Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-04-01

y -
a retired life, detail what should be the
ofthoso older than myself !!
But | am one of the =" Try Company"
and will not give up without an effort.
l know that | am liable to err upon the
right hand and upon the left, yet |
will do tie best l can, and know more
will not be required Of me.
Our friend, Mr.. Chambers, who gave
us the subject, must know that it is u
very difficult one for US to write upon,
yet when viewed in its proper light, it
is one Of vast Importance. We girls
who are young and inexperienced, need
much counsel, and should listen with
deep attention to tho advice Of our pa
rents and teachers, for they were once
young like ourselves, and know Of the
pitfalls that abound in the pathway Of
the young-and we should seek guild
ance from the Bible-Mat can never
lead us astray. Dear schoolnates,
now while We have the blessing Of good
counsellors near US, let us try even be :
fore we are sixteen to live as q lady
Of that age should. Now the critical
eye Of the world is upon us weighing
every word and deed in a partial bal
ance. Then let us so Ice that evil
reports against our reputation will not
be believed by any, and thus hurl back
vile words with double force upon the
head Of the slanderer. Let US ever
beware Of those who stoop to scandal,
and have no intercourse with such per-
sons, for there can be neither happiness
nor safety in their society-even their
very presence is concentrating. We
know not how much We may do, but
let US endeavor to improve ourselves,
and by SO doing we may exert all in
huence that will imperceptibly work its
way in society AN influence that can
not but be for good. ~
And Ole important method Of self
improvement is by judicious course
Of reading-such reading as shall store
the mind with useful lessons and i'm
portant facts-and in the same con-
nection must come thought - deep
thought and study. 1t was woman
that first yielded to the allurements of
the tempter, and thus brought misery
and ruin upon the whole human family.
Then let'us try now n our youth to re-
gain as much as possible the confidence
and esteem forfeited by our mother
Eve. How much we may do to soothe
the suffering everywhere by gentle
words and kind deeds, or read to them
from the Book Of Life that which shall
be as the balm Of consolation to their
troubled souls. In adversely, too, how
often We may sustain the dropping
spirit Of q parent and remind him that
the bright sun is still shining, and for
him, though for while hidden by dark
threatening clouds thus may dawn in
his heart a light brighter and warmer
than sunshine, and thus may his home
be made a charmed Circle within
which the cold, selfish world, with its
cares and vexations, may not enter.
Success crowns our efforts and happi-
ness is our reward.
We should be kind and considerable to
all, and careful not to injure the feel
ings Of any by word or deed. We should
never look with disdain upon. those
whose circumstances cannot vie with our
own, for We are all Gods creatures,
and He is no respecter OF persons, and
it is often tlao that those scorned by
the world are most worthy Of our high
est esteem. Brilliant talents often lie
hidden beneath d rough exterior. We
should honor and respect our parents
and not blush to own them among our
young companions because they do not
dress as gaily as others, or because Of
some little peculiarly which does not
meet our views Of propriety.
OF our beauty, or of our natural
accomplishment which God has be-
slowed upon US, we should not be vain,
but always modest and retiring, nor
should we heed or allow the Aattery Of
our companions.
"Modesty is more becoming and al
ways more esteemed than beauty" p
Beauty fades and withers, but real
modesty can never decay. We should
be careful to form only virtuous habits
such as ne would wish to have charac-
terize our future life. Should our
calling be lowly one we should en-
deavor to fill the station with the un-
wavering trueness Of the Christian
character. There is no necessary labor
that We should consider beneath our
dignity to perform.
Oh! what bright sphere of useful
ness is open before US now, and how
willingly should We accept the mission
while we are yet uutainted by the vices
Of the world.
Oh! how high should be our aim,
even to immortality, and with step I'M
tagging and eye never dim, should We
push onward toward the reward and
meet it at the portals Of heaven, and
when called to leave this space Of &C
ton may all who have known us here
drop a tear at our grave.
Should God in his goodness see tit
to spare my life few more years, and
I enjoy the advantages Of a good school
and suitable society, I am resolved to
be~more competent TO write up0H,~ and
I hope, to illustrate this important sub
ject.. Rose FARNsWoRTH.
This is question we should all ask
ourselves, and try to profit by the an
swer. A young girl when she arrives
at this age should be more particular
.c ...;bJ, 4h,, n + oou otbor tiroa r.