, while +seeking their pleasure on God’s Holy Day, than by any other means. A +great proportion of the cases of drowning, among boys, occur on the +Sabbath. One fine summer’s morning, two sprightly young lads started for +the Sabbath School; but they were met on the way by some rude boys, who +persuaded them to go and play with them by the side of the river. They +hesitated for some time, instead of resolutely saying “No,” to the first +temptation. When they yielded, it was with troubled consciences, for +they were well instructed at home. They played about the river for some +time, when one of them, venturing too near, fell into the water, which +was deep. His companions were too much frightened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> to give him any +assistance, and he was carried away by the rapid current and drowned. +Thus were these two boys punished for their disobedience to God and +their parents.</p> + +<h3><em>But one Sabbath in the week</em>.</h3> + +<p>A person being invited to go on an excursion for pleasure, on the Holy +Sabbath, replied, “I should like an excursion very well; but I have but +one Sabbath in the week, and I can’t spare that.” This expresses an +important truth in an impressive manner. When we have but one day in the +week exclusively devoted to the concerns of eternity, while six are +devoted to the affairs of time, can we spare that one day for pleasure? +It is the best of the seven. It is worth more than all the rest. If +rightly employed, it will bring us a richer return. What we can earn in +the six days is perishable; but the fruits of a well-spent Sabbath will +endure for ever. The Sabbath, when properly spent, is the day for the +highest kind of enjoyment. If, therefore, you would seek pleasure, you +can better afford to take any other day in the week for it, than to take +the holy Sabbath.</p> + + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +<span class="smcap">Section</span> III.—<span class="smcap">Early piety recommended</span>.</h3> + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/a.jpg" alt="I" width="120" height="289" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">A MAN eighty-seven years of age, meeting another aged man not quite as +old as himself, the other inquired of him how long he had been +interested in religion. “Fifty years,” was the old man’s reply. “Well, +have you ever regretted that you began so young to devote yourself to +God?” “O no,” said he; and the tears trickled down his cheeks. “I weep +when I think of the sins of my youth.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Another man between sixty and seventy years of age, said, “I hope I +became a disciple of the Lord when I was seventeen;” and he burst into a +flood of tears as he added, “and there is nothing which causes me so +much distress as to think of those seventeen years—some of the very +best portion of my life,—which I devoted to sin and the world.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +This was the experience of David, who, in his old age, prayed, “Remember +not, O Lord the sins of my youth.” And it will be the reader’s +experience, should he ever be brought to a knowledge of the truth, after +giving the flower of his days to the service of sin and Satan.</p> + +<div class="figcenter2" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/i-003.jpg" width="400" height="274" alt="David" title="" /> +</div> + +<h3><em>Danger of delay</em>.</h3> + +<p>A—— M—— was an impenitent youth. His friend, who had just embraced +the Saviour, in the ardor of his first love, besought him to turn to the +Lord. He acknowledged the great importance of the things which were +urged upon his attention; and said that, long before, the Spirit of God +had called upon him, and he was “almost<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> persuaded to be a Christian.” +Once he stood almost on the threshhold of heaven. “But now,” said he, “I +am fallen, fallen—O how far! I know that I am not a Christian now. I am +a great sinner. I have quenched the Holy Spirit. If I should die as I +am, I know I shall be eternally lost, for I believe the Bible. You may +think, because I am so careless now, I shall die unconverted. But no, I +have more thoughts about death than many suppose. <em>I mean to repent +before I die</em>, and become a Christian. I cannot think of dying as I now +am; but you need not be concerned about me, <em>for I mean to repent yet</em>.” +Not many days afterwards, he was crossing a river, with a number of +others, for the purpose of spending the day in amusement. The skiff +upset, and they were plunged into the water. All the rest of the company +but A—— (who was the best swimmer among them), reached the shore. He +was heard, as he struggled towards the bank, to utter a fearful oath, +calling upon God to damn his soul. God took him at his word. He sunk to +rise no more—a fearful warning on those who presume on future +repentance!</p> + + +<h3><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +<span class="smcap">Section</span> IV.—<span class="smcap">Uncertainty of Life</span>.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>“Go to now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will go into +such a city, and continue there a year, and buy, and sell, and +get gain:</p> + +<p>“Whereas ye know not what <em>shall be</em> on the morrow. For what is +your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time +and then vanisheth away.</p> + +<p>“For that ye <em>ought</em> to say, if the Lord will, we shall live, +and do this, or that.”—<span class="smcap">James</span> iv. 13, 14, 15.</p></div> + +<div class="drop"> +<img src="images/o.jpg" alt="O" width="120" height="277" class="cap" /> + +<p class="cap">ON Friday, the Editor of the New-York Commercial Advertiser, met a Mr. +Storrs in the street and requested from him an account of an Indian +adventure which he had heard him relate. Mr. Storrs replied, “I am going +to New Haven in the morning. I will write it there and bring it down for +you on Monday. You shall have it on Monday.” These were his last words. +On Monday he was buried. Such is the uncertainty of all human +calculations! Let the business of the day be done to-day; for no one is +sure of to-morrow. Especially let the great business of life always be +done, and then sudden death need not be dreaded.</p> +</div> + + +<h3 class="nc"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +<em>Sudden death of an impenitent sinner</em>.