Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-07-03
Written for tho Journal
EverYdaY Life and Chnrncter.


How frequent we hear the rcmark-"I care
not what others say, shall do as l please"
wonder IL such individuals over pause to con-
slider the unworihness Of such remorks2 Itis
impossible living in this world of relations
where the sympathetic, the social, and the NOR
al nature Of man combine to form the grand con-
Meeting link in the great chain of cause and effect
TO live without an influence, either for good or
for bad. The miser, who shuts himself up in
his narrow slave celia slave to boarded treas
ures of rusty coppers and gltterng gold new
approaching beyond the light of his own mus
ty donicil fearing some satanic power might
clutch his idolized god away, is not with
out mis- influence. Is the influence we derive
generous, noble, and Humanitarian, in its ten
dency, vice versaY) should Judge the latter.
Again, we may take the case Of moderate
Tipler," one who drinks for the Stomach s sake,
&c" He lifts the flowing cup to his lips, and
partakes of the poison before him What is
the result Of so small thing as this may seem
to many and what the harm springing from an
example so carelessly set2 Before him stands
the youth--iust vergng into manhood; al an age
may make him man or an oucast; pnd as he
gazes upon the man, whom the world enulates
he ponders in his mind-"Why may / not do
likewise" as he already takes in with the tele-
scope of his eye, the sparkling rubIes which
dance on the tempting cup like so many burn.
ing vcspers-until he eau even taste the venO-
nous charms Of inoxication. He forms the
habits of the mau before him-and what may
be said ofhim in few years bence2 The name
OF druukard may be found, written on the dark
pages OF disgrace,--whcre might have been
written perhaps as bright n name as ever graced
the annals of history, had society around but
welded n better influence to mould that young
mind into more perfect manhood, and fitted
him to be what the great God of nature design
ed him, namely-a blessing to himself aud the
world. Thus we not only see the moral or i'm
moral effects in one, or a few relations and de-
partments life, but VIC see it in all? a single
man may, as he oft times has, change the des.
tiny of great and powerful nation. Whence
came our present rebellion which is poisoning
the sweet waters of national prosperity, and
sends its whitening and demoralizing blight over
the whole civilized world? 1t came, as every
thinker must admit, from the polluted chambers
of individual minds who live in the cellar of
life, with cold, selfish desire for individual ag-
grandizement regardless of the blood which
must flow as the Legitimate fruits of its with
ering blight. a man may therefore bless or
curse nation, we but too plainly see when
we survey the hidous gloom which shrouds
like midnight pail the political world We
cannot have Republic therefore that shall be
the realization of the patriot dream or the re-
formers vision, until individuals become reno
waited and reunited for the welfare of the whole
Such IS the economy of nature that vicious
man may by his intrigues influence society, as
the man who is patriotic Humanitarian and
God-like. How is it in the intellectual world,
where the giant mind reaches out and grasps
all great aud mighty truths, and where honor is
the chief star in famcs bright coronet? Where
are now the heroes of the dead past who have
welded the sword of intellectual greatness and
sank TO rest? Aye we will tread lightly over
their moss-cOvered mounds where rests their re-
posing ashes, and speak with feeling of rever-
ence their names; for their memory, as imper-
ishable as the rock of heroic truth on which
they stood, should be as mtarnished as the ex-
ampes they left behind. The light of Plato's
lamp VIII burn tUrever,-and Confucius moral
sayings will out-live his nations history, and
shine with undimed lustre, while his own fair
name shall have been forgotten Can America
forget her Clay, Webster; or down -trodden
Hungary her Chefains? Nay, as well might
we attempt to blot out the light of heaven Let
us never forget that we are dependent upon each
other, and while we are writing our own autibi-
ography, of ills and joys, we are at the same
4
background Tor others; and it is a simple yet
true saying that there never was n wave struck
the shore but it rebounded back again." Small
acts widen in their influence, becoming a stu
pcndous bundle of evil, or mountain of good
ness. pebble cast into the bosom of the deep,
widens in its circle spreading for leagues around,
until it is soon felt by the great body of waters;
so we in our daily walks of life, are giving to
the world good or bad influences and examples,
and leaving our impress on the rocks of life to
be read and felt by future generations; and when
life sscene's are DER and our spirits have Joined
the loved ones "gone before" to that Summer
land just beyond the floating clouds which half
obscures the souls sweetest vision, may we have
so lived that men on earth shall venerate our
names, and angels in heaven shall prepare for
us happy entrance among the free" where
we can roam unfettered mid anbrosial bowers
and pluck the amarinthine flowers of love-
Mas. SARAH A. FRENcH
Clyde, June %, 1863.