The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-12-19

such a broad distinction between noble
and ignoble actions, honor will be praise
worthy acquisition. He gho builds a
large house or ship, makes an important
discovery, by bis own efforts invents q
valuable machine, writes a good book,
educates himself literally, commands an
army successfully in battle for his country,
OF is the leader of refornstion-in a
word, any one who does his duty faith.
fully merits honor. An eagerness to gain
honor by deserving it, is one of the nOblest
desires Of the youthful heart.
When this desire Is found, it should De
cherished but when not found, it should
be iuculcated by every teacher of the
young. 1t is motive that leads to great
improvement. Men who perform noble
deeds will be honored. Such men as
Luthur, Franklin and Washington, will
always be honored. The Union soldier
in the late Rebellion, who left his home
With its ten thousand endearmeDts, parted
from his dearest friends, joined the ranks
Of his fellow patriots, suffered the many
hardships incident to war, marched into
battle, and fought bravely for his country
whether he lived or died-deserve8
honor. Who would not prize the houor
due to Sherman, Grant, and our late
President, Abraham Lincoln True
honor is such worthy attainment, that
parents and teachers should use means to
produce 10 the hearts of the young a
yearning after it.
The character Of our Government re
quires that ALL the people living under
it shall be literally educated in order to
provide for its own successful operations.
There never has been time when this
demand was SO great as it is now. Many
other interests are attended to at the me-
glect of this great duty.
Look at our own State, SO 6oely stu
ated, so fertile, so vastly rich in minerals
and oil-extending between the great
aud productive West, aud the three larg-
est cities on the continent-through
which thereby, an immense emigration, ,and
transportation must pass-and you will
see that its agricultural, oil, mineral,
aud manufacturing interests are each very
great. But when we take into consider
auon that physical wealth can never equal
mental acquisitions and moral worth,
intellectual progress and christianity, we
dnd that her educational interest is greater
than any other-yes, greater than all
others united.
Here, as elsewhere, this great work of
education is the duty of parents and
teachers The natural relation existing
batween the parent and child demands
chat the former shall do all that he can
reasonably, to benefit the latter. Fur
nishing a child with books, sending him
to school, paying for his instruction and
cooperating with his teacher, is indeed
doing a great deal. But much moro is
required of the parent. It is his duty to
give him good advice, to teach him by
bis OWN example 10 be obedient to proper
authority, to be Industrious, temperate,
cheerful honest, generous, and ambitious
to excel others only in well doing. May
all parents do their duty much more efic-
iently in thess respects.
Every child should be early taught that
he has body to be developed and strength
cned, a miod to be expanded and diSci
plined, and above all, that he has an
immortal soul, either to be finally lost, or
eternally saved. He should be taught
that his body is very valuable, because it
is the temporary homo Of his mird, and
soul, that whatever abuses one Injuries all,
that he is responsible to his Creator who
is Infinite 10 mercy, goodness and justice.
lie should be taught 10 exercise his own
conscience, that he may be able to judge
correctly between right and wrong, that
there is an inseperable connection between
doing right and being happy even in this
life, that he must die, and is liable to do
so at any time, that there is home above
"a place Of perfect and everlasting bap-I
plness, made only for them who love and
obey God here below. While he should
not be required to read the Bible too
young,-before he can comprehend enough
of it to make 1T interesting to Mm-he
should be taught to revere it as the Book
Of God, containing the truth of truths, as
the only unerring moral compass to the
lost sinner, pointing always from earth to
Heaven. o, that every parent were a
christian
A teachers duties are no less for he
is temporarily substitute for the parent,
aud hence, whenever be begins to teach
he virtually, assumes the great respon-
sibilities of the parent. How few teach
ers realize this 1t is great thing to be
a faithful teacher His vocation is such
that he especially requires comprehensive
culture. The physician spends year or
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