The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-03-07
"GOuzssEzlS tEee CoSd.''

Common sense dictates that in whatever
men undertake, they ought first to care
fully count the cost The strand of life
is strewn thick with the wreck Of thous-
ands, who, if they had but counted the
cost, might have reached prosperous ha-
ven in safety.
Is young man about to choose a pro
fession? Let him examine his capabili-
ties thoroughly, so as TO ascertain exactly
what he can do and what ne cannot, be-
fore he commits himself irreyocably TO
any particular pursuit. Many a person
has been kept struggling his whole life
through, simply because he chose a trade,
business or profession unsuited to him.
Everybody has q natural qualification for
some one thing. This man is a born me-
chanic, that a born orator, this mer-
chant, that farmer, this an engineer,
that sailor, this physician, that an
author. Besides all this, there are some
pursuits which require capital, as manu-
featuring, shipping and importing, and to
embark in these, without adequate means,
Is to invite insolvency. Or to enter on an
intellectual career without sufficient brains
or study is to ensure failure. In word,
in all conditions and places of life, wise
men, before they make ventures, rigidly
''count the COST
Sc in the various social relations Of lifc
let US, before we act, count the COST
Have we friends? Before we ALLEVIATE
them by our disregard OF their feelings,
it would be prudent to calculate the cost
It is easy to be unjust to a father, moth
child, but it is less easy to recover the
love we have outraged, or still the voice
of remorse, especially if the grave has
since closed over them. Even the con
ventionalisms of life, triAing as they are
in one point Of view, canuot be set at de-
fance with inpunity, so that wise man,
who has counted the cost, .neyer violates
them unless duty imperatively requires it.
TO win the esteem Of our fellows is the
surest way to self-respect, to happiness,
and, IN the long run, even to honor; while
to practice Tudeness, meanness. hard
heartedness, and other selfish advices, is
to create disgust toward us first, and final
y hatred or contempt.
Before beginning q career of eXtraya-
gance, sensual indulgence, vice or crime,
iC would De wen 10 count the cost j o
buy fine furniture, sport fast horses, or
give elegant entertainments, IS all very
pleasant; but when it leads to ruin, as it
so often does, the victim bitterly regrets
that he had not counted the cost. To give
ourselves up to the sway Of the appetites
is to brutaiize our natures, and not only
this, but to SOW harvest of pain and
sickness for old age, If not cut short our
lives and when it comes prematureIy, or
we writhe on a bed Ct agony, be sure we
will lament that we bad not counted the
cost Vice often comes in an alluriug
garb, but the adder is coiled under her
Paphian garments, and if we yield to her
seductions the day will come when we will
wish that we had counted the cost. If,
by unbridled passion, or, worse still, Of
deliberate calculation, we rush into crime,
there will time of retribution come when
we will cry aloud, but no one viii hear,
and when our burden will be, ooh. had
[ but counted the cost y Count the cost,
count the cost, now while it is time y