Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-02-19

J, your hand and not be bitten, nor p
J. Goals Of fire in your bosom and y
d be burned--so you need not expe
+ to make intimate companions of Il
vicious and not be affected. Socie,
is like water, it is constantly seekir
' its level; and if two individuals ass
$ ciate together between whose NOR
' character there is much disparit
g there will be constant tendency
an equilibrium. And though thel
may be exceptions to this as gene
, al rule still l may safely state tn;
such is the tendency. This gradus
yet almost certain change of charat
ter from virtue to vice, has bee
beautifully expressed by poet thus
Vice is monster of SO frightful mien
AS to be hated needs but to be seen,
But seen too oft familiar with her face
We first endure, then pity, then embrace
You may in their incipiency teal
away evil associations and rid your
selves of them with as much ease
as you would from spider webs; but
let them increase and strengthen, aud
before you are aware you will find
yourselves bound by cables from
which you cannot become extricated
Tneu choose for your companions
the most moral and intelligent young
men. They will prove beneficial in
a high degree; and the associations
formed will be a source Of pleasure
as long as you live.
BE decided ia character. Be not
turned about by every little impedi-
ment. Determine upon what is
righ and expedient to be done and
then 60 forward to performing it with
might aad main. You will be temp.
ted to turn away by this thing and
by that; but nobly and heroically re-
sist them all. To prevent changing
from one thing to another you should
select that business or profession for
which you have the most talent; and
after the selection has been coolIy
and deliberately made, hold on to it
with grasp that knows no relaxa-
ton. l 1belieye that your success in
life will depend as much if not more
upon your decision than anything
else; especially will this be the case
if you wish to prosecute any great
plan requiring for its completion a
long series of years. You must de-
eide promptly upon the means to be
and then say like Gen.
Jackson, "By the cte,nals it must be
aone." repeat the assertion and
would impressit upon you that to be
sueeesgmyou must be decided men.
My last and parting advice is to
the old maxim-"Therc
is no ercellence wihout great lqbor."
is truly valuable or worthy
Of possession must have labor for
its attainment and in many instanc-
es much of it. If you would be
successful you must make up your
minds to labor. There is no escape
from it. 1t is the law Of orr being
from which we cannot be absolved.
What your hands find to do, do it
and in earnest. Go at it
with stout arms and brave hearts
All is activity around you. Be not
idle spectators in the scene. Keep
ever in view that if you would be
anything you must do something
You cannot in this country iely for
honors and distinction upon your
fathers rich or poor reputation
You will be measured in popular opin-
ion not by Others acts but by your
2wn merits. Scorn to look to 9TH
ers for reputation. Resolve to carve
out your own destiny and make your
own characters Independent Of 9TH
srs. Adopt as your emblem the Ea-
gle-our glorious bird of liberty
Who perches himself upon the high
est cfags and peaks Of his native
and there above 10 his lof-
ty independence views the scenes be-
low. Or at times stretches his
mighty wings, utiering his shrill
scream Of defiance, and flies away
far above the hills and valleys be-
meath. / could prolong these re-
marks much farther and say much
more by way of advice; but in So
doing Iwould traDsgress the limits
of a short address. Each of the
suggestions ! have made would Of
itself form a good subject for a dis
course. l could but barely allude to
them.
They are merely suggestions,