The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-11-27
True Manliness.

Children suppose, that what is manly
or womanly can be cut out OF cloth or
leather; in other words, that clothes,
made in the fashion of those worn by mon
and women, will give some additional
consequence to the young who wear them.
! knew very little boy, who took great
satisfaction In having hoops sowcd to his
socks, so that he might draw them on as
boots arc drawn; and the eagerness SO
commonly displayed by children still
Young, to assume the coat, the cravat,
boots, etc, is hardly less childish. Thus
they show their chidishncss in their at
tempts to be manly.
This, however, would be matter of
very little consequence, If they were not
apt to lose sight, in this way, OF the es-
sential attributes OF manlincss. To he
manly is to dare to do, not to wear, all
that may become man. ] will give you
INV idea of what it is for a boy to be
manly, by two or three illustrations. b.
A boy of six years old was required
by his father to bring the cows home cy-
cry night. One dark, rainy evening, in
the autumn, just as the family had set
tied themselves to their accustomed occu-
pations, about a bright, cheerful fire, the
father asked: am
Did you bring the cows home my
son. ... ... ~
Yes, father, he replied; adding, after
a moments hesitation, but i did not put
up the bars .' 90 fi ...'
Then 60 directly back again and put
them up. H'...,.' ,-',y
1t was manly in this boy to confess his
omission, at the expense, which nc fore
saw, of a dismal trndgc through the rain
and darkness to repair it. -
know another boy, Of nine years old,
who mounted one day in his fathers yard
a very spirited horse, and was thrown al
most Immediately. His father stood by
looking through window, but did not
interfere, when he saw his son preparing
to mount second time. lie was thrown
second time. 70
Thrown again, my boyF he exclaim'
ed. I
yes, sir, but I'll conquer him yet
A third time the boy mounted, and
then made good his word, the horse yield.
ing to him completely. g'nlIr
This was q manly boy.
OF another, twelve years old, it was
told me that being at large school in
one of our cities, he was vifitcd in his
room BY two young men, half dozen
years older than himself who used vefy
profanc language. After bearing for
some time what was highly offensive to
him, he said-Gentlemcn must be 80
GOOD rs to abstain from this language, or
leave the ROOM They submitted to the
rcb, Ike and remained. This was still
higher kind Of manlincss. lu
1t was true Of another boy, not so old
as this, who bad long been afflicted with
deceased and helpless leg, that being
told, one Sabbath morning, of the sur
gcon's decision to amputatc 1t, he said-
Then | will have it done Immediately,
before mother comes home from church,
that she need not know anything about
liz; and it was done Immediately. sisu
Il II you consider these arc fair illustra-
tons OF my subject, you will admit that
the nanlincss exhibited by these boys
could in no case have been enhanced by
any fashion Of garments. ilg.ivNol
beg yon TO observe, that the terms,
men and women, manly and womanly.
in their proper and full import, convey
far more than those Of gentleman and
lady. A true man and true woman
will be gentlcmanly and ladylike, and a
great deal more besides. There are men,
apdthere are so called gentlemen, who
have iittle or nothing that is manly about
Them. -tia q. Hema1i nisi' N ''''''s