The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-02-15

atory motions. While you are lookneAou
TOR masters and nistresses, the young immor
tails are under the tuition of innumerabIe in
structors. Passion has been exciting, and idle
ness relaxing them, and example, EXAMPLE, ba
long since entered them into her motley
school. Already have they learned muci
which never will be forgotten the alphabe
and dialect Of vice are easily learned and ca.
silly remembered. Wait then no longer ere
your instruction commence. The ground i
already soitened, the season has already fal
advanced, and while you are either sleepine
or making arrangements, or waiting for great
er maturity, thistles arr s3wn in secret, tare:
are springing up in the night 1t is impossible
to assign time in the infants life, in which
something may not he done for its future dis.
position. Ii it have any original perversities
OF temper, 10 not wait till this perversty i.
made infexble by habit. You would not
delay to straighten a crooked limb, to correct
an awkward position, to counteract stutter.
ing articulation, till the limbs were full grown
the gait fixed, and the organs conformed tc
an ndistinct mode of utterance. If how+y-
er, the greater part of what are called origt-
nal propersSatieS be, in fact, acquired if envy.
malice, irrItability, selfshness and pride, be,
for the most part, meptal habits, which, like
opinions and practice are rooted by repetition
II the colour of the soul be not original and
'engralned; but, like the varieties of COM
plexIon, dependant on the operation of exter-
nal circumstances, how inexcusable is the de-
lay OF instruction, of persuasion, ofimpression.
and OF direction, of which the youngest hearts
are most tenderly susceptible Especially
remember, that their habits are soonest caught
by example. These little vines, which wind
round your trunk and depend upon you for
support, will extend themselves upon your
branches. following at the direction, and con
forming to the irregularities of the limbs which
they entwne. And what is the first example
which fixes their attention? Is ii not your
owr2 Are you not the irst props to which
these tendrils attach themselves? And is it
not time to ask yourselves whether you will
consent that they should follow you through
out the whole of your character? Is it MT
time to examine whether there be not some
vicious habit, which, Notwithstanding yoFT
caution, frequently presents itself to Their
greedy observation, thus recommended by all
the weight of paternal authotity?'
Ii the love OF sensual PLEASURE become in
veterate by indulgence, the pure love of truth
and goodness also may, by early instiilatioh
and careful example, become SO natural and
constant, that violation Of integrity, and a.
fence against gratitude, breach Of purity er
Of reverence towards God. may prove Il
painful as a wound. You know how com
mon are the promises Of scripture TO early pie
ty. Now these promises are not arbitrary
and partial annexations of reward TO quail
ty which is not really Of more intrinsic worth
at one period than at another; but they ex-
press the curly and perfection IN virtue,
which that character may attain, which is
early hallcwed in the service Of God Those
who seek God cary shall easily fnd him.
Begin then now, that they have NJ steps 20
retraCe. Their hearts are new all alive 10
gratitude; their minds full OF curiosity. ready
to drink IL instruction; selGshuess has not
yet moncpolIzed all the avenues to their fec
ton; you have no bad associations to break.
no deep rooied prejudiGes TO clear away
Their only prejndi"e is one that will assist
your endeavors, that is, ~ unsuspecting reli-
ance on your knowledge, wisdom, love and
power"
God grant, that, from this consecrated
ground-this little hill Of science, dipiae flow
ers may spring up, and living waters A,w--
that this may be both Cas'Glidn and celestial
fount, whence chrystal streams shall gush out i.
refreshing and fertilizing wherever they run,
and that cities and churches and States may
be often made glad by the pure and healing
waters OF this elementary fountain.
DELTA.