East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1862-04-08
CONFUCIUS.

A long time ago, more than five hun
dred years before the birth of Christ, ant
some seventy before Socrates, in tn
years when the Jews were returning
from the captivity in Babylon, and th
Greeks were repelling the armies o
Xerxes, a young man appeared among
the little feudal kingdoms Of Easter
China. His employment was the teach
ing of truth to men. He had no dis
tinction of station or wealth to aid him
He lived among petty rival states, tha
for the most part disowned his instruc
tions, and followed him with persecution
during his life. He spoke Of his mission
at the last as failure, aud died discour
aged. This man was Confucius.
Koung-tsee, or Confucius, as is the
Latinized name, was born 551 b. O., in
} the kingdom Of Lou, in Shsntung, an
eastern province of China. His family
had been distinguished in former times
even reckoning princes in the line of de.
scent; at his birth it was not in any way
eminent. The usual prodigies, which
the reverence of followers throws about
the birth Of the founder of a religion,
preceded him. A singular animal tine
kil'nl apparently lhe unicorn, was found
near the house, with stone in his mouth,
on which was an inscription, purporting
that the babe soon to be born would be
"King, but without q kingdom" Drag.
ons were seen in the air, and five wise
men from a distance came to the house.
Celestial music, too, was heard in the
skies. In the old Chinese histories, this
is represented by a band of Chinese
angels among the clouds, with spiritual
faces and queues and wide sleeves, play
ing the various national instruments
The child seems to have grown up a
serious and sedate boy, thoughtful even
then Of the solemn things Of human life,
and conspicuous for his reverence towards
the rites. At seventeen he was appoint
cd an inspector Of the sale and distrbu-
ton of grains This office, which had
been probably one of the government
sinecures to be given to aspiring young
men, he at once rendered Of some value.
He rose early; examined the markets;
read books and consulted experts as to
the fermentation of grain and the best
mode OF preserving it, until his labors
became terror to all the cheating deal
ers and monopolists. At nineteen he was
married, and in consequence Of his un-
ceasing activity in the petty Office, he
was appointed inspector general of fields
and herds. Everything here was man
aged by him as thoroughly as it had been
in the subordinate place. He neglected
nothing. He rode over the country /;
talking with the farmers, instructing
them, getting information about the pc
culiar defects of the soil, and working
carefully at all the details. Agriculture
sprang mp again under his care through
out the kingdom; and large districts of
unused, desolate lands were restored
His name was becoming known, and he
was fast advancing in the political course,
when an event occurred which changed
the direction of his whole life. d, .i
His mother died. He buried her in
the same tomb with his father with equal
marks Of respect, thinking, contrary to
the Chinese custom, that those whom we
have alike loved in life, should not be
separated in our respect in desth--an
innovation in their rites since adopted by
his countrymen. He was only twenty
four, and with distinguished career
opening; but he at once abandoned all
public employment, and gave himself ur
to his grief and to quiet memories of her
during three years. 1t was the first out.
look to the thoughtful man into the great
Unseen, and the first sharp blow on his
heart. He never lost the effects Of it,
Every serious and vigorous life, which
has taken hold of something deeper thar
the surface of things, seems to be natu
rally preceded by such years of silence
Moses was among the slaves; Socrates
worked out great thoughts in quiet com
pany with the hucksters; Luther had hi
solitary years of struggle, and Cromwell
spent his early and mature life on th'
country farm.
The three years of mourning wer,
over. lie was at once urged by the kinl
to return to his public office. He de
/, clined, and continued to devote himsel
to the study Of the ancient records o
the "golden age" Of the monarchy, who's
simple manners aud humane spirit h
. peTnapS uiEeuuy thVuBus W ic'i'v oSoih
= His pursuits were now evidently pointin,
to the future business of his life; yet h
continued to practise himself in all tn
|. accomplishments of man of the world
In music, for which he had an enthus
astic love; in the science Of etiquette; j
:, the use of arms; in arithmetical practic
. and nicely of written compositions
=" essentials even then Of gentleman's edit
= cation in China--he became sufficient
N versed. During this period, he visitec
T. for short time, neighboring court Q
the urgent request of the prince, to assi'
: in some needed reforms but returne
soon to the kingdom of Lou, to decid
,, m on his future course. He withdrew hin
self from all associates, aud weighed Il
= subject carefully. They were the ol
!, questions with the young man. "Tf
" world is open-what am / fitted for?-
: What is my place? Shall L live for tin
or the long future? For the. commc
&C veal, or my own narrow good?" II W,
ID nd decided, as some few in all ages decide
lis To his friends, earnestly remonstratir