The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1859-04-28
For the Journal.
Make Your Mark.
nv LIZZIE.

Every one, ere launching upon the sea Of life,
to contend with its storms should have in view
some destination, and direct his course thence
The sailor prepares with gteat prccaution, all
things needlul during his expected voyage lie
does not venture until his vessel is made safe;
until its mNstS strong. and its sails are well
secured. He prepairS his anchor, his cable aud
life boat and not until all is in readiness does he
push from shore. And il so much prepara ton
is necessary for few days or weeks, how much
more essential is it, then, that we should have
a torethought ere we venture on q voyage which
shall mark our destiny for life, either as a sue
ccssful one, or one OF wreck and disappoint.
ment.
We witness, daily, the evils arising from a
want of this care aud preperator. We see the
young man about to leave his guardians or his
fathers house, with no direct course impressed
upon his mind; with too little ambition, as to
how nell or how near he may accomplish some
object with credit to himself, aud as an encou'
agcment to those who may soon follow him.
Would it not warran, him greater aud rich.
er reward, to pause and mark with steadlast
purpose, the examinations of the crowd now
passing him; to mark which of the two paths Of
Prudence or lmprudence they take, and whether
they terminate with honor or dshonor linally'
do not hesitate in making the assertion, that,
did every young man pursue this course, his
lille would be less murred, and when aged, he
could retrospect the long and mingled drama
through which he had passed and there read
fewer sad mishaps, which had. in part, caus' ID
those jetty locks to grow silvcry; than he who
mady rushed on, eager to gain-he knew not
what, but hoping that Chance might cast some
prize before him which he might accidentally
seldom, if ever realizes his bright antcipations;
for when the clouds darken the horizon Of his
horeS and he hears the thunder of tumult ap-
proa ching and surrounding him. he learns, when
too late, that his anchor and life boat are want
ing. He may climb to the top of the mast and
view, far dhfud pleasant harbor; but ere he
can arrive there, he is hurled from the mast head
aud his dreams are wpshcd away by the swell
ing waves, as they roll over him and bear him
down, dOpn, DOWN.
Were il not advisable then, for him to know
his capabilities and thtn determine to what he
may or mGyROt aspire? There are many whose
names might live long after tkcy were known no
more among us, did they ask this question, and
exert themselves to It's accomplishment; while
on the other hand many might I've spared much
vrXutlun AMI rdiCule did they not Ovcr.ratc
their natural cnhOwments. aud consider nothing
too great or difficult to be wrought Ivy them,
ana nothing beyond their grasp Imagine the
chnrgrn OF the too confident aSpirant when, ai-
Ter years OF Toll, he Is ABOUT 10 extend MS Nhnu
to receive his supposed reward, it should, as
the cup Of Tuntulus, be removed just btyond
him.
Dishearcned, he would retire, only TO see his
visions Of glory dashed suddenly and forever to
the cJrrh.
Those who meet with such disappointment,
rarely recover thrir energies or rise again; but
their dim light is seen to glimmer awhile, as a
beacon, that We may avoid the shoals on which
il-dircctrd ambition is likely to be wrecked.
would not discourage those " no are striving
to gain some pinnacle of Fame, but would sug-
gest and offer this as a word of caution in the
choice of their object, for each one Of us pos.
sesses soma faculty in the order Of intellect, su-
perior TO our neighbours and il that peculiar tai
ent be noutishcd, we might expect, with conf
dcnce, to excel; whereas, to bury ii, and think
to cultivate some other f,culty to a degree of
competence, we nigh, fail, and instead OF being
an ornament to society or our profession, We be.
come mere drOaCS.
All minis, when taken as q whole, resemble Il
complicated machine, compose Of great wheels
and small ones. All cannot be great yet the
small ARE no less perfect and are quite as nccrs.
sary. On cannot perform the Office OF The o, her;
bat in its own way assists in moving on the
great work to high degree Of nicely.
Pemb rville, March 49, 1859.