The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-02-24
An Article for the Boys, No. .

"no YOU WANT TO RE A OUNCE ALL THE DAYS
w YOUR LIFE |"
A little boy, on his way to school, but short
distance from home, on a bright summers morn
ing good many years ago, now, saw a woodpeck
cr fly into the hollow Of stake on ,he leocJ that
sklrled the road. The brilliant top.knot Of the
bird, and the hope that there was nest for mo.
meOt caused the urchln to stop, Tie wanted to see
what the little feathered thing was doing-and
while delaying there, his mother, who did not
know why her boy was lingering, came to the
door OF the woodland dwelling and enQuired why
he was not on the way to school His answer,
that he wanted to sea what the bird was about,
and asking if he might not be permitted to stay
away from the little log house where lessons and
learning were to be said and gained, caused the
question from the mother. That was enough
lie went to the school and if he did not forget
the bird, his studies were also remembered -
'Tis thirty years since and he who now address
es you-and who was then tempted, as many Of
the boys maybe nOtO, to lorsake duty for pleas.
'Te, may gain counsel from the fact, insignificant
as it may seem. Trines, oltentime, are produc
part of a coach, boys-r lost, may result ia the
loss Of life, A riye broken in the boiler OF an
ocean steamer may send hundreds in moment
to the bottom Of the deep. A grain of sand, mis-.
placed in the arrangement Of a world, may throw
! it from its course. Hence the necessity Of con-
slderlng seriously, matters Of minor importance,
apparently but which may, in realty, be the
arbiterS of your life here and hereafter DO you
linger, boy, to learn your lesson' Does it seem
harsh and dry Is it td,k' Then, 6end your
young ,Oind 10 ii! Go to your mother, it you
should be so blest as to have one to consult-and,
unless ''you want to be Ounce all the days of
your liie ;" her advice and assistance will help you
onward She will not tire in her efforts, when
her boy is to be aided-and her eye will brighten,
and her heart beat higher and prouder as she sees
thought after thought eyolyed-step after step
upward taken by him she nursed and cared for as
none but mother can care. And when you
have mastered one difficulty 60 right ahead at the
next, Perseverance, and labor, the people of old
tell US, will conquer all things--and they were
in the habit Of speaking the truth. There are
plenty of men, of whose names you have heard,
who by the exercise Of patience and perseverance
! have won names known not only in Your neigh.
borhoOd and the nation, but over The civilized
world. Men who not only rose from obscury
| in name, and fame, and weath-but " no did so
| by their own unadsd exertons--wen who stud
led by stray moments in the workshop-w
obtained their first light by The blaze Of pine
knot fire in log cabin in the woods and with
the knowledge gained by its beams Frightening
and spreading through at er life, have lighted up
the world of politics. art, science, literature, NOR
ais and religion.
How great the encouragement, then, boys, to 60
onward and upward. You are, soon, to take the
place Of those who now guide, counsel, and sway
the dcstinles Of millions. How necessarily, if
follows, that you should be properly fitted for he
great, the important responsibility, which must
rest upon you. There is no eyading it. Then
listen to us attentyely. Pay scrupulous heed to
your early studies aim hgh-seek for all useful
knowledge. ltyou have mastered one branch Of
| education to-day, determine upon mastering an.
| other tO-morow-keep On--and as field after field
! in the IlIlmitable rlgIons Of intelligence opens
| upon your view, keep calling them yourown,
L 4 .,.,.