Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-07-17

ing; be employed in the official duties OF
physicians, Of lawyers, and ministers oil the
gospel; or be called to act as legislators and
judges, and managers of the affairs OF ma.
tions. Shortly they will be at the heads OF
families, with immortal beings subject to their
training, aud will thus be pcrpetuatlng an IN,
huence which will be productive of more good
or evil than men or angels can at present
comprehend.
With thnse prospects before you. with this
weight of responsibility on you, does 1t not
become you, young men. to be seber.mlnded :
If it would betray heartlessness and fatulty
for one to be careless and triaing when march
ing into battle field, or when about TO en-
gage in any critical and momentous under
taking it must be folly and madness in the
extreme for one to 60 forth into the business
OF life without any serious concern in regard
to the issue.
3. Be sober-minded. because you have a
great and arduous work Of preparation to
perform.
If Young man without education or train
ing fitting him for the business know that he
must, at specified time, engage in the work
oe a civil engineer, to lay out railroad
across this continent; or be sent out by gov
erument at the head of an exploring squad
ron; or be called to preside as chief justice
over the deliberations Of the highest tribunal
in the nation; or be placed in the Presiden-
tial chair, with all the cares and responsible
ties of that high station pressing upon him
if he did not consider, most seriously, his des-
tnation, and put forth tho most strenuous
cndeavors to meet such exigencies, he would
be considered beside himself. But, young
men know not what stations they may be
called to occupy. They may, indeed, occupy
any they choose, if in the judgment of their
fellow men. duly qualified and altogether
trustworthy.
1t concerns you then to rouse your powers
and put forth your best endeavors to accumu-
late large stores of useful knowledge and to
become thoroughly furnished for the great
duties of life Even if placed at great dis
advantage, in this respect, be not discouraged
Multtudes, born in obscurity, without pecu-
mary resources, OR influential friends to aid
them have made great proficiency in knowl-
edge and become eminent among their fellow
men some have become foremost among the
learned, have gained ability to WELD the pen
Of the ready and powerful writer; ability to
speak with the tongue of tie eloquent orator,
and to sway not only popular assemblies, but
the most digni6ed ecclesiastical and leglsla-
tive bodies, at their pleasure.
But such attachments and powers are not
fortuitous; they do not fall to the lot of the
INDECENT by Inheritance, OF the will Of others,
as is sometimes the ease Of great estates;
they do not come by being merely peished Jw;
but are acquired only by long continued and
most faithful endeavors. 1t was by such en-
deavors thai the great orators of antiquity
, gained their power and deathless fame. And
those who, in recent times, have gained great
influence in the pulpit. at the bar, or in the
halls of legislation, have done so by deep
thought and laborions endeavors.
When we consider how transitory is the
season of youth, how soon the period allotted
to acquire knowledge in the schools is over,
it is melancholy indeed, to see 50 many young
men triaing away that golden season, that
seed time Of life, in vain amusements and ut
ter folly. Some in their youth imbibe such
love tor vain amusement and get these
puerile habits so fixed upon them, that they
never become men but when of mature size
and strength Of body, and even when old IL
years, are still boys; and utterly unfit for any
station or employment which requires the in
tellectual strength of manhood May GOO
save you, young men, from growing up to be
such crippled aud deformed specimens Of hu
manity! Resolve that you will be men,
men Of commanding and good influence ant
instead of assocating with loafers, and dane
ing away your precious time with silly boy
and girls, employ your advantages, zealously
in the great business of acquiring ability tc
act well your parts in the momentous bushes
Of lire Now is the time for deep thought
and thorough preparation.
4. Be sober-minded, because you are an
will be, exposed to many strong and danger
Gus neutrality-suspicious. which hav,
overcome and ruined q multitude of others.
You will be tempted to neglect the stud!
of the divine oracles, to profane the Sabbath
to turn away from the worship of God, anc
become infdel, or otherwise loose and erro
neous in your views respecting religion. Yor
will tie tempted to waste your time in var
and demoraiziDg amusements, and to become
intimately associated with persons Of bad in
tfuence to walk in the counsel Of the un.
godly, to stand in the way of sinners, and tc
sit in the seat Of the scornful. You will be
tempted by the bad example of others to use
protane and ribald language, under the false
impression that it will give zest and force to
your uttcrances. In profane cursing and
swearing some seem to glory, though it, in
fact, shows them to be corrupt in heart, and
alike destitute of good morals and good man
Ders. The profane swearcr is universally ar
ungody person. You will be tempted to in
dulge in the use of unnatural stimulants, such
as tobacco, opium, and intoxicating drinks
and by thus abusing your physical systems
derange the functions of life; bring upor
yourselves manifold infrmities obtusenes
Of mind, premature old age, and untimelJ
death. By intemperance the moral sensibii
les are blunted, the worst passions OF thu
hoart are strengthened, the character degrad
ed, and every good prospect, both as it re
CARDS this life and that to come, overcast will
appalling darkness.
You will be tempted to set your hearts su
premely on earthly things, and to resort tt
such dishonorable and criminal means of &C
curing money as will prove ruinous to you
You will be in danger,by some offence agains
chastity, of bringing upon yourself wount
and dishonor not easy to be healed or out
lived in danger when away from the salu
tary restraints of home, and surrounded BY
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