Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-11-13

mark each step with blood. There
was scarcely tent in the whole ara
) my. n3Fge ~
WHAT YOUNG MEN CAN DO,
Much, very much, might be accom-
plished by the young men of America,
if they would bring in play their talents
and energies. The evils that threaten
our beloved country might be averted
by the judicious management # the
young men of the nation. The zeal,
the energy, the perseverance that were
prominent traits in the characters OF
our forefathers, have been lost, or are
sIumbering IN the bosoms of their chill
dren. Why is it so? Luxury, the love
of ease and incidence have taken the
place ofthe robust virtues of the pill
grims. When a great work IS to be
accomplished, who is willing TO put
his hand tothe plough and push ahead,
without he sees field Of gold and
bed of down before him, while his name
is tuneful in the newspapers as little less
than gode The love of praise, ct
gain, of ease, has had disastrous influ-
ence upon the popular mind, and every
body is sinking from duty, when there
is no money to make and no laurels or
fame to secure. 1t is a burning shame,
and reproach to the sons OF
rock hearted liberty loving forefathers.
In years past, what was not accom-
| plished by young mem In every age
of the world they were the most active
in important movements. Before they
were thirty years of age, Washington
and Lafayette had signally distinguish
ed themselves. The former was COM
mander of the armed forces in Virgin
ia, and the latter honored at the seige
of Yorktown. At lineage of 81, Com
modore Perry gained his victory ON
Lake Erie; and Commodore McDo-
nough was only 81 when he was VIC
torious on Lake Champlain. At 80,
Napoleon was First Consul of France.
Alexander the Great wept for more
worlds to conquer when he was only
33. Hannibal reached the height
of his fame at 80. General War
rem fell on Bunker Hill at the age of 81.
Before they were Eve and thirty
the following men had greatly dlstin-
guished themselves, and were at the
zenith of their popularity: Calvin, Sir
Humphrey Davy, the two Pitts, Burke,
: De Witt Clinton, Hamilton, Burr, Fish
er Ames, Scipio Africanus, Charles
XII. of Sweden, John Jay, Raphael,
} and Charlemague. We might also
mention, as greatly distinguished be-
fore they were 35, the names Of By
ron, Harvey, Hunter, Summerfeld,
Gofdan, Dwight, and Mozart. What
noble array of distinguished mem
What young man will fold his arms in
: inaction and close his eyes in slotb'-
; Before they were thirty-four years Of
! age, the following gentlemen signed
: the Declaration of independence:
] Thomas Stole, Thomas Jefferson, Ar
] thur Middleton, Edward Rutledge,
, Mathew Thornton, Thomas Lynch,
e James Wilson, Thomas Hey ward,
: Benjamin Rush, Elbridge Gerry.
s So much for the encouragement OF
D young men. Will not these examples
; stimulate you to engage heart and hand
, lin whatever you can find to do, that
4 will either benft yourselves, your
J neighbors, or the world at larger
j Feel not that every field of action is
! occupied. There are thousand posts
to be filled and ten thousand openings
: to men of energy and determination.
Look at the evils around you. How
] are they to be corrected: You can do
, great deal towards making the
> wretched happy, and the vicious, viz
! tuous. Instruct the ignorant-raise
, the fallen, and give life to the morally
. dead. This work is to be done in
your own neighborhood-p perhaps in
r your own families.
Are there not public improvement
: to be NADER Who projected the great
f.. Erie Canal' A yonug man. Who
r struck the first blow in the cause OF
e American fredom9 A young man.
Who first conceived the idea ola New
: World A young man. Who first
: thought propelling vessel by steam'
: A young man. Be careful then, ye
$ who are just stepping on the threshold
of lif Feel there is something great
! and noble for you to do. Be determin-
Q ed MOTTO die till you have performed
some act that win imrnortalise you