Weekly Trinity journal., 1864-08-27
what the Old Man said to the Young Man

The following we clip from the La Crosse
Democrat We commend it particularly to the
young; but i. win amply repay any one for read
ingit:
nature from her own God given patent so to be-
Warp, bend, twist ornament the tree as much
as YOU will-no art improve it. And so my
boy with people. Life is forest. 1t is the
ante-chamber of the Wide Range, and full OF
living trees, from the stately trunk with tower
ing congregation of limbs and leaves, to the ugly
dwarf up and down whose ragged and scraggy
sides filthy looking bugs crawl and gnaw. We
each have mission, my boy. A purpose Fix
the faith high in the cerulean and labor on. Do
not stop to heed what the world may say. The
world has no love for you, Walter, my boy The
world is a tyrant-it spurns and crushes under
its foot everything which does not sting. Act
your part. Let the winds howl. Broaden your
shoulders to the storm-stand brave and all will
be well. No two minds are alike. You cannot
please every one. 1t is folly to try. Have but
few heart friends, and to those be true. Please
YOURSELF not by sel6shness, but by true nobili-
ty. No matter how perfect you are, tongues will
wag, eyes will wink, envy will thrust its darts
and SANDER its poisoned shaft. But what OF it :?
Go on ! If you are as pure as the unborn Babe
of Bethlehem, the world will not believe it, Peo-
pie judge too much from themselves. If you are
good, people will shrug their shoulders and say
IT is deyilish slyness-concentrated cunning
which, under the cloak of purity carries innu-
merable masked batteries to poison and destroy.
If you wish to go, go. If you wish to stay,
stay. If you wish to be, be. If you wish to
act, act. If you wish to say, say. Inhale hon.
esty of purpose-fll your soul with honorable
ambition-mark out the path you will tread and
let not the voice of man deter you for a moment.
People will talk, my boy. If not about you, of
some one else less able to bear up under the
loads Of calumny.
Go on, my boy With truth to feed the flame
to your lamp of life, and honor to shield you,
there fears able to shake the resolves
which spring forth to lead you on to fame, wealth
or happiness-hghest prize of all.
The world censures more than itprases. Graft
tude is too oft the pay for future generosity.
The study of life is of deep perpexites-a
Kaleidoscope of ever changing views. Society
cares nothing for man. 1t but extends poor
favors to induce greater ones-as boy with
handful of oats makes a prisoner of the horse
he will spur and enslaye afterward.
The one who praises at your face will dissect
you as a carver does a duck the moment your
back is turned. There is but little true friend
ship in all the world. At times it is found, but
Walter remember that it grows the surest and
gives the most fragrance under the hedge rather
than on some palace roof. Likes and dislikes
True likes and false likes. Policy. Fear lest
the favor looked for may be withheld or the lit
tie bee may sting. A ship under false colors
Please whom you please let others seek else
where Who is afraid Did not God create all
men equal? Then what have you to fear? Is
not your opinion as good as your neighbour P
What if you do not please the world? If you
please yourself it is more than a hundreth part
of humanity say. To live to please those
who never for you is to spend life in braid
ing rope of sand. Have you an ambition
Seek to attain its longings. Have you a hope
Live to realize it. Have you a mind of your
own? Let that be your guide Have you some
the heart? Live for them. If not live for the
future, not forgetting the present
Mind your business. Men have become
rich by so simple process. Homes have been
happy by adhering to this doctrine. Life has
been prolonged simply by not loading the spirit
with rumors true or false about those who are
nothing to you. What if it is or is not so, my
boy That is the question. What will you do
about it? What does it concern you? Are you
another ones keeper?
1t makes little difference what people say
When they condemn it will hurt you not. When
they flattcr they never mean it. When they COM
pliment, they tell but half they think. When
they censure it is because they know from their
own experience that evil follows the trail Of
wrong. Be just and fear not 1t is God who re-
wards and Furnishes, and not those who are but
our equals, at the best Never mind what others
do-'m your heart with noble pride-stifen the
lip, broaden the shoulders and fight your own
battles bravely, and victory will in her own good
time be the wooer.