The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-08-01

WHICH may SO justly De termed sacred, from
its constituting the first and most endear-
ing link in parental and social feeling, man
drinks in life and warmth his eyes soon
learn to distinguish objects, his strength is
increased, his senses begin to demand his
attention, and that education commences
winch is to fit him for assuming his rank
among rational and intelligent beings.
These successive changes very gradu-
ally ensue. He requires parental attention
and assistance long after he has ceased to
nestle in the bosom of his mother. At this
period his ecnses are all susceptible and
vigorous; his mind begins to exist; it is
capable Of receiving knowledge, but is not
yet an active instrument. Memory is now
retentive, and predominates over the other
faculties. 1t is the season when the mind
requires the most iudicious direction, in or
der that things may be learned by their
right names, and in the right placcs,-it is
the period when the dawning intellect de-
mands the most scrupulous superintend-
ance, that the c;r.iest indications of pecu-
liar bias may be directed, and encouraged
or repressed, as circumstances may re-
qulre. 1t is the time, of all others, when
the most sacred regard TO truth should be
observed by those who have intercourse
with the youth-truth, not only in relation
to great things, or as opposed to direct
falsehood, but that truth which states no
improbabilities, no fctions, no mysteries
in short, the truth of correct example, in
action, word and look. -
"The condition of childhood or Adde'S
cence, is the spring tide of our existence.
All sensations are new; all scenes are in
wiling every object is source of gratifi-
cation to curiosity. The number and ra-
pidity Of our sensations keep up a continu-
al succession of images in the mind and
one SO Immediately displaces the other.
that, whether painful or pleasurable, thew
soon disappear; the hours feet away with
winged swiftness, not counted though deep
ly felt-not individually productive of re-
inaFkable consequences, but forever after
treasured in the memory, as the times of
peculiar happiness; as the days gone by
as the golden age of life, forever fed.
"To this period succeeds that of begin
ming maturity, when the body acquires its
full growth, and the slender and awkward
boy unperceptibly changes to the vigorous
and graceful man. His piping and treble
voice, passing through various irregulari-
ties, assumes that sonorous strength of in
tonation SO well BETTING his condition.
The cavities of his skull, previously I'm
marked by external prominences, now ex-
pand. Ills brow becomes elevated; his
eyes more deeply ;s: =; their 5 sockets;
his cheeks are broader and higher, and the
passions and workings of the mind becomes
imprinted upon his countenance. The ro-
sy, unmeaning and frolic expressions of his
visage are gone his air is thoughtful and
serious. Those who are familiar with him
as child, experience an awkward re-
straint IN addressing him; his parents are
conscious of his change, without being
able to define it. His very mother, who
nursed and cherished him through all his
infantile troubles, learns to listen to him
with respect, and look upon him with rev.
erence. Henceforth he assumes his sta
ton as member of the great human fam
lily, responsible for his actions solely to his
country and Lis God.
"The approach of his sister to the same
period of existence, is marked by analo-
gous changes in external appearance, not
so striking for their magnitude as from
their peculiar character. The whole ex-
preston is wonderfully altered there is a
singular addition of loneliness to features
which may have previously been consider
ed embarrassing and even repulsive. The
step, the voice and gestures all declare,
that natures last, best work. has assum-
ed all her charms, and is no longer to be
approached, except with that homage which
her loneliness and innocence never fail to
inspire, especially when their natural pow
er is augmented by that cultivation of mind
which imparts vigor to intelligence, and
ten fold attractions to beauty.
awe next consider our race in their ma
turity of summer. The faculties of the
mind are advancing to their perfect state !;
Judgment, or the power of deducing con-
illusions and principles from observation,
predominates over the memory, and the
mind is capable of most intense application
to any pursuit This is tilt season for ex-
ertion the time for providing future sub
sistence for attending to the education Of
our offspring, as we'll as for fixing our own
habits of thinking and acting. 1t is the
season for comforting benefits on our fell
low creatures by the employment of our
leisure, and winning that influence which
is necessary to the more effectual discharge
of the debts we owe to society. At this
period the body, which has ceased to grow
in height, acquires a greater degree of
breadth and fullncss. The soft and deli
cate texture of the solids gives place to q
greater rigidity of fibre, and the strength
of the limbs is in full vigor. This period
endures for variable lapse of time, modi-
fed by temperance, exercise, climate and
occupation.
"Next, autumn comes, the season of the
sore and yellow leaf The supnleness
and nobility of the limbs diminish; the
senses are less acute, and the impressions
of external objects are less remarked
The fibrcs Of the body grow more rigid +;
the emotions of the mind are more calm
and uniform the eye loses of its lustrous
kcenness of expression; the skin hangs
loosely; the teeth generally begin to fail,
if they have not previously, and the diges-
ton proportionally declines. The mind no
longer rooms abroad with its original ex-
cursiveness. thourh it is still capable of in