Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-02-03

OF time and place, by which most men are governed,
subservent to own advantage In this is the ideal
of humanity. There is no submer spectacle than that
of human spirit surrounded by vexatons, dsappont-
ments as well as of temptations and allurements, be-
setting it from within and without calmly threading on
its way in the accomplishment of its high destiny. 1t
is then that
"Ihe lives Of great men all remind us,
We can make our lives sublime,
And departing leave behind US
Footprints on the sands of time"
No one should aim at lower standing it may be high
than he reach but it will be good for him to be
found abonng in that direction
The man who has no self CONTROL lies at the mercy
of his own hayward nclinatons, of his own craving
appetites, and his sinful passions on the other
hand, the who does exercise self CONTROL who does
school all his incnations into obedience to his sense
of Duty finds in it its own exceeding great reward in
his own mind, and in the regard of the community.
But this power of self CONTROL so important in all its
bearings upon our character and happiness is to be
gained in early life by specific acts of self government
Every act of obedience the child may render is act
of self government. He has restrained himself once
and he can do it again, and he knOars he can The
child, that his crying wipes up his tears, and
goes cheerluly to his work play at the direction of
parent or teacher, is doing an important work Let
time cherish this habit, and he shall become man of
self control Who has not seen the full grown man,
after INDUCING in some fit of passion by which he feels
hmselfdsgraced signing for that early dciplne which
would have made such thing almost impossible
Many man in childhood, exposed to harsh commands
and cruel treatment, with hunger and want staring
him IN the face, has grown up in this stern school, with
habits of self discipline, which give shaping for good
to all his subsequent life. While another, reared a.
mid influences deemed favorable to the development
of the character, worth all the means and appliances
that wealth could furnish but growing up without self
CONTROL has ended his career where the other began
Some have indeed endeavored in later years to make
up the deficiency of early culture but it has been al
most like bending the full grown tree And could
such speak to Us to day. it is no difficult matter to sur
mise what their language would be.
ultimately connected with this subject is that habit
of attention, Of concentrating all ones powers to the
accomplishment ola gwen purpose. The man in pos
session of this acts with confidence with an assurance
of success that enables him to see in his minds eye
the end from the beginning, to all difficulties van
ish and melt away, even as snow heaps in the clear
sunlight And this is the only way to think clearly, to
think with all ones mind. Let the object be placed
fairly and fully in the focus and let the individuals
entire intellectual light be concentrated upon it, and if
it be not illuminated then, it cannot be.
1t is not the purpose of education in our high
est institutions to make men perfect in science and
knowledge The real objects are the development
his powers so as to bring them to bear with effect
Why was itthat in former times wrestling schools were
established in which the combatants Of the future pub
lie games underwent long and thorough discipline, but
to give them the control of their physical powers
So too the mind is disciplined till its hayward tenden
ces shall be at the control of the will Thus whatever
subject labor of action is presented to the
disciplined mind, it does not simply look at it, or round
it. but into it and through it, it in its different
bearings sees the relation of its parts one to another
and with the subject thus presented to its inspection,
sets about its work. not bndy or at random but with
definite object and in the ordinary of events,
must succeed
In correct habits of thought and self control, are
have therefore the elements which make up the char
acer of men of strong minds and firm, true hearts,
They mpart independence of character the steadlast
purpose the calm earnestnass the iuvncible energy
that shrink from no Obstacles that fater at no dsap
pointmens. Not otherwise could be whom we proud
y name as the father of our country have borne up
through that long night Of gloom that shrouded the
dawn of a glorious future. Not otherwise should we
hear John Milton exclaming in the midst of blindness
want and persecution,
"Yet argue not
Against the hand or will of Heaven,
Nor bate jot, of heart or hope,