The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-06-24
old men, Twill tell you. Train yourself to

old men! will tell you., Train yourself to
feel an interest in Their conversation-listen
to them as you now listen to me when
l tell you anything new. Every good talker
likes to have good listeners; and old men es-
Pecially are naturally, and l think, properly
too, greatly disposed to relate incidents of
their lives to youthful listeners. The boy
who gives to the old man his most cordial and
respectful attention very soon becomes the
old mans favorite-a circumstance which
very shrewd boys will turn to good account;
and you can hardly 60 amiss in making q
friend of truthful old man, no matter what
his condition or what may have been his en-
ployment or pursuit in life. One may teach
you the various arts of the fisherman, or of
the hunter and trapper, and thus lay the foun-
dation of all your after knowledge of natural
history. An old weather beaten sailor may
lay the foundation of your most valuable ac-
quirements in geography and the history Of
the manners and customs Of nations. The
old soldier will delight and interest you in his
stories of campaigns, Of seiges and of ter
rible battles-.rom these you add something
to your geographical knowledge, and much to
your knowledge Of men and Of the stirring
incidents of military life. Then there is the
aged christian missionary who has perhaps
spent half life time among Pagans or
among the Heathens Of the Old World, or
among the savages Of our own continent
Anon you may meet with the general travel
er who has been everywhere on the face of
the earth where any civilized maj, could 60
during an ordinary active life.
You will meet with aged statesmen. mer-
chants and Observation-Disclosures architects,
artists and artizans-men of general science
and sages full of the learning and wisdom of
the world. From all or any Of these, the re-
spectful inquiring boy will learn much that is
profitable for him TO know. No matter ifthe
old man shall, to you, appear to be egotistical
or too garrulous. Egotism is unavoidable in
describing scenes in which the relator has
ia ken part, and garrulity is often only a ma
nifestation of the highest order of converse.
tional talent. / am, however, making too
long a story for letter, and on looking over
what have written, find that it is better
adapted to the use of boy of IL than one of
J. years old, as anticipated at the begin
ming; but you may CLEAN something for y ur
present benefit, and perhaps some future time
find something more worth remembering,
which you do not now fully understand
You connot, however, fail to understand,
even now, the difference between the smiles
and the frowns of your friends.
Imagine too how comfortable it will be to
hear that some respectable old man has said
of you-"He is a good boy-has been well
brought up, is neat in his person, kind to his
sisters, and his playmates-obedient and af-
fectionate to his parents and respectful in his
department among all classes; and especially
among old people. He may not even know
you in half Of the relationsI have named
1t is not necessary that he should-It he see
that you are neat and orderly in your person
and respectful in your demeanor toward him.
self, any sensible old man will readily infer
ali the other e cd qualities have mentioned.
We will talk about these things more when |
get home to stay. In the mean time want
you to ask your mother to read and explain
all this until you understand it as well as you
can now.
am very much pleased with what you tell
me about triangles and the square root and
everything else in your letter of the 18th
inst. think see that you are beginning to
feel that you are intended for some useful
purpose. Your affectionate father,