Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-05-03
RINCIPL Il 5
Necessary to be Observed by those Young Me-
Uho are not yet in business tor themselves.

necessary TO Oe Observed 6y those Young Ne
,Dho are mol yet in business for themselves.
Every young man should remember that thu
character which he is to sustain, and which il
to sustain him, when he shall be in business 70
himself, is to be formed while he is yet in Sub
ordinate station. This observation holds true
not only with respect to the reputation which
he is to possess among men, but also with re
gard to his real characteristics. The habits
principles, and manners of the youth, will be
essentially those of the man !; and as It is our
object to place th"se solid basis, and form
them in manner suited to the real exigcncies
of life, we shall express ourselves plainly, going
directly to the point, and calling the vices and
virtues by their right names. We begin by
pointing out some practices which are to he
avoided; and as the fountain of all that is beau.
tiful in character is righteousness, we shall
first bear our testimony against
LvING.-To lie to the prejudice Of others,
argues malice and villany: to lie in excuse of
yourselves, guilt and cowardice both ways, a
design to cude with false representations Of
things. and advantage ourselves BY the deceit
Now, however artifcially we may carry on this
infamous practice for a while, in the end it is
always discovered; and it is hardly to be i'm.
agined what infinite contempt is the conse
quence. Nay, the more plausibly we have
conducted our faacies before. the more severe.
ly sha II we be censured afterwards From that
moment we lose all trust. all credit, all society:
for all men avoid liar as a common enemy ::
truth itself in his mouth loses dignity, being
always suspected, and often desbclcved
. IT, therefore. you should ever unwarily fall
into an offence. never seek t. cover it with
lie, for the last doubles the former, and each
maker the other more inexcusable; whereas.
what is mndestly acknowledged is easily forgiv
en-, and the very confession Of a small tr spas.
establishes an opinion that we are innocent of
greater
DIsHoNEsTY.-But truth in speech must like
wise be accompanied BY integrity in all your
dealings ; for it is as impossible for disbones,
person to be good agent as it is for mailman
or all idiot, 10 govern himself or otherwise by the
laws of common sense.
Dare not, therefore, allow yourself even r.
wish to convert the property of another to your
own use, more especially where it is committed
TO your charge for breach Of trust is as helm
Gus an aggravation of theft, as pretended friend
slip is OF murder. If, therefore. you should b.
lucky in your frauds, and escape without beinp
punished and detected, you will nevertheless
stand sef.condemned, be ashamed to trust vour.
Sc with your thoughts, and wear IN your very
countenance both the consciousness OF guilt and
dread OF discovery; whereas innocence looks
always upwards, meets the most inqusitive eve.
and stands undaunted before God and man
On the other hand, if ever your knaveries come
to light, Ito say nothing of the penalties of the
Iaw,) with what shame and confusion of face
must you appear before those you have wrong
ell and with what grief of heart must your
friends and relations be made eye or ear witness
Of your disgrace! Nor is this all; for, even
supposing you should be convinced of your foI;y. |
and sincerely abhor it for the future. van mus,
nevertheless be always liable to suspicion, and
others VIII have the boldness to pifer. on tho
presumption that you will be understood tn be
the thief.
FIDELITY.-Therc is still another sort of f.
deity, which may be called affection as the other
is of action, being almost of as much conse.
quence, too, and what never fails, to endear YOU
to those in whose favor it is employed; we
me an that OF defending their reputation, no, ON.
~ negatively, by avoiding all reproachful. indie.
cent or even familiar terms in speaking Of them,
but positively, by endeavoring at all times to
vind'ca'e them from the open aspersions and
base insinuations Of others.