The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-01-05
DECISION OF CHARACTER. Resolution

4
; n, aeuer accomplished any thing. IaoiU try
has drought ,Oonders. You have all, per
haps, heard of the young man who having
wasted, IN short time, large patrimony
IN profilgate revels, formed a purpose while
hanging over the brow of precipice, from
which he had determined to throw himself
that he would regain what he had lost
The purpose thus formed he keeps; and al
though he began by shovelling load oil
Goals into cellar. he proceeded from one
step to another, till he had more than re.
covered his lost possessions, and died an
inv2terate miser, worth sixty Thousand
I pounds. mention this, not as an example
to be initiated, but as signal instance
OF what can be accomplished by fixed pur-
( pose and persevering effort A Young
man who sets out in life with a determinG-
ton to excel, can hardly fail of his purpose.
! There is, in his case, steadiness of sim
concentration of feeling and effort which
gives irresistible energy, and renders sue
cess, IN Whatever he undertakes, certain.
GovERNMENT is the great organ of civil
society, and we should appreciate the form
er more justly, if we better understood the
nature and foundation of the latter. | say,
then, that society is throughout moral in
stitutlon. 1t is something very different
from an assemblage of animals feeding in
the same pasture. 1t is the combination of
rational beings for the security of Right.
Right, moral idea, lies at the very found
alton OF civil communities and the highest
happiness which they confer. is the gratifi-
cation OF moral affections. We are some
times taught that society is the creature of
compact and selfish calculation that men
agree to live together for the protection of
private interests. But no. Society is of
earlier and higher origin. 1t is Gods ordi-
nance, and answers to what is most podlike
in our nature. The chief ties that hold
men together in communities, are not self
interest, or compacts, or positive institutions.
or force. They are invisible, refined, spiritu-
al ties, bonds of the mind and heart. Our
hest powers and affections crave instinct
lively for society as the sphere in which
they are to find their life and happiness.
That men may greatly strengthen and i'm
prove society by written constitutions, |
readily grant. There is, however, consti-
tuition which precedes all of mems making,
and after which all others are 10 be formed |:
a constitution, the great lines of which are
drawn IN our very nature primitive law
of justice, lectitude, and philanthropy, which
all other laws are bound to enforce, and
from which all others derive their validity
and Notwithstanding.
EXTRACT. Behold yonder venerable
remnant of human life, sinking beneath the
weight of time into eternity. His scale of
mortality is nearly poised. He sees without
surprise the boundless ocean stretched out
Immediately to his view-the sea which his
barque must SO soon traverse and as he
casts his eyes upon it as far as mortal sight
can penetrate, he contrasts the dreary and
contracted wilderness through which he
has nearly passed, and its ffuitless and lin
tied enjoyments, with unfading glories of a
" better world beyond" He sees and feels
himself upon the awful verge, without the
slightest emotion his very looks are ex-
pressive of the profoundest contentment
and resignation, as his is the common lot
OF all. His once auburn locks, age, height
ened by cares, has bleached and rendered
hoary; his features wear the impress of
time while his tottering form and faltering
voice proclaim that his race is nearly run.
No conflicting passions disturb the calm sol
itude that reigns within; but like the smooth
surface ofa quiet lake, unruffied by the tenn
pest, and forsaken by the storm, all is
tranquility and peace. Soon will the
shades of death close around him in silence
and his sublunaIy sun recline gently be-
hind the horizon of time, to rise anew in
Immortality"
THE HAIR. In children, keeping the
hair short is circumstance of no little i'm
portance-and should not, from any light
consideration, be neglected. Their health.
ana we conceive In some respect their beau
ty, also, is preiudiced by contrary practice.
Nothing is more common than to see lux
urlant head OF hair accompanied in children,
by paleness of complexion, weak eyes, and
frequent complaints of headache. Upon
this subject we find the following excellent
remarks in little work entitled "Advice
to young mothers-by a grandmother
we recommend their attentive perusal to
every parent.
The hair in children should be cut short
until they are eight or nine years old-as
the shorter the hair Can be kept, the less
danger there is of many maladies peculiar
to that part Of the body, especially water
on the brain. Besides, there is good reason
for believing, that children who have a
great quantity Of hair, are most liable to
eruptions, as scald head, &c it is at least
certain, that in them eruptions are very
I difficult to remove. The trouble, also, of
keeping long hair sufficiently clcan and the
length of time necessary for this purpose,
is often cause of much i'll humor and many
cross words, between children and their at
tendants, which it would he better to avoid"
"Mothers whose vanity may be alarmed,
lest repeated cutting the hair for so many
years should make il coarse, may be assured
they have no cause for this apprehension,
provided the hair be kept constantly brush
ed. | have never seen softer, finer hair,
than on girls who have had it kept short
like that Of school boys-until they were in
their tenth year" Journal of Health.
EcoNOMtcAL LAMP. In the absence of
lamp oil, you will find that hogs lard, which
! is always at hand, will serve as a make shift
| if you inserts piece of knitting needle along
side of the wick, that shall extend from the
bottom of the lamp to the flame. The heat OF
the wire will preserve the fuidity of the lard,