Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-08-20
For the Democrat.
YOUTH,

| YOUTH.
With what care and attention should we
regard the Aeeting hours Of our life, and
no portion of our time should be more ftly
appropriated, and properly employed than
that of Youth. Habits formed in our early
years, extend to greater or less degree,
throughout our whole lives: then how ap-
parent is it that .hose habits should be of
a character which will best lead us to a
life Of rectitude, happiness, and honor
To the Youth we must lock for the future
rulers of our country; for those now hold
ing the reins of government must soon
pass away. Our opportunities for fitting
ourselves to occupy their positions, are
greater than were theirs, for the cause OF
Education has greatly advanced since their
youthful days. Are we to let these op-
portunilies pass unheeded? Will we let
our minds go unculiivated, or will we i'm
prove them? 1t is our right-it is our
duty, to ours lives, and to our country, to
prepare ourselves while the opportunities
are offered, to occupy aud discharge with
exactness and precision. the high stations
which we may be called on to fill.
This is, indeed, fast age and we are
very fast earning for ourselves, that very
significant appellation. Young Americap
Exposed, on every hand, to every species
of vice, the American Youth must be
prodigies of viriue,not to yield ininnumer-
able instances, to the grosSest dissipation
and crime. Allowed, in general, to do al
most as they are disposed, they soon learn
to keep late hours; visi. gambling saloons
and card tables; and unless they use sufi-
cient discretion, they soon imbibe The hab-
its of those with whom they associate
When one false step is taken, it is not easy
to retract. They still go on. step by step,
without hardly knowing it, until they find
their character gone, and themselves more
and more accustomed to acts of folly and
vice; then it is too late for reform, in their
opinion. and they rush headlong into the
gulf of wretchedness aud ruin, and often
their days are ended on the scaffold, OIL
pine away their wretched lives within the
dismal walls of a States Prison. These
are extreme cases, OF course, but they viii
do we'll for reference.
i 1t is good mark to sea young man
who has a leisure evening--and they al
have--to see him employing his time with
some kind of study. instead of lurking
about the streets, and entering the many
dens Of infamy with which our western
towns and villages are SO we'll filed up
1t shows that he cares something for his
character, which, when once lost. is hare
to recover. 1t is within the power of all t.
make mark in the world-how sadly this
. power is often misused! To be sure W,
will all make some kind of mark, but i
is too often short, black one, and easily
forgotten. The future is forgotten in th'
enjoyment of the present, and we do no
discern it. until we find ourselves out o
employment, and no home to 60 to. 4
great deal more might be done by parents
but :hey are too busily engaged in tn
grand wish to make money, TO attend tn
. proper training of their children. in a grea
many cases. But the youth who is throw
upon his own resources, is subjected to tn
! greatest trials. Without friend to advis
Il "a parent to watch his career, he pursue
i his way, and too often he takes the wron
course, which, instead of leading him
u deeds of honor, brings him to degradatio
and dishonor.
See to it, then, you who are Careless
Ponder we'll the path you are pursuing
whether or not il is the right one. Revie'
s your past lives, and consider where 20
e will land. if you continue in your preser
e course. On the one hand you can gain n
II spectabilily, and a high standing in soci'
't ty; while on the other. with bat little effor
a you viii bring upon yourselves disrespe'
e and degradation. I =. >
Al ~ WILL.
1t ~
! n