The Sierra citizen., 1854-11-25

ever wrote.
ain writing thus to boy like you, B.,
(for as a boy I always think of you, not
withstanding the big whiskers-which
would be all the better for trimming-to
be seen in the daguerreotype you sent
your :nother) / know there is danger Of
your taking all this as evidence that have
arrived at my dotage. Nevertheless,
assure you that in every line and wrinkle,
in every shade and expression Of the face
Of any old woman, who has been a worthy
,Oife and mother, there is a world of mean
ing far above the comprehension of any
"young man." Every hope and mirth and
joy-every sorrow and pain and fear
every single feeling and experience of life,
is written there; to him who knows what
life is, from having passed through its vi
cissitudes, the handwriting is easily read
"But I find myself straying very far
from what meant to write. Your mother
intimated that by every mail she had been
urging you to return to Indiana. 1t was
upon this matter that I wished to write
to you.
"You know that your father was one Of
my earliest and warmest friends, until his
death added one more to the catalogue of
my life's sorrows. l am childless old
man. But once it was quite as likely
that should leave fatherless son behind
me, as that / should live soulless, to feel
an interest in the son of my best friend
Were your father alive, and I resting in
his grave-as l could almost find it in my
heart to prefer-he would feel nearly a
fathers interest in my son.
''Think we'll B., before You listen to
your mothers wish, and leave Californa
to resume your residence in the State of
your birth. In going to that new country,
you were actuated probably by such mo-
tive as decided your father, and many 9TH
er young men about that time, to emf
CRATE to this, then, "new country" God,
who preserved this broad and rich CONT
nent so long from the possession of the
white races, evidently designed it for the
home of the free. And it seems natural
and right enough that the descendants of
those who crossed the Atlantic to make
free homes in the wilderness, should in
their turn seek to win new territories to
the same high civilization for which they
laid the foundations. This may be Gods
design. But there are few men who look
very far beyond personal considerations, in
deciding upon where they shall live and
struggle. Sometimes I fancy that we
exalt the motives, even of the Pilgrim
Fathers, Though it may be treason to say
so) in the attempt to make them equal in
grandeur the results of their emigration.
However this may be, / would, as to
my own son, if he were living, earnestly
advise you to think well before you relin-
quish your citizenship in the new State of
California. To an old man like me, who
has been present, so to speak, at the birth
of this State, and who can form q guess
at what is to be that States future, it is
plain that to any young man who unites
ability with energy and high purposes, q
nobler field was never offered, than the
Golden State now presents.
"B., I do not advise you whot to do
there; whether to accumulate a massive
fortune, aspire to political place and intlu-
ence, devote yourself to the practice of
your profession, or to turn your attention
to some line of life more avowedly philan-
thropic than any Of these things. This,
with the earnestness with which, were he
alive, I would speak to my own son, I
say to you. Do choose your own course,
and scork!
Though trust my reputation is not
that OF selfish and soulless man, it is my
opinion that little confidence is to be
placed in those who pretend to make
philanthropy" one Of the regular profes-
sions. would not advise you to be one
OF that brotherhood. But B., remember
Al
the principles You have been taught-the
simple lessons of truth and duty and love
which your mother taught you when you
used to say your prayers by her knee, and
then, with those lessons always in your
mind, do-ksep doing. Let no difficulty
discourage, no defeat dismay you, B., and
trust to an old mans promise for such sue
cess g shall make your age honorable, and
your death . reward.