Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-12-26
9stiSteCCduepuS.
THE YOUNG MAN.


Who that has passed the season o
youth and gone into manhood has mo-
overlooked with many sight and mur.
INJURED aloud, that he could not here anc
there have received such hints as would
have prevented mistasesi Who has mol
looked back, and with sadness inex pressi.
bic, seen how in youth he formed habits
that are TO abide through life. how his
character has moulded into shapes that
are little less than delormilies, and how
his mind was taught to roam IN paths that
are barren of all that can yield food o.
retfeshment 7 And who that has not
mourned that be is doomed to pass through
lie, accomplishing little or nothing; nei-
lheI meeting the hopes Of friends nor sat
lslytng his own conscience--vainIy look
ing for some outward circumstances "a
push him TO do that which inward ener.
because in youth he had not such hints,
such Instructions and such councils a.
would have made hun character alto.
gelhef different fmy own experience
aceords with tina. OF Others, the very al
tempt to throw light in the pathway ui
the Young Men of this land, is praise
worthy. Should the attempt be failure,
| shall have the consolation that 1t was
IN my heart T. do It. Should it succeeti
IN any measure ~ accordance with my
wishes, my h cart would rejoice.
Were / to define what mean by char
acier | say it is that Which makes free and
Intelligent beings haze confluence in you
The very definition shows you That it
must be of slow growth. You cannot
acquire ii in day, nor in year, A
it is known ard talked about: a young
lawyer makes one eloqeunt plea, and by
seeing strong point Of law which had
been overlooked, he carries the jury with
hun, and his effort is talked about. A
mechanic does a single job of work with
great despatch and skill, and he is talked
about the young farmer raises one large
crop and 1t is wonder; aud the young
divine throws off sermon which is great
iy admired, and talked of; but this is not
reputation or character,--it is merely a
short lived notorlety. The physician
cures one remarkable case ard be sequ-
res nolorIety in All hour. But that marks
man has get TO be able to make good
shot whenever he "a ses the rife, to be
allowed to be good shot; that young
lawyer has got 10 take strong points OF
the law, and weak ones too many times,
aud with them carry the jury with him,
ere he acquired the character If sound
lawy r.; ina. young mechanic and young
farmer have yet to show perseverance
and skill and success many times before
they can acquire character; that young
divine has yet to think out many eo.
quent passages and seize many figure
OF speech, and produce many mastery
strokes of reasoning, before he can be
called great preacher ; and the young
physician has to hang over more than
one poor sufferer, and bring from the
borders OF the grave more than one pa
ilent, ere he can claim the name of a great
physician.
Multitudes of young men are ruined by
not having decision enough TO say no.
They moet with companions who invite
them to step into fruit store or into the
confectioner's, or into the oyster cellar or
the bar-room. They are perfectly aware
that they would like not to have their pa.
rents see them 90 nto these places, they
are aware that those Who entice them are
as yet below themselves in moral charac.
ter, but they have not frmness enough
TO say no. When they allow themselves
to be led away once, they will again
and they must return the compliment.
This is the beginning Of that course which
leads to dunklng-to tavern suppers--to
smoking Ito the theatre-to the house
of her which is the way TO hell and then
to ruin, the utter rum Of the young man
for time and for eternity.--Rev. John
Todd.