Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-04-23

legc requirements and predictions
would soon be obliteratcd from his
mind by the bustling life in which he
had engaged. But it should be re-
membcrcd that though the human
heart is like water when we would
write thereon lessons of virtue. it is
like the rock to retain the impressions
of vice. In what am about to relate
| would not be understood as reflect
ing on the management ofany literary
institution, or the manners Of any par
ticular class of students. Opportuni-
ties and examples Of vice occur every
where the only eifectual shield
to oppose their influence with which
parents can invest their dear ones,
when sending them forth amid the
temptations Of evil, which will meet
them in the college and in the cloistcr,
as well as in the camp and court is to
mbue their souls with the precepts of
our holy religion, and furnish, for
their minds at least, active employ
ment. James was strictly educated
in the principles Of true piety--his
parents were, what they professed to
be, Christians-and though they had,
by honest industry, acquired a large
estate, they did not count their money
merely by dollars-but by better
tale-by the good deeds it would ena-
bic them to perform. Aud they were
both remarkable for temperance, and
simplicity, and even plainness, with
which their table was furnished, and
all their domestic arrangements con-
Quoted. James had not, as some
children unquestionably do, acquired
a relish for rum before he could lisp
its name--his nurse never was allow
ed to keep him "quiet on sweetcncd
brandy "-he had an aversion to spir-
ituous liquors, as all, not taught to
love it, have; and SO his parents had
no fear he would ever fall a victim to
its pernicious poison. They exposed
him too early, and unguardedIy, to
temptation. He went to college with
plenty of cash at command, and plen-
ty of lcisurc-hc was unsuspicious and
generous, and, as such lively and ar
dent youths generally are, fond Of
amusements and fond of applause.
There were among his classmates,
some who had the meanness to wish
to be treated at his expense, and these
took advantage of his inexpcrencc
and generosity and by hattery, and
ridicule, and persuasion, his squeamish
prcjudices, as they called them over
come, and he learned to take his glass
as gaiIy and frequently as any mem
Der of the convivial club to which he
belonged, and often paid, himself, the
whole expense Of the entertainment.
1t would be painful and almost impos-
Siblc to paint the scenes in which he
was often engaged, and the effect they
had on his mind; but yet, notwith-
standing his conduct, he never lost
his sense of the purity and beauty of
virtue, nor his determination to pur.
sue its paths, whenever circumstances
should make such course easy aud
popular that is--.when he returned
home.
But no one "can take fire in his
bosom, and his clothes not be burned"
James did return home, and his faith
er soon after discovered, with a con-
Germ bordering on horror, the fatal
relish for liquors which his son had
acquired. The daughters Of Mr.. MUIR
ray were married, aud all Of them gone
from the paternal roof-James was
the youngest child-the one who was
to perpetuate his fathers name-his
heir-his hope, and his idol. There
lay the fault Of his parents. They
had loved James too well, and trusted
him too confidently, and expected
more from his discretion than human
frailty can warrant US to hope. Re-
monstrance and reasoning, entreaties
and reproaches, were all in succession
tried by his parents. But though
James ingcnuously acknowledged his
fault and lamented it, and promised
reformation, he was found failing in
strength of purpose to keep his reso-
lutions of abstaining from liquors, till
his father began utterly to despair Of
his amendment, and was about resign
ing him to infamy-for, with com
mcndable discretion, his parents had
managed for nearly whole year to
keep their sons misconduct profound
secret in their family, lest the loss of
his good name should be the signal
for his losing all self lfcommand-when