The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-02-17
SOWING WILD OATS.
by MARY GRACE HALPIsE.

"aenry Armstrong il gettinB W po very
unsteady" said Mr.. Lane, to his friend HARDY.
The young man alluded to just rode past
the house driving horse as fast as his young
master. A "long nine" was in his mouth,
while his couptenance, whose unnatural flush
was caused by something more potent than
exercise or the keen frosty air, bore the unmis.
taxable marks of dissipation. siit ai d.
"Yes, be is rather wild, that's fact" re-
turned Mr.. Hardy, carelessly; "but he'll come
out all right by and by. He is only ''sowing
his wild OATS" l.as .a.} 4l .saud 1la u4
Mr.. Lane shook his head. "Alas, for the
barvestl' he said. "Whatever a man sows,
that shall he reap" at '
20, that don't amount to much. They are
generally killed by the first frost, it they come
up at ALL" 4-sg au
Say, but the roots remain: springiug up in
after years, and bearing bitter fruit"
80, no: they don't stake deep enough for
that Boys will be boys. They will have a
wild season sometime in their lives, and I've
always noticed that these wild boys; when
they get steadied down; make the best men,
and, you mark my words, when young Arm.
strong is thirty, he will be steady, sober citizen.
There is nothing bad about him, wild as he
is; he is full of kind feelings; and generous
impulses" an srb sig .rsf
"nue, but mere feeling and impulse, how
ever good, won't make up for the want Of prin-
cipe, nor tend to the formations Of correct
habits, which are so important. Aud that Is
not all. The foundations, of health and
strength, as we'll as character, are laid 10 youth.
A life of such open disregard Of the plainest
laws of nature, will impair the strongest con
sltution, often sowing the seeds of some
chronic disease, which not only follows the
transgressor though life, but descends, fatal
inheritance. to his children"
just at this juncture, Mr.. Hard glanced out
of tho window. "Hore comes man." he
said "who is living illustratinn Of the fal.
lacy Of that theory. No one can say ought
against him now, but so reckless and discpat-
ed was he when young, that no had touch
of the delirium tremens before be was twenty
Look at bin now, aud tell me il you ever saw
better srecimine of "strong, vigorous man
hood 7" e
Mr.. Lane followed the direction of his
! friends eye, and saw man passing upon the
opposite sidewalk, with full, Aorid counte
nance, ponly figure aud dgnified aspect.
"On the contrary" he replied, "you could
not possibly have cited more striking illus
tration of bis truth. l kcow Judge Parker
well, and know, too, that few men have suff
cred more severely for the follies of thei
youth, to call them by no graver name, thar
he. Though apparently IN high health, h'
has been martyr for some years to painful
disease, which seriously impairs his usefulness
even if it docs not Eventually shorten his life
And look at bis family. Three Of his chi lrer
died in infancy one Of those living is Of feeble
intellect, deformed from bis birth. The othe
two, though unusaly intelligent for lhei
years, have wsyward empers aud slender con
stitutions, to whom existence is more curse
than blessing"
Mr.. Hardy gave his friend an a,tonishet
look. ITO complain about that" he said, 81
should called flying into the face Of Providence
and re- -pioaching to their Maker"
Mr.. Lanes placid countenauce filled up will
indignation.
"When will men cease to charge the Au
thor of all good with the works of their owr
handsp he cried; "as though it was his will
that the inocent child should receive, with it
first breath, legacy of disease and suffering
that terminates only with life; or that any o
His creatures should bear about with them
through weary years, the burther of living
death! To hear some talk, one would sup
pose Him to be partial, capricious being
who gives health to this one and disease I,
another, according to some passing whim, in
steap of just and tender Father, whose wis
end holy laws ale as unchangeable as Him
selfp
Somewhat to Mr.. Lanes surprise, his frient
made no reply to this, but colored and iooke'
all at ease.
A rather awkward silence followed, whicl
was broken by some casual remark from th,
latter, who soon after took his leave.
1t was not until he had been gone som
minutes, that Mr.. Lane recollected that b,
had bad the reputation Of being rather un
steady in his youth, which accounted for tn
sensliveness he manifested. But be did not
on that account, regret tho words he ba
spoken.
Mr.. Armstrong is sitting in his study, en-
gagged in examining some law documents.
| There are traces of irresolution around th