The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-10-16
THE YOUNG NEAN.

Who that has passed the season of youth and
gone into manhood, has not looked back with
many a sigh. and almost murmured aloud, that
be coald not here and there have received such
hints as would have prevented mistakes? Who
has not look ed back, and with a sadness that is
neXpressible, seen how in youth he formed hab-
its that are 10 abide through LIE, how his char
lclcr was moulded into shapes that are little less
than deiormitIes, and how his mjnd was taught
to roam in paths that are barren of all that can
yield food or refreshment2 And who that has
not mourned that he~is doomed to pass through
life, accomplishing little or nothing; neither
meeting the hopes of friends nor satisfying his
own conscience-vainly looking for some out
ward circumstances to push him 10 do that
which inward energy alone can move a man to
do-and all because, in his youth, he had not
such hints, such instructions, and such ~counsels
as would have made him a character altogether
different? Is my own experience accords with
that Of others, the very attempt 10 throw light
in the pathway of the Young Men of this land,
is praiseworthy. Should the attempt be a fail
ure, | shall have the consolation that it was in
my heart TO do it. Should it succeed in any
measure in accordance with my wishes, my
heart would rejoice. y y x
When | do define what | meant by character,
[ would say IT. is that what makes free and i%nteli-
gent beings hare confidence in goa. The very
definition shows you that it must be of slow
growth. You cannot acquire it in a day, nor in
"a year. A marksman makes a wonderful shot,
and l. it is known and talked about;--a young law.
yer makes one eloquent plea, and by seizing a
strong point of law which had been overlooked,
he carries the jury with him, and the 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
great crop, and it is a wonder; and the young
Divine throws off a sermon which is greatly adj
mired, and is much talked of; but this is not
reputation, or character--it is merely a short
lived noloriety. The physician cures in one
remarkable case, and he acquired this n~otoriety
in an hour. But that marksman has got to be
able TO make a good shot; that young lawyer has
got TO take the strong points of the law, and the
weak ones too, many times, and with them carry
the jury with him, ere he has acquired the
character of a sound lawyer; that young me-
.chanic, and that young farmer, have yeti show
perseverance and skill and success before they
can acquire character; that young Divine has
yet to think out many an eloquent passage, and
seize many a figure Of speech, and produce ma
my mastery strokes at reasoning, before he can
be called a great preacher; and the young pbysi-
clan has to hang over more than one desperate
case, and study the deranged body of more than
one poor sufferer, and bring up from the borders
|of the grave more than one patient, before he
can claim the name of a great physician.
Multitudes of young men are ruined by not
having decision enough to say no. They meet
with companions who invite them TO step into
Ia fruit shop, or into the confectioners, OF into the
|oyster-cellar, or the bar-room, They are per-
fectly aware that they would not like TO have
their parents see them 60 INTO such places
they are aware that those who entice them are
as yet below themselves in moral character, but
they have not frmness enough 10 say no. When
they allow themselves 10 be led away once,
they will again; and they must return the com
pliment. This is the beginning Of that course
which leads to drinking, to tavern suppers--to
street smokipg--io the thoatre--to the house
of her which is the way to hell, and then 10 the
ruin, the utter ruin OF the young man, for time
and for eternity.--Rep. John Tod,