Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1851-11-29
The Great Object Of Human Life.
BY !. H. HANFORD,

Young man, ere YOU embark on the boisterous
sea of human life, look about yourself. Sur
yey we'll the quicksands. the shoals, and the
whirlpoos around you. Select with great care
the voyage in which you propose to embark
the capital of mortal life. This is at your dis
posal. You may launch upon turbd water,
encounter gales, adverse currents, even "sall
against wind and tide" or you may avoid many
of the ills Of life.
Your course through life will be, in many
important particu ars, what you choose TO
make it. You may be distinguished IN some
department Of labor, or you may never be
known beyond small circle of acquaintance.
You may be useful, influencing for good thou
sands around you, and leave your impress up
on most over whom you have an influence; or
you may curse the world be as plague
spot" in society, and remembered only Tor the
mischief done during course OF folly and IN
fanny.
"Lives of great men all remind us
We may make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us .
Footsteps in the sands OF time"
A few irresolute impulses, or few heart
less, pigmy efforts are not sufficient; they Will
never insure success. Bring every power OF
the soul to the enterprise before you; rouse
every latent energy; employ every instrument
tality within your reach, and
Trust no future howe'er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead;
Act, act in the Aving Present.,
Heart within, and God o'erhead"
Never be satisfied with present attainment,
much less with that of your predecessors VINO
have been placed in similar circumstances
Aspire to the highest position within your
reach not that which is sometimes regarded as
most desirable, but one in which you may be
able to effect the greatest possible amount OF
good among your fellows; one in which you
can amelorate the most human suffering, or
raise fallen and degraded humanity, and place
the victim in sphere of usefulness.
The great mass, it must be admitted, are
groyelng and sensual to an alarming degree
MANY aspire, apparently, to nothing above the
qualification of their animal appetite, and I'M
pulses, or to decorate the body, while the m'nd
the germ of ofimmortality-is suffered to IA
mish in its destitution Others sacrifice every
thing at the altar of wealth; tax every power
of mind and body to hoard up treasure which
POSSESSES no value, and which "perish with the
using
Others still are chasing phantoms which they
can never attain; and are leading lives OF In
| tense anxiety and wretchedness, yainly seek
inc to satisfy the cravings Of the immortal mind
with enjoyments for which it has no affinity.
Shun. therefore, O, young man! the vortex in
which so many have been submerged Let
their wreck serve as beacon to warn you OF
danger and destruction. Have definite OBJ
ject in view, and let your motto be, "onward
and upward"
Remember that you are social beings; that
the result of all your acts should not fernl-
nate upon yourself; that you have important
duties which you owe to those around you, and
to society in general.
That there is an abundant opportunity fol
self-sacrifcing labor and untiring zeal, all must
admit The community, in many respects, de-
mands revolution. False views ofw con
stitutes the great object Of human life toe
generally prevail. The clamor Of the passion:
too often strikes the more ennobling and KIND
ier emotions of mans nature, and his hlghe
powers are too frequently brought into subjee
ton to his propensities. Indeed, the true PM
osophy of securing our own happiness and tina
of those with whom we are connected, Is bu
rarely understood.
Examine carefully, then, the real condition 0
society; become acquainted with its evils, AM
then gird on its armour, and fight vallantl5
BY your example show that you have worth
aspiration, that you seek employment, not i
animal indulgencies, but in higher and pure
sphere; one in which mind holds the suprema
cy and asserts its dignity.
Never be content with what you bav
achieved, until you are conscious OF having Ia
bored to the extent Of your ability. LIE
your career be such that when called to clos
the scenes of life, you may feel assured tina
! II =. lo<t ,h.,
you entered upon its labors Then, long an
tenderly will your memory be cherished b
those with whom you may have associated.