Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-09-03

- - -. Ni'ao " i'eHtS anu ny ulSci-
pine, that they partook of these feel
]ings in a less degree; but even they
showed them towards each other. /
|could not but watch the effect upon
one Of the number, boy of fine natur-
| al gifts, and Of a generous susceptible
nature, but who had always been unfa-
yorably placed, and was poorly fur
nished for the Struggle. Week after
week | saw the resolute exertions he
made, without suspecting how terribly
severe they We're. / saw him grow
pale and thin, and perceived his quiet,
gentle temper, under the influence of
this nervous excitement, becoming
disturbed, impatient, and fretful. HIS
exertions Were crowned with success.
He wassthe third Of the fortunate five !
But nothlng-not even this hard
bought glorious success, could bring
back the color of his cheek, or the
bounding spiritof boyhood to his heart
In few months we followed him to
his grave.
"There was nothing remarkable in
the case of the fourth; he was one of
those rough natures that seemed to
be little affected by things about
them.
''1he fifth was the youngest of two
brothers, who had been placed in the
same class. The younger was far
superior in ability, but of kind and
generous character. He made no
considerable exertion, he seemed un-
willing to outstrip his brother, He
could hardly help 1.-THE slightest eff
fort carried him through what his
brother labored at in vain. There
was no exultation when he gained the
medal;ihe seemed rather to feel sym
pathy for his disappointed brother. -
But the countenance Of that elder bro
theraell. His feeling was foreser
changed towards the noble little fell
low who almost in spite of himself
hadsn Jeo leres victor, and towards
aneSl ~ d been, most unwillingly,
the umpire. | often meet him; but
never from that day, (and it is almost
20 years ago) have received a cor
dial greeting. The injustice of that
day has been a blight upon his best
feelings. For it was signalfnjustice,
he had made every possible effort
and had failed while his brother
had made none and had been success
ful.'
| will give another instance of the
injurious effects of emulation, which
may be found in the writings of Sir
Walter Scott: "There was boy" he
says, Gin my class at school who stood
always at the top, nor could I, with
all my efforts, supplant him. Day
came after day, and still he kept his
place, do what | would; till at length
| observed, that, when a question was
asked him, he always fumbled with
his fingers at particular button in the
lower part Of his waistcoat. To re-
move it, therefore, became expedient
IN my eyes; and in an evil moment it
was removed with a knife.
"Great was my anxiety to know the
success of my measure, and it succee-
ded too we'll. When the boy was a.
gain questioned, his fingers sought a.
gain for the button, but it was not to
be found In his distress he looked
down for it; twas to be seen no more
than to be felt. He stood COMPOUNDED,
and | took possession of his place;
nor did ne ever recover It, or.ever, i
believe, suspect who was the author
ofhis wrong. Often, in after life, has
the sight of him smote me, as | pass
ed by him; and often have / resolved
to make him some PREPARATION, but it
ended in good resolutions J"
If spirit so honorable and gener-
Gus as Scott's, could be induced, by
emulation, to resort to such an expe-
dent in order to dlsconsert a rival :
what envy and jealousy must it excite
in extraordinary minds' Instead of
relying upon st;mulants like these,
whose poisonous influence may be felt
through life, would appeal to those
higher and purer principles, which are
often operative in the minds Of youth,
and are seldom entirely extinct.
The sense of daty, revenue for the
Deity, respect for parentst, desire of
appreciation and love of knowledge
these are motives which may be ex-
cited by judieious treatment, and when
they are brought in full operation, the
foundation is laid for generous and
noble character.
If we can only convince a child that
we are sincerely desirous Of promoting