Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-04-24
Good Advice from George Washing ton.
10 BUsHnop WAsnlNeroN.
NKwRUnen, 18th January, 1888.

NRwRUnen, 18th January, 1888.
Dear Bushrod.-You will be surprised. perhaps,
at receiving letter from me; but if the end is
swered for which 1t is written, shall not think my
time misspent Your father, who seems to enter
tain a very favorable opinion of your prudence,
and hope you merit il, in one two Of his letters
TO me be speaks Of the difficulty he is under 10 make
you remiltances. Whether this arises from the scam
ness of his funds or the eItensveness Of your do
rnands. is matter Of conjecture with me. hope ii
is not the latter because common prudence, and
cry other consideration which ought to have weight
in rejecting mind, opposed to your requiring
more thas his convenience and regard to his other
children will enable him TO pay, and because he
holds up idea in the letter which would support
me in the conclusion Yet when take view Of The
ineTperience Of youth and the temptations of cities !;
and the dis,resscs TO which Virgins gentlemen are
driven by an accumulation Of taxes and the want Of
market, am almost Inclined to sscribs it in part
to both. Therefore a. friend I give you the fol.
lowing advice. Let the objec, which carried you 10
Philsdelphia be always before your eyes. Remem.
Der il s no, the study Of the law, bu, become
eminent in the profession Of it, that 10 10 yield hon.
or and profit. The first was your choice; let the
second bs your ambition. Dissipation is incompa.-
bls with both; the company in which you will iul-
prove most will bo the least expensive to you; YET
| sm not such stole as to suppose that you will.
think it right that you should always be in compa-
nv with Senators and Philosophers; bu, Of the ju-
while kind let me sdvse you 10 be choice. II ises.
sy to make scqusn,ances, but very dfEcul,so shake
them of, however irksoms and improbable they
are found, after We havs once committed ourselves
80 them. The indisere.ion which, very often, shey
Involuntary lead one into, prove equally distress
ing and dssraceful.
Be courteous 20 oil but intimate with few; and
let those few bs we'll tried before you give them
your confidence. True friendship is plant Of slow
growth. and must undergo and Withstand the shocks
Of Adversely before il s entitled 10 the sppels,on
Let you, heart feel for the afieions and distress
e Of every one, snd lie. your hand give IN proper
ton to your purse; remembering always the essi-
---.:---s.l- -.:L--'. -.,.s, e'uy
one who asketh thai deserve!h charity; oil, hswsv.
er, worthy after inquiry, or the deserving may
suffer.
DO not conceive that fine clothing make fine
men any more than fine feathers make fns birds
plain, genteel dress is more admired and obtain.
more credit than lace and embroidery, ia the eyes
Of the judicious and sensible.
The last thing which shall mention 10 frss IL
importance; and that is TO AVOID sAxiss. Thi,
is vice which is productive Of every possible evil
equally injuriou, to the morals and health Of it
votsres II is the child Of avarice. the brother o
iniquity, and the father of mischief! Il has beer
the ruin Of many WORTHY families, the loss Of man,
a mans honor, and The cause Of suicide. To al
those who enter the lists il is equally fascinating
The sreee<sful ssaseste' pushes hts good IoIIunt
till it is overtaken by reverse. The losing game
ster in the hope Of retrieving past msfortunes, soe
on frcm bad to worse, till grown desperate he push
es at every thing and loses his all. In word, fe,
gain by ,hi, sbominable practice, while thousand
are injured.
Perhaps you will say amy conduct has antcips
ted the advice" and "not one of the cases applies
me-" shall be heartily glad Of it. II will add M
little to my happiness to find those to whom Al
so nearly connected pursuing the right walk Of lif
1t will be the sure road TO my favor. and to tho
honors and places of profit which their country ca
; bes,ow as mer, rarely goes unrewarded.
l / am, dear Buahrod your sffectionste uncle.
GEO. WASHINGTON.