American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-01-13

satisfied that you will not hesitate, aflcr
examining it, to procure the remaining
numbers for 1864 For particulars, see
notice in another column of this paper.
BE Something.
1t is the duty of every one to take some
active part as actor on the stage Of life.
Some seem to think they can yegetate, as
it We're, without being anything in par
ticular. Man was not made to rust out
his life. 1t is expected he should "act
well his part" He must be something.
He has work to perform, which it is his
duty to attend to- We are not placed
here to grow up, pass through The yari-
Gus stages of life, and then die, without
having done anything for the benefit Of
the human race 1t is a principle in the
creed Of the Mohametans, that every one
should have a trade. No Christian doc
trine could be better than that. Is man
to be brought up in idleness? Is he to
live upon the wealth which his ancestors
have acquired by frugal industry? Is he
placed here to pass through life like an
automaton? Has he nothing to perform
as a citizen of the world? A man who
does nothing, is useless to his country as
an inhabtant. A man who does nothing
is a mere cypher. He does not fulfil the
obligations for which he was sent into the
world, and when he dies, he has not fin
ished the work that was given him to do.
lie is mere blank in creation Some
are born with riches and honors upon their
heads. But does it follow that they have
nothing to do in their career through life?
There are certain duties for every one to
perform. BE something. Don't live like
Il hermit and die mregrctted.
See that young man, no matter what
are his circumstances, if he has no par
ticular business to pursue, he will not ac-
complish much. Perhaps he has faith
er abundantly able to support him. Per-
haps that father has lobored hard to OBJ
tain a competence that is sufficient for his
sons to live in idleness. Can they 90
abroad with any degree of self-compla-
cency, squandering away the money which
their fathers have earned by hard labor I?
No one who has the proper feelings of a
citizen, who wishes to be ranked among
the useful members of society, would live
such life
BE something. Don't be a drone. You
may rely upon Your present possessions,
or on your future prospects, but these rich
es may fly away, or other hopes may be
obliterated, and if you have no place of
your own, in such case, ten to one you
will find your path beset with thorns.-
Want may come upon you before you are
aware of it, and having no profession, you
find yourself in anything but an enviable
condition. 1t is therefore, necessary that
you shouldn't SOMETHING. Don't depend
upon fortune, for she is a tickle support,
which often fails when you lean upon her
with the greatest confidence. Trust to
your own exertions.
BE SOMETHING, pursue that vocation
for which you are fitted by nature pur-
sue it faithfully and diligently. You
have part to act, and the honor in per-
forming that part, depends upon yourself
1t is sickening to see parcel of idol boys
hanging around father, spending the
money which he has earned by his indus
try, without attempting to do anything for
themselves.
BE SOMETHING, should be their mot
to, Every one is capable of learning some
art, trade, or mystery" and can earn
competence for himself He should BE
SOMETHING, and not bring down the gray
J hairs of his father to the grave. He
should learn to depend upon himself
Idle boys living upon parent without
any profession or employment, are lily
qualified for good members of societv.-
And we regret to say, that it is too often
the case that it is the parents fault that
they are thus brought up. They should
be taught to BE SOMETHING, to know how
to provide for themselves in case of ne
-eessity, and to act well their part, they
will reap the honor which therein lies
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