Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-03-09
BOYS EVENINGS.

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his hopes by misemploying the evening hours
School or business has confined him during the
day, and the rebound with which his elastic ma
ture throws these duties off, carries him often
almost unawares beyond the limits both of pro-
priety and prudence lJ1s Ha a0a blow
Beside the impetuous rush of spirits, whose
buoyancy has been thus confined, there are in
fluences peculiar to the time, which render the
evening period of special temptation. Satan
knows that its hours are leisure ones for the
multitude, and then, if ever, is he Jealous to Sc
cure their services, warily planning, that unex-
pected destinations may give attractive grace to
sin, and unparalleled facilities smooth the path
to ruin. Its shadows are cloak which he per-
suades the young will fold with certain conceal
ment around every error, in seductive whispers
telling them, "lt is the black and dark night,
come" How many thus solicited to come, as
bird hasting to the snare, knowing not that it
is for their lives," let the constantly recurring
instances of juvenile depravity testify.
Parents acknowledge the evil here pointed
out, and anXiously enquire, "What is to be done;
can we debar our children from every amuse-
mentg" Boys themselves confess it, but plead,
in reply to the remonstrances of friends, that
"evening is their only play-time, and that they
must have some sport" 1t is certainly very prop
er that the young should have amusements-
None better than ourselves are pleased to hear
the lips of childhood eloquent with the exclam-
alton: go! we have had lots of fun" II seems
like our own voice coming back in echo to us
from out long lapsed past.
These amusements should, however be inno-
cent; and innocent amusements are most easily
secured and best enjoyed at home. Here paren-
tai sympathy may sweeten the pleasures, and
parental care check the evils of play, frequently
ntermingling its incidents with lessons of in
struction. fparents would use half the assidu-
ty to render an evening spent at home agreea-
BILE, that Satan employs to win to the haunts of
vice, they would oftentimes escape the grief oc-
casioned by filal misdeeds, and secure rich re-
ward in having their children's maturity adorned
by many virtues.
A word to boys concludes all that we would
now say. Spend your evening hours, boys, at
home. You may make them among the most
agreeable and profitable of your lives, and when
vicious companions should tempt you away, re-
member that God has said, {" Cast not in thy lot
with them; walk not thou in their way refrain
thy foot from their path. They lay in wait for
their own blood they lurk privily for their own
lives. But walk thou in the way of good men,
and keep the paths of the righteous"
YOUNG MAN, Srop.-You, young man, on the
way to the bal-aley, or billiard-room with an
appetite for mint julep-stop a moment. Are
you not in dangerous way! Will those pla-
ces, or your habits, lead you to responsibility or
usefulness in society! Will you, by them, be-
come more moral, more virtuous, or more intel
ligent! Ii not, stop were you are, we beseech
you. You have nobleness ofheart, prehaps, and
generous disposition. You may do good to
those about you, if you will Your example if
it be such as will lead to virtue, will draw 9TH
ers after you, or if it lead to vice or error, will
also, and the more readily, lure others in the way
of evil
Then, young man, stop and think upon your
course! Where is it leading? if to bad habits
and low associates, stop instantly. Stand firm.
Take not another step in the dangerous way,
but turn back while you have the power, and
seek the way of virtue, the ways of intelligence,
and you may do good in your day and genera
ton, and may be esteemed by those who enjoy
your acquaintance.
Four GooD HABITs.-There were four good
habits which wise and good man earnestly rec
commended in his counsels and by his own exam
pie, and which he considered essentially neces-
sary for the happy management Of temporal con.
cernS-tneSe are punctuailty, accuracy, Steaul-
ness and despatch. Without the first, time is
wasted, those who rely on us are irritated and
disappointed and nothing is done in its proper
time and place. Without the second, mistakes
the most hurtful to our own credit and interest,
and that of others, may be committed. With
out the third, nothing can be we'll done; and,
without the fourth, opportunities of advantage
are lost which it is impossible to recall.
The Irareler reports the death of printer
in Boston, named William Adams Vinal, aged 40
years. The Traveller says: ua
"The physician could assign no cause of death,
but remarked that Mature was worn OUT
There are but few printers whose constitutions
are not worn out before they reach the age of
half century. 'a1 Z. =
Mr.. Skyblue, the milkman, being scolded one
bitter cold morning for tardiness, appeals for
sympathy on the score of hardship--he having
been compelled that morning to cut through ice
two feet thick, with the thermometer ten de-
grees below zero, to replenish his cans! The
plea, of course, is admitted, in extenuation.
Carpet Bag.
BEAUTIFUL THoUGHT-The setting of great
hope is like the setting sun; the brightness Of
our life is gone. Shadows of evening fall around
us and the world seems but dull reflection