Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-10-19
MORAL REFORM.
Moral rssliag among Hpsn.,ou. young men

Morn teeanB among hcenttous young men,
It is no secret.that among too many of
the young men Of our country hbertinism
Is esteemed ratheran Accomplishment than
q crime, and that youth IS rather enyied
than dispised, who can boast Of The most
frequent and numerous successes in low
' gallahtty. BY rnany who have had an
equal disposition, but not an equal oppor-
tunny to sin, he isregarded as a person of
superior attainments in all that IS manly,
whose example is to be copied, rather than
Stunned. The more hearts he has won
and sacrificed, the more females he has
led astray by his arts, the more is he to be
envied, by his thoughtless and unprinci-
pied associates. Such young men will
often assemble in groups, even in the
country, and amuse and instruct each 9TH
er, by recounting their success in some
scheme Of profigacy. with as much self
importance as If they had done yirtuous
action. They boast OF their impurity as
much as lift were passport to the esteem
Of their fellows. No matter how much
ruin they have accomplished, no matter
how much domestic peace they have de-
stroyed, or if, BY their crimes they have
been accessory to murder, or have plunged
soul into hell, it is all the same to them
Such is the state Of moral feeling among
no small position of the young men of our
country, feeling eyincing a depravity so
deep and shameful, as to call for the uni.
versal reprobation Of all persons efficiency
and morals. Let such yoang men be de-
spised and Stunned by their more virtu-
Gus companions. as though their presence
muc hmore their conversation, was demon
alizing and polEutiug. This shameful
state of moral feeling is strikingly devel.
oped in the following midnight story
Jorr. Of PSb. Morals.
From the New-York Transcript.
1t was near, midnight, the other eve
ming, that we heard therecital Of tale OF
villany, which, though probably one of a
thousand in every age and community,
we are tempted to record The relation
may possibly do no good, while very like
ly i will call forth many smile Of de-
rision from the libertine who mocks a,
chastity and ''cdls Write hypocrite,"> a,
the expense Of our simplicity, and our old
fashioned notions Of virtue. Still it may
do good. hmay induce some frail one
while yet balancing upon the brink Of er
, ror, to pause ere i. be too late. The
straight and aarrow:path ofvirtue may a
FIRST appear less inviting to the mind no
strongly grounded in moral purity, than
the broader road inviting to pleasure, but
, which, though apparently strewn with
flowers al Its entrance, leads nevertheless
and inevitably to the gates of death; anc
|, the fate of the fair being of whom we shall
I. speak, may peTchance induce some veal
:. and thoughtless one to rccoil from step
:, which, when once taken, can never b
= retraced. Perhaps moreover the nara
: tive may fall beneath the eye of one, VIII
In its perusal will see vice reflected bacl
in its own image, in a manner so unex
pectcd as to startle him from his Similar
y dencd cOmposure, and bring him to repen
lance.
o We were standing at the gloomy hou
Is and on the occasion referred to. upon tn
steamboat wharf jutting into the river
r the Poughkeepsie landing, listening to tn
" music OF the water, as the little warele
le dashed gently against the 'timbers, and th
r sides Of the vessels lying at the dock, an
C. watching for the lights Of the Alban
,e boat, as they were expected soon to hea'
n in sight around the bend Of Crumb-elbov
Il On the shore, at the ferry house, were VI
rious groups of people, most Of whor
e, like ourself were anxiously waiting fc
10 the boat either from above or below-f
IA. it happened that both were late-to tai
r. passage for their different places of de
ty tination. AS the travellers were most
ly strangers to each other. there was Gtt
b. conversation beyond the ordinary excl
il, nations Of impatience at the delay; al
re. the stiffness Of the night was only broke
ia by the occasional stamping OF the coa'
an horses stationed for the public convenien
IS az the base Of the hill.
y. While thus upon the look out. leanir
his ut ease againstan upright timber, two pc
"a sons in respectable attire. passed by d
eT- our rear. and took post by the outer IA
= ing at a few yards distance. Gentleme
IN we presume they call themselves v
lry viii not dispute the title. God ma
IRE them, thereforelet them pass for men."
ne They appeared from their conversation.
ma which they doubtless supposed was allir
sc; upon no ears but their own-and as tn
De had crossed our path it was no part
len our duty TO undeceiye them-to be {
ted acquaintances reccnity met But ere th
Of had proceeded long with their discour
"a we could With Shakespeare have wish