Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1848-03-30
WASHINGTON
A TEACHER OF THE YOUNG.

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he became so good and great, and how he oh
tanned such desirable reputation; how lie was
able 10 do 50 much good to his country and to
mankind how he was qualified to leave behind
him SO excellent an example how he acqulr-
ed that great wisdom which guided him In
life, and prepared him. for death-which made
him, like Moses in ancient days. the leader OF
a nation thro' windt rness If trial, suffering.
and danger, anc now that he has been dead
more than forty years. renders him still the
teacher, not only of the Uaited States, but all
the civilsed world.
II is good plan for every one who wishes
to be useful, good and happy, to study the sto-
ry of Washington, and see how it was that he
became so useful, so good and so happy. Ii is
only by study that we can gain knowledge 8
aud the best way to find but the path Of duty
and Of success, is carefully to read the history
of those who have been successful. propose
TO give you brief outline of Washington s
life, taking care to present those points in his
career which seem to have been the most lnfln-
entail in forming his character and shaping his
fortunes.
George Washington was born in Virginia.
on the 22d of February, 1882. His father was
a wealthy planter; but he died in l743, when
George was eleven years old. He was, there
fore, left to the care of his mother, who was a
good and wise woman.
Now you must remember, that when Wash
ington was boy, young people had not the
advantages which they have now. In Virgin
ia, there were no academies, high schools, or
colleges. He had, therefore, only the privile-
ges Of a common school education, where wri
ting, reading, arithmetic, and little Of geom-
etry, were taught.
Now, some boys, with these simple hel ps,
had never been great the reason why they
were sufficient for Washingt ton Twill tell you.
In the first place, he had good mother, who,
like almost all good mothers, frequently coun-
selled and advised her son to make the best use
of his time at school; to pay attention to his
lessons to learn them well and thus, not on
ly to store his mind with knowledge, but to
get into the habit of studying thoroughly, and
Of improving his mind. In the second place,
WaAington had the good sense, the virtue and
The ,cisdom to mind his mother IN these things.
These are the two great reasons why COM
mon school education was sufficient for SO great
man, and they are the two chiefreasons why
he became so great.
Now this shows that the advantages a boy
possesses are of less consequence than the way
in which he improves them. A boy may be
sent to high school, and 60 through college,
and have good natural capacity, and yet turn
out to be useless, weak, and ignorant man.
Merely going through an academy, or high
school, or college, cannot make good. use
full, or great man. In order, to be good, use
full, great, or even happy, it is necessary in
youth to do as Washington did.
Another thing to be noticed here is, that
Washington had none of that folly which some
boys think smartness, or mark of genius. or
manliness-a disposition to disobey mother
or a schoolmaster Washington was obedient
to both Of them. If, therefore, boy wishes to
be successful in life, let him cultivate obed-
ence to parents and teachers.
One of the great advantages that followed
from Washington's making the best of his
school privileges was, his adopting good habits.
He got into the habit Of doing everything thor
ouQhly He was not willing 10 learn lesson
by halves, and when he came to recite, to guess
and shuttle his way out. No, indeed He
did no. leave lesson till he had mastered it
till he knew all about it'll he had stamped
it so firmly in his mind as to make the impress
sion indeible.
The reason why habits are so important, is,
that they hang about person, and actually
guide him through life. When man has got
the habit of doing thing, it is easy to repeat
it, and it is hard to act otherwise. Habits may
be illustrated by railroad. The cars run ca
silly upon The track, and it is difficult for them
to get away from it. What work car would
make in attempting to run over the rough
ground Now, the mind is very like the car ;
it slides along glibly enough upon the rails OF
habits, but it works hard and makes little pro-
gress over place where it has not bsen before.
Thus. if boy gets into the habit Of lying, ne
lies, as locomotive gfdes upon lis track, with
great rapidity, smoorhness and ease. A~s If
he has once got into this habit Of lying, and
then attempts TO tell thetruth, he feels as if he
had got off the track, and is like car running
over the common ground
The importance Of this matter Of habit is
seen upon little reflection. We must remem-
Der what has been said before, that the things
which we do once or twice, we are likely to
repeat. We are, therefore, always forming
habits, good OF bad; and children frequently
ret them settled, as railroad track, befre they
sss aware Of IT, Now, these habits may ruiz
dos Who adopt then, and iurn into evil she
Sest adsantages tiat they can enjoy
TIA hey gels the habit Of Studying in half
VA. sioveuiy. sliPshod manner, he Is almost
cerfxss 70 d greatly injured thereby. Ii ile