Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-08-25
From The National Journal.
Extract Of a letter from -, 10 young
friend, Just setting out in life.


SO morrel. But even here a young
man is in daDger--imminent danger.
Society, like wine, absorbs faculties
which should be devoted to labour: &
the suare to young man, who has to
rely on his profession, is the more GER
tain to entrap him, because it is the
more concealed. Drunkenness and
debauchery are broad, vuIger, ruinous
vices; these are the Scylla-the vortex
in which The bodies and souls of
men are engulphed, | may say aoith
out remedy. But then there is no
less fearful Chary bdis-and every
young gentleman should beware OF
this also.
Polite and agreeable society has
charmes which lead off from the rug.
ged paths of society and toll, till the
spirits get absorbed; and all relish for
the substantial employments oil life, up
on which men build honour, and fame
and independence, is lost. Beware
therefore, the facinations even of the
moral and polite. Respect them, and
cherish proper feeling for such cour
tesies, and occasionally partake OF
them-but remember the ascent to
fame and independence is steep and
rugged; and that, however you may
think otherwise, the world hold in
higher esteem the youth who is Sc en-
clambcrlng and toiling up those heights,
and even that Uery circle that seeks to
count him member for the purpose
of merriment and pleasure, than it
does the most agreeable who unite
with it in the rounds of fashion and so
cial qualification. Take the advice OF
erperience-it is no less the advice Of
friendship Look at the eminence
your friends would have you reach
fix your eye stedfassiy upon it: decide
on the most approved and direct route
to its apex, and having marked it out
let your watchword be-" on,card"
Let no difficulties tirc-no dangers
appal. Though your feet bleed by
the ruggedness of the way, let your
purpose be still--"on,Uard." Thus
deciding, and thus acting, your fame
and your fortune are sure. And have
you no incentives to this? Think of
yo,g fatheri Turn to your mother
and your sisters, and see their eyes
fixed upon you-their hopes, although
these may have been now and then
warred upon by their fears, still they
hope Will you permit these hopes TO
die at last? The death of a mothers
hope is a sad and calamitou. affair
and if its murderer be her son, how
shockingl -. Merciful Godl
what loss did sustain, in a beloved
mother, when but ten years old! Bot
thus it pleased God. Never will
there be effaced from the tablets of my
memory the countenance of that fond
parent. So miid--so sweet. With
feelings SO gentle and so tender. But
her spirit, that never was seen
-"rufied BY those cstsracts and breaks
Which rumour interposed too often makes"
was too pure and spotless to sojourn
it long in this world; and SO it sought
its native heaven, ere she had counted
her nine and twentieth year, leaving
me beref of endearments which l
loved, and that counsel which she was
so eminentiy qualified to impart. i.
But she is blest.
"Who rightly estimates the value of
a mother? That guardian of our in
fancy-the devoted, anxious, watch
iui, suffering support of our child
hood; and the being in whose heart
hope establishes her empire; and
whose fancy lights up the dearest pros.
poets of our INTERPRETATIONS delight.
fui days to come, when the son whom
she had nourished and brought up will
repay all her toll, and almost give
back the large drafts which he had
made upon her life; by a lofty, an hon.
Durable, and prosperous course, and
by a virtuous life She sees in him,
not only the prop of her declining years
but the pillow too, for the repose of
her last hours. And our sisters too,
helpless, affectionate, and anxious
They too, unite in the tenderness, and
share in the anxieties and the hopes OF
mother. What youth with the heart
of honour pulsating in his bosom,
would consent to wiring those hearts
into agony, and spread desoIation over
such feelings-merely for the poor
qualification ofa'spendthrift, debauchee
or gay sort of a society b,t'tcrfy?-
But there are other considerations land
these appeal to his own selfishness