Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-02-16
From Sears Magazine for Feb.
De. SOMETHING.

IL IS ne NuaV 81 SNtt ViiC !" 't"N
active part as actor on The stage Of lie.
Some seem to think they can vegefate, as
II were, without being anything IN paffi-
GUAR Man was not made to rust OUT
his life. 1t is expected he should 'act
we'll his part He mast be something.
lie has a work to .perterm, which It Is
his duty to attend to. We are not placed
here to grow Nd, pass through the various
stages Of life, and then die, without ha-
wing done anything for the benefit OF the
human race. 1t is principle IN the
creed Of the Hahometans that every one
shouIa have a trade. No Christian doc
tr;oe could be better. than that. Is a man
TO he brought up in idteness? Is he to
live upon the wealth which his ancestors
have ACQUIRED by frugal industry Is he
n,aced here to pass through life like an
antomaton Has ne nothing to perform
as a citizen of the world /? A man who
does nothing, is useless to his country as
an inhabitant. A man who Goes nothing
is mere cipher. He does rot fulfil the
objoatians for which he was sent INTO the
world, and when he dies, he has not I'm
ished the work that was given him to
do. lie is mere blank in creation.
Some are born with riches and hon
nrs upan their heads. But does 1t toi-
low that they have nothing to do in
their career thronga life? There are
certain ,l.ities fnr every one to pertarm.
BE Somethsng. Don't live like hermit
aud die unregretted.
( See that Young man, no matter what are
his circumstances, if he has no particular
business to pursue, he will not accomplish
much. Perhaps he has father abnnd-
antly able to support him. Perhaps that
father has Iabored hard to obtain com
netence that is sufficient for his sons to
( live in idleness. Can they go abroad
with any degree Of self-eon'pIacency
snnanderlne away the money which their
fathers have earned with hard labor!
No one who has the proper feelings OF
citizen. who wishes to be ranked amon9
the useful members of society, would
live such a life.
Be Something. Don't be a drone. -
You may rely upon your present posses
SONS. or on YOUR future prospects. he
these riches NAV fly away. or other nope
may be bIighted, and if you have n" place
Of vou.gS5on YOU before you are aware O
cofo!sSd having no profession. you fine
! Yourself in anything but al enviable con.
dition. 1t is important therefore thai
YOU should Be Something. Don't depend
upon Fortune. for she is a tickle support,
which often fails when you lean upon het
with the greatest confidence. Trust to
your own eyertiGnS.
BE Something. Pursue that avocaiou
for which you are fitted by nature pur-
sue it faithfully and diligently. You
have part to act. and the honor of per-
forming that part depends upon yourself
1t is sickening to see parcel of idle boys
hanging around father. spending the
money which he has earned by his indus.
try, without attempting to do anything
for themselves. BE Something, should
be their motto. Every one is capable oil
learning some cart, trade or mystery.
ard can earn a competence for himself.
He should Be Something, ard not bring
down the gray hairs oi his father to the
grave. He should learn to depend upon
himself Idle boys, living upon parent
without any profession Or employment.
are lily qualified for good members of
society. And we regret to say that it is
too often the case that it is the parents
fault that they are thus brought up
They should be taught 10 Be Something,
to know how to provide for themselves in
case of necessity. and to act well their
part they will reap the honor which there
in lies.