Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-04-02
BE Something.

1t is the duty of every one to take some ac~
tive part on the stage of life. Some seem to
think they can vegetate, as it were, without be-
ing anything in particular. Man was not made
to rust out his life. 1t is expected he should
'act we'll his part" He must be something
He has work to perform, which it is his duty
to attend to. We are not placed here to grow
up, pass through the various stages of life, and
| then die, without having done anything for the
benefit of the human race 1t is principle in
the creed of the Mahometans that every one
should have trade No Christian doctrine
| could be better than that Is man to be brought
up in idIeness? Is he TO live upon the wealth
which his ancestors have acquired by frugal in
dustry? Is he placed here to pass through life
like an automaton? Has he nothing to perform
as citizen Of this worde A man who does
nothing, is useless to his country as an inhabi-
tant. A man who does nothing is mere cipher.
He does not fulfil the obligations for which he
was sent into the world and when he dies, he
has not finished the work that was given him
to do. He is a mere blank in creation. Some
are born with riches and honors upon their
heads. But does it follow that they have moth
ing to do in their career through life! There
are certain duties for every one to PERFORM
BE something. Don't live like hermit and die
unregretted.
See that young man, no matter what are his
circumstances, ifhe has no particular business
to pursue, he will not accomplish much. Per-
haps he has father abundantly able to sup
port him. Perhaps that father has labored hard
to obtain competence that is sufficient for his
sons to live in idleness. Can they 90 abroad
with any degree of selfcomplacency, squander-
ing away the money which their fathers have
oayp by b,r 1,h boa yha
proper feelings of citizen, who wishes to be
ranked among the useful members of society,
would live such life.
Be Something. Don't be drone. You
may rely upon your present possessions, or on
your future prospects, but these riches may fly
away, or your hopes may be blighted, and if you
have no plans of your own, in such case, ten
to oneyou will find your path beset with thorns.
Want may come upon you before you are
aware of it, and having no profession, you will |
find yourself in anything but an enviable con.
dlton. 1t is, therefore, important that you
should be something. Don't depend on For
tune, for she is tickle support, which often
fails when you lean upon her with the great
est confidence. Trust to your own exertions.
Be Something. Pursue that vocation for
which you aresftted by nature; pursue it faith
fully and diligently, You have part to act,
and the honor in performing that part depends
upon yourself 1t is sickning to see parcel of
idle boys hanging around father, spending the
money which he has earned by his industry,
without attempting to do anything for them.
selves. Be Something, should be their motto.
Every one is capable of learning some "art,
trade or mystery" and can earn competence
ior himself. He should Be Something, and
1ot bring down the grey hairs Of his father to
he grave. He should learn to depend upon
himself: Idle boys living upon parent without
my profession or emplyment, are lily qualified
or good members of society. And we regret {
o say that it is too often the case that tits the
PARENTS fault that they are thus brought up
They should be taught to be something, to
NOW how to provide for themselves in case of (
necessity, and to act well their part that they t
nay reap the honor which therein lies.