Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-12-31
A WORD TO YOUNG MEN.

Let us, my young friends, take a retrospect
of the past year, and see whether we have
spent the time in such manner, that we shall
like to dwell upon the scenes we have passed
through, counting up the instances of virtue,
morality, and goodly bearing, we have exhibit
ed, and called to mind the causes of joy and
happiness, that we have rendered to our fami-
lies and our friends. Let us likewise review
our lives, generally, and see if we have wheth-
er in the counting house or workshop, in the
city or country, in palace or cot, passed the
last three hundred and sixty-fYe days proper
ly, and spent the time proftably, not only to
ourselves, but to our employers, our families,
and our friends. Let us sum all these things
up, as they are placed upon the closing record
of the year, standing out boldly as they will, to
our credit, and contributing as they will, to our
future happiness.
On the other hand, let us call to mind the
instances of days mis-spent and abused in
stances where we have given way to vice and
cruelty, not only dishonoring ourselves, but in
juring those with whom we associate. Recall
the times that you have given your parents
and friends so much trouble and anxiety, and
resolve that the "New Year" shall dawn upon
you, an improved being. Pause, my young
friends, and think how many occasions you
have given that "Being, who holds you night
and day" to be displeased with you. Do you
not almost wonder that he has not cut you off
in your sins, numbering you with those of
your associates who have gone before you
Place these things, also, on the record of the
year, which is soon to be sealed up, and see if
they do not leave us fearfully in debt, not only
to God but to our fellow men. Then, en-
treat you to commence the year 1870 will, new
and nrm resolutions, that you WW do far better
than you have hitherto done. Renouncing
your tollies and extrayagances, determine that
your parents shall have no cause to reprove
you, or to mourn over their "boy," who, they
have so long hoped would be their joy and
comfort in their old age. 1t is a sad sight, to
see an old man, who has nearly closed his
earthly pilgrimage, whose head is white with
the frost Of age, whose face is furrowed with the
cares of time, it is indeed, a sad sight, to see
him mourning over lost and ruined son,
whom, he has spared no pains, to rear in the
love and fear Of the Lord. tbs heartrending,
to see that sorrow stricken mother, bowed
down with grief and shame at the sight Of,
perhaps, an only son, revelling in dissipation
and crime. Young man mark the fast falling
tears, that flow from your sisters eyes, as she
beholds those unmistakable signs Of drunken
ness and lusts think of the fortunes, that
smother themselves in your own mothers bos-
ON, as she beholds you, returning from the
gaming table and dens of infamy, perhaps,
nearly stupefed by the souldestroying liquid.
Could you but realize the pangs that she feels,
necer could you again cause that heart to bleed.
o! young man, "Honor thy Father and thy
Mother, that thy days may be long" upon the
earth, and, throughout the year, ever own and
acknowledge your d. pendence upon your
Heavenly Father, and so live, that, when death
shall meet you, you may rest in Jesus.
w, A, w.