The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1851-08-07

the man. The first and most vivid impres.
sions of the child are associated with the
family circle, the household, and the hearth
stone and these associations, while they
are the earliest and the fondest, are the mos
enduring and distinct-absence canno
weaken them, and the cares of life. though
they come in like food, cannot overwhelm
them. From every point Of life, not excep-
ting the bed of death, the heart goes back
TO the scenes of childhood like the shadow
on the dial of Ahaz The heart is forever
young
Forever young-though life's old age
Hath ever nerve unstrung;
The head-the heart il q heritage
That keeps the old man youngh
And there, in that home of the heart, among
those erdeared scenes of childhood, shut
out from the vulgar gaze Of the world, sits
enhIoned maternal love, that lends enchant-
ment 10 the place, and makes ii all tha, is
meant by The magic words, HoME-swEET
HoMEW Oh, is it strange that gentleness,
and piety, and love, such as mothers, in
the midst of sub2uiug scenes and influences,
should be able 10 tame the wild and wayward
spirit of the boy-to revive his responding
hopes--to point his eye onward to prosper
ity and renown, and upward 10 an inheri-
tance that is incorruptible, and fadeth not
away? Let mothers ieaiize their power
and understand their mission. God estab-
lished this family relation Tor great and ben
e6cent purposes and these are 10 be work.
ed out chiefly thIougha wise exercise Of the
mysterious power with which he has CLOTH
ed the mother. When young Shurk pillow
ed his head in his mothers lap, that power
set its seal on his spirit; and now behold
this monument that has been reared to his
memory, and this waiting throng assembled
round his grave, and read in these the re-
suits of her counsels and her influence
Could that fond mother have seen her boy
with the eye of faith, as
-"he, above the rest,
In shape and gesture proudly eminent,
Stood like tower"
this great Commonwealth; could seen with
what fearless integrity he welded the pow
ers his countrymen so cheerfully confded to
him, and yet, witt what meekness he bore
his blushing honors could her eye have
caught, through The shadows of the future,
the outlines of this graceful shaft and this
vast group; could her ear have heard the
voice of eulogy which natior's gratitude
has raised 10 the boy she nurtured, oh, how
would her bosom have swelled with emo
tions too big for uIterance. Then would
she have understood her relation 10 these
results-that she was the motive power in
that character destined for so illustrious a
career; and whilst know not that the pros
pect could have stimulated her 10 do more
than she did 10 train up her son in the way
he should go, she would have seen her re-
ward in that, when he was old he did not
depart from it. Mother and Son both rest
now from their labo,s; ard we may trust
that, IN the family of the redeemed in Hea-
ven, they enjoy the full irui.ion of that de-
lightful intercourse which, commences in
the domestic. circle, shall know no change;
but increase, through The countless ages Of
eternity.
The other observation 10 which referred
is, tina, this story of Governor Shunk's boy
hood should encourage the sons of poverty
and toll to aim at those distinctions in life
which, under our most happy political insti-
tutiohs, are open TO them as well as TO 9TH
cts. DR.. Dewitt adds, in regard 10 young
Skunk, Notwithstanding his want of fa-
cilities for securing an education, his until
ring industry, combined with his earnest
desire FOR self. Improvement enabled him to
make such advances in learning that, at the
early age OF fifteen, he became the teacher
Of small school, and soon after The instruct
or of the village school where he was born.
From that time until 1912, he seems 10 have
Been employed as teacher; during the
few months Of the year the schooiwas- con-
tinued, and the rest of the time in the pur-
suits of agriculture. The intervals of toll
were devoted by him 20 the improvement Of
his mind, in every useful branch Of indus
try.n
wo Id that could address myself now
to every boy, and especially to every poor
boy, no, only in Montgomery county, but
throughout our land. would point them
10 the elements which combined TO give
success TO young Skunk" untiriEg indus
try,n and "his earnest desire for sell-im-
provement.n 1t is not the blazonry of the
Herald's ofIice--nor. pedigree-nor dusty
records of genealogy-nor family-nor
fIiends-nor weal,h--nor anything but "un-
tiring industry" and an "eamest desire fol
self-improvement," that will make full.pro'
portioned and useful men. And these, thank
God never fail. What boy is more scanl
of means--more straightened in circum'
stances, than was Francis r. Skunk and
yet, he overcame the disadvantages of birth
and fortune, and made himself name more
enduring than the materials Of his monu-
ment.
love to contemplate such examples.
love to withdraw my eyes from the tinsel
foppery of our cities from the minclng gait
and the musiached lip from the wasp-like
form and the faint complexion Of the beau-