The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-01-07
Sowing Wild Oats.

many young man has been lured from
the path of virtue, and enliced into the
road that leads by an easy descent, into
the accursed valley Of ofdestruction, through
the thoughlless speeoh Of some thought
less persons, talking flppanlly about
sowing wild oats, as a thing 10 be ex.
pected in youth
i had lesson on this subject from the
lips of an aged counselor said valued
friend TO me, not long since, (Which has
never been forgotten. The timely warn
ing saved me. was nineteen years of
aye, and had just entered College,
Young men were there from nearly every
State in the Union, and some OF them al
ready sadly corrupted. was social, in
high health and spirits, and an imagina-
ton was forever carrying me beyond the
actual and The present. Before had time
for reflection, and before even a conscious.
ness Of wrong had reached me, was
afloat on a dangerous sea, my boat gliding
swiftly forward, and the Syrens songs al
ready in my ears. o..
One night we had wine party in the
town, which ended in cxcesses, the thought
Of which has called a burning blush to
my checks hundred times since. l had
not been very well for some days pre-
viouSly, suffering from constant headache
and low febrile symptoms.
The dissipation Of a nigh! turned the
scale upon the wrong side, and was so
i'll on the next day, that it was thought
best 10 call in a ply sician. lie was an old
man, Of the old school gentlemen, and
wise, thoughtful and kind. lie com
menced. at once, the business of finding
out everything in regard 10 my habits,
principles and modes Of thought, and
there was something in him that so in
spired me with confidence, that | con.
cealed nothing. He looked grave, and
offered remonstrance.
oh said l, almost lightly, young
men must SOW their wild oats. The
ground will be so much better prepared
Tor seeding wheat, after the crop is taken.
AN error of the gravest character he
replied, seriously, 'and one that has
ruined its thousands and its tens OF thous-
ands of young men. Is a garden better
prepared for the reception of the good
seed, for having first been permitted to
= grow weeds? put the question 10 your
common sense. Are there not some soils
so filled with all manner OF evil seeds,
that the gardener. with his utmost toll
and care can scarcely remove the vigorous
plants that spring 10 life in the warm sun.
/ shine and rain? 1t is no mere compari.
son. that OF the human soul to garden.
Ii is, in reality, spiritual garden
: Truth is the good seed which is sown in
this garden, false principles the evil seed,
/, !, or wild oats, which the enemy's hand
scalters, if permitted, upon the virgin
soil. Now, is il not an insult 10 reason 10
S say that man will be wiser, truer and a
t better man, foi having false principles,
: leading at once 10 All evil life, sown upon
: the ground of his mind in youth, rs il
. would he TO say that garden would be
more thrifty in after years, for being first
permitted 10 grow weeds.
My stranger friend! have lived almost
The completion Of life's earthly cycle, and
: have known a sad number Of young men
lost 10 the world, lost to themselves, and
= lost. l fear, TO the company of Gods
: blessed angels, in consequence of that
single idea sown into the earth Of their
; minds. Oh, cast il out at once! Keep
yourself pure. Let right principles,
chaste thoughts, noble purposes, manly
: aims. grow in your garden-not the nc.
cursed wild oats! Be prudent. temperate,
virtuous, obedient to superiors, honorable
and kind. Aim TO be n man-not a SEN
sualist. Govern yourself as man, in
stead Of letting passion, appetite, or any
sensual desire rule you as a tyrant. Sow
no more wild oats. You will find trouble
enough in your after life, with the seed
already scattered in your fields
'The scales,' said my friend, dropped
at once from my eyes. saw that the
! good old physician was right, and that
that this cant about sowing wild oats in
volved one Of the most dangerous falla-
cies into which the mind of young man
could tall. 1t was my last folly of this
kind.'-T S. AriAur.