Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-06-08
: Y ENING STAR.
I 81 z VIC WAYS.
BY I. S ARTHUR.

/ ioNS VI liS age, ne lelt at
times, that the parental hand which
sought TO guide him Alright, drew upon
the rein too often. He wished to do
many things that his father disapproved,
ana often became impatient when checked
by one wiser and mora experienced than
himself.
In this respect, James was like most
young persons, who think their parents
OF guardians over particular about them.
and more inclined to abridps their nlpe'
sures than to widen the sphere of their
enjoyments.
" think father is very unkind," we
nave heard boy say, when the act Of
the parent was dictated by the tenderest
regard for his welfare.
Mother never likes to see me enjoy
ing myself" says little girl when some
restriction was placed upon her. And
yet that very restriction is meant to
life. " ''
Children are not apt to think that
their parents are older and more expe
| rleneed than themselves, and in conse-
quence know better than they what is
! for their good. Nor do they comprehend
the LOVING and thoughtful care, deepen
ing often into anxious sOlicitude, with
which they are ever regarded. We do
not greatly wonder at this, because the
minds of children are not perfected. and
ther store OF experience is small. Still
tney arr; able to understand what their
parents; teach them, and to act more
wisely than if they followed ONLY their
own inclinations. And it is to help them
70 act more wisely, and thus to secure
hap 'pineSs in the future, that their pa
rents and friends so often present good
p'Iecepts to their minds, correct in them
what they see to be wrong, and seek so
cor stantly to turn their feet into ways
| of safety.
But we were going TO relate something
about lad named James Lewis, who
was fifteen years old. A boy who has
gained that age, generally has his mind
pretty we'll stored from books, and he is
able to think on a good many sublecrs.
And be is, moreover, very apt to have
q good opinion Of himself, and to believe
| that ne knows, even better than his
9 itItilSls ~ AihC 10 uSSt tOT ulUl.
James was just such lad as we have
here pictured, and his father often felt
troubled about him, when he saw how
Iperseveringly be sought to have his OWL
way, even though it was not opposed by
his parents.
Ny son." said Mr.. Lewis, one day.
after having vainly endeavored to make
James understand that something he
wished to do was wrong, s' there are two
ways il Hit-one leading to happiness
the other to misery. At first they run
almost side by side, and we may easily
step ffom one to the other; but soon
|! they dlyerge largely, and never come in
! sight Of each other again The path tha;
! leads to destruction my son, looks more
inviting to the young and inexperienced
/ than the one that leads 10 happiness.
The flowers that grow along the margin
have brighter hues and more attractive
perfume, while in the distance hundred
bright prospects are given to the eyes.
The young are naturally inclined to walk
[; IN this path. But God has given them
parents and friends, to point them to the
better way, and lead them therein. They
stand angels OF mercy, sent from heaven
! 10 guide them III the way of life. James,
try and set this thought to sink into ycur
mind. An now l leave you frea, in
this instance, to act as your mind may
direct have pointed out the danger
that Is before you. have told You that
the way in which you desire to walk is
not the right way. Ihat what we feel
inclined to do is not always best for us,
because cur hearts are evil, and inclined
20 lead US into evil. Left free, as now
! leave you, my son, let me earnestly en-
treet you to choose the path of safety
1t may not be SO inviting at first; you
may not be able TO enter it except
through self-denial; but you will not
walk in it long before discovering that
the flowers which spring up here and
| there have a sweet and soothing perfume,
and that your feet are not weary, al
though the way looked rough when
viewed from the path have SO earnestly
warned you not to take"
We are sorry to say that the words of
Mr.. Lewis did not sink as deeply in o the
heart Of James as they should have done.
1t is true that he thought about them,
and to certain extent comprehended
their meaning. But his inclination was
stronger than his reason. As father
had not lain his commands on him, he,
after struggle in his own mind between
a sense of right and desire to enter into
a pleasure whose charms his imagination
had heightened, suffered himself to enter
the way in which was no safety, and
dreamed of danger, he was led aside into
the commission of an act that violated
human and Divine laws.
When James returned home, he felt
afraid to meet his father. Oh, how un-
happy he was Never in his life had he
been so wretched. He had gathered the
first fruit that hung temptingly from the
branches that bent over the way he had
chosen to walk in, but it had proved to
his taste as bitter as wormwood. All
that his father had said, when warning
him not to choose the way of error, came