The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-04-17
chnractor--its Pecuniary Value.

We have often thought IL our young men
who are in e6UFsc Of education for the bust
ness OF future life, and are already anticipat-
Ing the rewards OF enterprise and skin with
which they confidently expect to enrich them
selves IN coming years, could only realize The
value Of character as n productive part Of oy-
cry ones stock in business they would study
more esrefulyand labor more nssiduouslyforits
acquisition. Many seem to entertain an opin-
Ion that what they are, or are supposed to be,
In respect TO economy, industry, fidelity and
Vsraei,y, during their minority, viii have lii,
tie or nothing to do with their reputation,
their Influence or success in business, when
they come to be men. They forget, or rath.
sr have never learned, that, in that respect,
The child Is father of the man. and
hence multitudes, under the deusiyc idea that
they can change their course Of life at pleas
urs and command the confidence Of the com
m1nityNt any time, when they shall under
take 80 deserve il, are living out their minor
ity Idly snd improyiden'ly reckless of their
reputation, and acquiring, or confirming ey-
cry DAY, habits of injurious or immoral ten.
deney. The stern experience of manhood
i'll soon Obstinate this dslusiaR- aad skaw- to
all such, what they ought to have forcsccn, or
have learned from their predecessors, that
confidence is a plant Of slow growth -
that character is product that cannot be
made or unmade in a day that habits are
more easily formed than changed and that
Ayouth barren ofindus,ry. sobricty and tried
integrity, is generally but a miserable prelude
to disappointed and inglorious manhood and
cherries old age. The Biographies Of en-
inent men, in every department of labor, are
full of instruction on this points and the un-
written histories also Of thousands, who have
acquired wealth and distinction in private life,
establish. the fact that the foundations Of their
success were laid in the economical, jndustri-
Gus and virtuous traits Of character that had
their origin md growth with them, during
the seed time Of life. Ii We inquire whence
me.,he numerous failures of young men in
theirt various employmcnts, as apprentices,
clerks, Teachers, or MS the occupants Of high
sr posts Of responsibility, the cause will not
80 generally be found to be a want of ability.
az i want OF Character. And by character,
in this connection, we mean nothing more
than simply fidelity to ones obligations. The
apprentice, clerk, mechanic or teacher, is each
under obligations to his calling and to his EN-
plofNJ. Ii he makes the interest of that en-
ployer as his own; II he devote to his service
faithful use Of his time and skill, so as TO
perform seasonably and well his appointed
work, he has the ingredients of such charac-
ter as cannot fail to keep. or maxi e place for
him wherever he may choose 70 labor. 1t
ought 20 be impressed upon the mind ofcv-
Rry youth. Gat. whatever mia employment
mas hc--uo matter how humble, provided II
be useful. tie faithful and thorsagh perform
Anee of its duties will ngeriab4y advance Kim
TO prsfcrment and honor. That we.known
merchant of Boston, famiIiarly entitled Billy
Gray, when heyas advanced in years, MAS
one day ov9seeing some carpep.era york,
and had occasion to ccnsurc Workman Cor
not doing his work ,reA The carncs;eT had
known Billy Gray in youth, and rather SEN
"tivc at the rcproof, IL replied, Billy Gray,
What do yon presume to scnld me for? You
NE rich man, lis trucj but didn't know
you when you were nothing but L drummer
hoy?" well" said Mr.. Gray, didn't l
drum iceO-~ch didn't drum rceH?" In
that bAief .interosatory Tas, no doubt, pre-
sented the se6rei, Of That success that made
him one If the msrchant princcs o! the city,
a young man Oncr. found employment in
l.
an entire stranger. His employer said to him
'ne evening, soon after his engagement,
" Fo"-iy6r tA't arg q cotton must &c GO,