The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-03-12
Get Good Habits.
"uan is a bundle Of habits"

'Man u u Uuiiuie VI
This is the sage remark Of some philoso-
pher who had probably made for himself a
heavier burhen than 1t was altogether
agreeable to carry through the world.
Did you ever stop to think that you are
every day picking up something to add to
the bundle which you are tobear about with
you as long as you livc3
II you were collecting a package OF
articles which you could handle or weigh,
how careful you would be TO avoid such Gs
were very heavy or that might hurt you
with their sharp points or rough edges. You
would consider 1t foolish in any one to select
any but light and agreeable materials, II he
could have his choice, and If no one need
to carry those which are heavy or In any
way disagreeablc. Yet that is what many
forlorn.lookng boy is doing. Poor fel-
lows! They are loaded down with weight
that Sampson himself could hardly have
carried. Ragged, filthy, lazy, and smokers
No, Sampson could never have accomplished
his astonishing feats, with such habits as
these to weaken him.
They began tn smoke because they
thought it maniy,I suppose. What mistake! !!
Some men who appear like gentlemen, have
habits which arc anything but manly or
gcntlemanly. A bundle OF soiled rags, or
any worthless articles, is Just what i. Is,
whether tied up In silk, broadcloth, or the
coarsest tow. You may call the wrapper
genieei you choose; but there are the
same good-for. nothing articles inside. 1t is
the habits that make The man. Yes, habits
are like the old man in the story Of Sinbad
the Sailor, the longer you carry them, the
closer they cling.
To smoke or chew tobacco because some
MEN do so, is about as sensible as 1t would
be to break your back, or pull out your teeth,
becau 20 some men are hump-backed, or
have lalse teeth. Then one bad habit brings
others. If you. smoke and chew. you must
spit ; and how interesting il must be for
friends to track you round the world by a
stream Of tobacco juice!
No, boys, don't use tobacco! 1t Is as
untidy and unmanly habit as ever found
its way among the human race. II wrinkles
the face, turns the skin yellow, spoils the
teeth, soils white linen and clean floors, and
turns the paror into pig-sty. :,
Some strangers, visiting "Down East
State House last summer, thought they had
made discovery, viz, that there was such
a mineral as yellow granite, OF which the
steps of the State House were composed ;
but they at last discovered that this color
had been produced by the experiments Of
tobacco sptters, and the steps seemed to BE
dyed beyond all hope Of renovation by
securing.
What honor TO state or nation is an
edifice SO adorned? No wonder the world
laughs at "Yankec Tricksm % Boys, 1t Is
for you to say whether we shall continue to
be taunted with this as one OF our national
habits.
We cannot help forming habits Of some
kind and they assist or retard our progress
through the world In remarkable way.
Good habits are like life preservers, that
buoy us up when in danger Of sinking; or
like the sails of a ship, that help il forward (;
while lad ones are dead weights, that sink
the ves5n in its hour Of peril.
Bad habits are the ruin Of the world.
They make Of the human race 4 mere pro-
cession Of burdened, gioaning pnlgrims,
lOdueu uOWu moto hcoshy "oh "o SauS'o
of an Eastern caravan; while good habits
are like wings upon the shoulders Of him
who carries them.
Boys and girls, the Journey Of life Is
before you, and you are preparing u bundle
Of habits to carry with you, at least Us far
as the inn Of death. Your burden is small
one now, but every day you are adding
something TO II, and fastening II more tight
ly to your back. Throw away, while you
can, everything that will be an incumbrance,
everything that will not bo an nciual as
sistance to you on the way. There will be
cares and troubles enough to weigh you
down. without making yourself your heaviest
burden.
Get good habits, and keep them; and
your trip through this world will be cheerful
comfortable, and safe.-Siudeni and School.
mate.
1