Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1861-02-14
Our Boys,

" bat shall we make Of thcm2 What vii
become Of lhom Ihosearc practical questions
ana made every day with sorious socitude b,
intelligent and lLougbtfuI parents The rcl
ana the poor have like ambition to put thei
sons Ia good places they take more pains /,
select places which will honor their sons capable
OF nonorlng places The inquiry should be no
iof q place large enough for a son, but how t.
prepare sonto fill place which profit to thos,
VINO may call him to it, and with credit to him
self.
an ancient and bonored family name in this
Guy has been intellectually furnished lately. by
using family influence to get one ofite members
INTO place ofyery high trust and responsible.
ny an Office Tor which he was 50 utterly in.
competent that its accounts have fallen into IN
eXtrcablo confusion, while he himself charged
with degrading crime, has been led in chains
TO ieIoa's cell to a state Of bodily health
winch melt' the hardest heart with pity while
ms venerable mother is made to weep tears Of
blood over the cad misfortune OF Che child of
her heart
Inquire then what wiIlft him; the Presi
deocy Of the Republic il fl for him, but he
+ may not be fit for il it may receive hiin, but
! he may not be able 10 fit il with ability and
honor That Office Is lit for any man, tho great
est and the best, bot your son might not be ftI
Tor It to occupy it and fill it, to discharge It's
duties with fidelity Yoa must seek a place
adapted to your sons capabilities to a place.
Seek place for him which he will honor be Gle
vatiog it, and making it the more influential
but do not seek to put him in position which
is To honor him.
You are n rich man. 1t is neither safe
nor respectable nor wise 10 bring any youth to
manhood without calling, without an occu
patton by which he could maintain himself in
case he should lote bis fortune. In looking
around Tor such calling instead of making
'ae inquiry what occupation is suited to his
pacities-what calling his abilities can fill
You might well like him to become an eminent
lawyer, but has be that ploddine and that
ttnacity OF purpose which viii enable him TO
investigate and compare and deduce with un
erring accuracy for forty years. before he can
be fairly abe to commence practice
You might like for him to become physic.
ian, but has he The self denial to cut of the
dash from dead men; bones, to live in the char
mel house for long years together ;and then have
the patience to wal. or practice for other Iona
years aud the sslf Scrifee TO go at every call,
Of prince or p'opeffin che mldnights OF Decem.
Der, or the fierce suns Of July, in rain or storm
or slect or snow will he do this until forty
years OF age ltr u bare subsistence before he
can make Patiells como to him instead of he
going to them
Perhaps your heart burns to make him min
istei' and in wrapt Imagination peering beyond
the shores OF time, you SEQ him like some tall
archangsl leading along his vast batmlions to
the great Whit throne, saying Here am |,
the insfrunentaty Thou hast made of bringing
these immertals here, and then loud pans come
from seraThic legions in glad reply" Welcome,
brother, Home No greater glory than this
is there in earth CT heaven for any created intel.
llgenco
But for such 40 flee, it becomes man that
he have range Of learning beyond bat Of 9th
ef men has " son the acquisition He
mus have an Abiding feeling that be is less than
the least olall who love the Master, and must
nave the capacity to become all things to al
mn. Has he these humlilies, aud these
Nersatlillles he must be silent when he s
seorned he must not return stroke, nor an
swer TO Aunt; when curses come he must
bless when sinnai against he must forgive
has ne tho moral courage to meet these de5ase-
menis' and yet above them all to stand and fee
teat be is second to living man. that he is am
bassador from the court Of King of kings
Has he the breadth Of intelec 10 compass al
earnings the humility of heart to feel abiding
y before his Master that he is but worm, and
yet the grandeur of soul in the light of tho
Lamb to feel, heir the universe by right of
birth :
Instead then of determining what you would
like your son TO be- seek TO ascertain what he is
capable OF being what he is certainly compe-
tent for. In short, seek not Tor your child the
post he can get but the post he can fill for it
is better to be an honor to the nod than DIS
grace to the crown-better be an accomplished
mechanic than contemplate king
How many men would love to 90 to sleep
besgars, and wake up Rothsebllds or Astors
how many men would faiu 90 to bed ounces,