</h3> + +<p>On a cold day in the middle of winter, a carriage drove up to a +minister’s house and he was summoned to attend the death-bed of a young +man, who, in the midst of life and health had been just struck down by a +violent kick from a horse, and was not expected to live more than a few +hours. The blow had broken his skull bone, and cut out a piece as large +as the palm of his hand, presenting a ghastly and horrible sight.</p> + +<p>When the minister arrived, he found him just recovering his senses. The +physician came soon after, and decided that there was no hope of saving +his life. The minister, after saying a few words, and engaging in +prayer, proposed to retire for a short time, to give the young man a +little rest. “No, no,” he exclaimed, “do not leave me for a moment. I +have but a short time to live, and I dare not die as I am. O what shall +I do? Tell me quickly before the light of reason forsakes me.”</p> + +<p>“James,” said the minister, “there is but one way in which a sinner can +be saved, and that is, by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ;—whether an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +hour only, or years be allowed you, the only way for you to secure +salvation is, by casting yourself unreservedly into the Saviour’s hand. +Only his blood can save you; and you are welcome now, this moment. All +things are ready—come now.”</p> + +<p>The young man, with a look of anguish, replied, “Do you remember, sir, +when I was putting up some shelves in your study, eight months ago, that +you asked me to stop, while you talked with me about religion, and +prayed for me? It was then that I felt that I was a sinner, and after +going home, I endeavored to pray for myself, and determined that I would +seek religion. Two or three days, these feelings continued; when, +unhappily for me, I took up a book, which I had commenced reading before +our conversation, and though conscience remonstrated, I went on and +finished it. My feelings were much enlisted in the story, but when I got +through I had no disposition to pray; and my anxiety about religion was +gone. I resumed novel-reading, of which I had been very fond, and +compromised with my conscience, by resolving that at the end of one year +I would throw all such books aside, and seek the salvation of my soul. +Only two thirds of that year are gone, and here I am dying! Fool, fool +that I was, to sell my soul for a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> novel—to prefer the excitement of an +idle tale to the joys of religion.”</p> + +<p>The minister begged him, whatever had been his past folly and guilt, to +look to Christ for the forgiveness of all. But while he was speaking, +the young man’s reason began to fail. In a short time he was delirious. +“Fool, fool!” he would exclaim, at intervals, and this was all he said. +In this state of mind, death overtook him, four months before the period +arrived, to which he had put off attention to the concerns of his +soul—a sad warning to those who defer this first and great concern!</p> + +<h3><em>Sudden Death of a Christian</em>.</h3> + +<p>William G. was a young man in vigorous health and of ardent temperament, +with great energy of character. His office was that of a brakeman upon +the Railroad. A long line of freight cars had been delayed a few minutes +behind the time, and must hasten to reach the turnout in season for the +passenger train, which was expected to pass in a few moments. Two cars +were to be detached; which, by a dexterous movement, could be done +without entirely stopping the train. The moment the engine is slackened, +the cars behind will gain a little upon those in front, when the +connecting pin can be removed, and the hinder cars detached. This the +young<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> man had often done before, and he sprang forward with alacrity to +perform it now. But, in the path lay a pebble, so small as to escape +notice, and yet large enough, as he stepped rapidly backwards, to throw +him prostrate on the track, while the heavy-laden cars passed on over +his body. It was the work of an instant, but it was done. There lay, +mangled and writhing, the young man, who, not one moment before, was +buoyant, healthful, full of enterprise and hope. There was no hope of +his life. With one arm extended, the only unbroken limb in his body, he +speaks: “I must die—I know it—I must die, but thank God I am ready to +die. Yes, I am willing to die, if it is God’s will. And yet, I should +like to live. My poor mother—who will take care of her? My poor +sisters—and oh, my <em>poor dear Mary!</em> Send for them—send for them. Send +now. I must see them once more. I have much to say to them. Oh, my God, +thy will be done!” They came, and there was such a burst of grief as is +seldom witnessed. Yet, amid all this, he was calm. Not a groan, not a +murmur had escaped him through the long hours of bodily suffering which +he had endured, and not a murmur nor a groan did he suffer now, when the +heart-strings were broken. He spoke calmly and clearly to them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> all, +gave them counsel, bade each a tender farewell; then closed his eyes, +and sunk into the sleep of death. What would this scene have been +without the Christian hope? This young man had anchored his hope firm +upon the Rock of Ages. It had supported him in the busy scenes of life. +It now sustained him in the sudden hour of trial, when the pains of +death seized upon him without warning. “<span class="smcap">Let me die the death of the +righteous, and let my last end be like his</span>!”</p> + +<div class="tnb"> + +<p class="tnt center">Transcriber’s Note:</p> + +<p class="tnt">Variations in chapter and section heads between the Contents and +the body of the text have been retained as they appear in the +original publication.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Anecdotes for Boys, by Harvey Newcomb + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANECDOTES FOR BOYS *** + +***** This file should be named 25540-h.htm or 25540-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/5/4/25540/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Jacqueline Jeremy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The University of Florida, The Internet +Archive/Children's Library) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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