The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-06-13
The dressings Of Poverty.

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launches us in life under very great DIS
advantages. Poverty is one of the best
tests of human quality. A triumph over
it is like graduating with honors at Ok
ford or Cambridg ge.~ 1t demonstrates
mental stamina. 1t is certificate of
worthy labor faithfully performed. A.
young man who cannot stand this test Is
not good for anything He can never
rise to affluence or station. 4 young man
who cannot feel his determination strength
ened as the yoke of poverty presses upon
him, and his energy rise with every difi-
Guilty which poverty throws in his way,
had better never enter the lists With tho
champions of self.reliance.
| Poverty makes more men than it ruins.
It ruins only those who are destitute of
sterling energy of character; while it
makes the fortunes Of multitudes whom
wealth would have ruined.
Now, if any young man with a good
fortune, and in the possession cf that
which 10 commonly called an excellent
| Iopening in life, reads this paper, let HIM
| be warned in time. His advantages may
be anything but what they seem; they
may turn out to be the bane of his life
the full pocket, 10 the long run, may be
beaten by the empty purse; for money
viii never make 2 man, aud never did In
the whole course Of the worlds history.
No, young man; if you are poor, thank
! Heaven, and take courage You have the
prospect Of making your own way in the
world. IF you had plenty Of money, ten
chances to one it would spoil you for all
useful purposes. Do you lack education?
Have You enjoyed but little schooling 7
Remember that education does not consist
10 the multitude of things which man
possesses. What can you do?-that is
the question which settles the matter fot
YOU. Do you know your business Do
you know men, and how to deal with
them? Has your mind, by any mears
whatsoever, received that discipline which
Igjyes to its action power and facility If
so, thea you are more Of man, and a
thousand times better educated, than the
youth who has graduated at college, but
who knows nothing Of the practical busi-
ness Of life. Aud as to wealth, there are
very few men in the world less than thir-
ty years of age, and unmarried, who can
afford to be rich. One of the greatest
benefits to be reaped from great financial
disasters is, the sowing of a large crop of
young AIen. They are taught that they
must help themselves; they get energy of
character, and personal enterprise, and
industry, in place of foolish dependence
on TIE wealth which their fathers or
grandfathers have accumulated before
them; they are made TO work, and work
gives to their character that nobility and
manhood whcn are not to be obtained
without it.
In regard 10 the choice of a profession,
every young man must consult his own
inclination. If you adopt a trade or pro.
fession, do not be persuaded to resign it,
unless you are perfectly satisfied that you
are not adapted for it. Advice of all
sorts you are certain to receive; but il
YOU follow it, and it leads you into pro.
iesslon which staryes you, these who gave
the advice uever feel bound to give~you
any money. You have to take care of
Yourself in this world, and you had best
choose your own way of doing it; always
remembering that it is not your trade or
profession which makes you respectable,
but that respectability depends on tho
manner in which you discharge the duties
devolving upon you.
Manhood and profession or handicraft
are entirely different things. God makes
men, and men make lawyers, doctors, car
pentcrs, hrickIaYers. all the trades or oc-
cupatioas of life. The Offices of men may
be more or less important, and of higher
or lower quality; but manhood is nobler
than any, and distinct from all. A pro.
fession or trade is not the end of life; it
is an instrument taken into our hands BY
which to gain livelihood. Thoroughly
acquired and assiduously followed, trade
is still to be held at arms length. 1t +
should not be allowed to tyrannise ever,
to mold. or to crush man. 1t should
not occupy the whole of his attention. Sc
far from this, it should be regarded only
as means for the development of man
hood. The first object of living is the
attainment of true manhood, the cpltiga-..
tiou of every power Of the soul, and 80
every high spiritual quality. J:sde IS
beneath the man. and should be kept
there With this idea ia your mind, look
round you, and see how almost everybody
las missed the true aim Of life. They
have not striven to be men, but to be law
gers, docrors, tradesmen, or mechanics -
they have missed the chief end Of life (:
and though they may become inaudntial
in their professions, they failei to make
the right use Of their existence.
1t is not necessary thatyou should be a
.''learned blacksmith" bat it is necessary