The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-01-22
TRUE AMBITION.

forth not only the extant powers OF our minds,
but actually creates new life, new thought, and
gives to us the energy an! perseverance. which
are needed to accomplish our wishes. Earthly
ambition, seems to evince itself in our carlics
childhood, causing us to feel anxious and emu
lous to excel our young competitors, in all games
and plays that are suitable to our age. From
that time forward we are more or less influenced
by its syren voice, to contend either nobly or
ignobly on the battle field of life, for the possess
sion of pleasures, riches and worldly glory, such
as they then appear to our dazzled vision and
excited Imagination. If thus earthly ambition,
which comes with our beings, and clings to us
tenacious,y, could in all cases be turned into the
proper channel and made the sure basis upon
which the structure of true ambition should rest
In, how different would not only our feelings, but
our hopes and our fates Ambition seems
to admit Of twodevisions--tru and false. False
ambition springs not SO much from an evil heart,
as from one that has been badly trained and in
many instances 50 sadly neglected, as to deprive
it of all wholesome thought, all honorable aim.
In Infancy and youth, we commence our first
lessons. not only of mentalbut of moral training ;
and upon the nature of onr first impressions, de-
pends much of our after happiness or misery. 1t
is then that false or true ambition will be cngen-
dered into our beings, and our future career be
made either honorable or dishonorable, by the
influence of those who act as our preceptors.-
to give proper impulses to others, we must first
feel and experience them ourselves; otherwise
our advice will prove cold and fruitless proauc-
ING neither pleasure no benefit. For if we new
or follow out in our own regard the advice,
which we SO freely tender others, they will nat
urally lose confidence, and Withdraw their respect
and affection from as In order to do this our
own early trainingshould be Of the most unex-
ceptionable character, our own hearts pure
Thus we see that scholarship alone is not the
only requisite to make the true teacher They
should feel disinterested affection for those
with whom they labor, a strong desire to impart
not only knowledge, but to plant the germ Of all
future greatness and goodness a true and well
directed ambition. If then our earthly happi-
ness and usefulness cannot be successfully at
tanned, by any other means. than through
proper and well guided ambition why is It that
Parents and Teachers seem to give the subject
so little attention? why do they pass it by, as
something most excellent to theorizo about, but
seldom attempt to test its worth, by practice or
experience In the home circle, even more than
in the sehoolroomde children show their natural
dispositions and inclination. There at least they
feel free, to act in accordance, with the impulses
of their natures, and to give vent to every thought
untarnished by deceit or dissimulation. AT
home, and at home only, can the good work be
begun, by those who love us most, and therefore
whose affection should even prompt them, to la
Dor most devotedly, and sincerely for our sakes,
It has been said, and wisely said, that that
which we truly love, we study, think upon, and
watch with an eagerncss and anxiety which to
the cold and selfish may appear almost incred-
ible If this assertion be true, and doubt it
not, how many misguided persons there arc in
the world according to that standard. For al
though all profess to love, yet, in reality, how
few ever attempt to study the peculiar turn Of
mind tastes, habits, or ambition of those ind-
viduals placed beneaih their care and protcc-
ton IF true friendship can prompt us to make
many sacrifices, can cause US to feel watchful
and solicitous for the welfare of those to whom
we devote ourselves, how much more eager and
deep should be the love of parents for their chill
dren. Their 1--we, like the emerald, which poets
say spring from the depths Of the sea, should
also arise from the depths of their hearts, and
prove, by its constancy and brightness, its true
beauty, its true aim.
In the schoolroom, the intelligent, Jealous and
conscientious teacher may Go much towards en-
deavoring to eradicate evil habits by arousing
proper impulses, and thus lay secure founda-
ton for true ambition. But this he cannot ac-
complish unless he is aided by the parent and
the effects of good home influence. To the ex-
ample and efforts of virtuous parents and teach
ers, we not only owe the great and good of our
own age, but that of all preceding ages. No
individual ever has attained, or ever will attain,
any standard of excellence without the kindly
assistance Of parent, friend or teacher. To God
we owe our existence, and to our natural pro-
tectors, the instrument of his mercy in our re-
gard, we owe our education, our usefulness and
our future greatness. Man may boast of his
independence, of his freedom, but by wise and
inscrutable law, framed by tile Giver of all laws,
each creature must depend one upon another,
withoG regard to race, cline, quality or distinc-
ton. Since, then, we are so dependent, SO uni
ted as it were by ties which we cannot sever,
and governed by laws that we neither can sub
vert or understand, why do we not try to make
that state prescribed for ourselves and Others
pleasant journey, a happy pilgrimage, the ter.
minatien of which will be but the beginning of
a new existence, a purer, hoier state? To the
Aeartless wording, this language will appear
absurd and foolish; in his heart no echoing an
swer will be found, except such as would create
discord and bring disgrace upon his manhood.
And let me ask, why is he thus hardened, thus
alienated, thus worried and tempest tossed by
the many and sudden changes to which we are
all exposed? Because his early education was
wrong, his home influence of spurious char.
acter, and his ambition misplaced. To these
three evils, but especially 10 the latter. can we
we'll attribute his false ideas, his false conduct,