The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1867-09-05
Letters to Young Hen.
Beloved Friends :,
By |" UNCLE JOHN. :

Z
yonr attention to the power of HABIT
It is subject very generally over
looked, especially by the young. II
Is however OF the highest importance
as it gives character to human life
1t has been aptly said that "habit is
second nature and once formed is
hard to change. 1t is evident there.
fore, that those just entering the are.
ma of life. should be exceedingly
careful what kind of habits thew
form. If the habits formed are right
the character will be good. but il
they are wrong, then the character
will be bad. Just IN proportion as
good and bad habits preponderate
will the character stand forth for
veal or w!o to its po SCISSOR.
1t is more difficult to leave off a
bad habit, than to form a good one.
The earlier in life therefore that our
attention is called to this subject
the better, as there are fewer errors
to correct. But unfortunately al.
most all young men have formed
more or less bad habits, and the first
thing necessary is tosslearn to unlearn
what they have learned amiss."-
Habit will make anything easy, and
many things unpleasant at first, will
become agreeable by habitual use
The best men of our day, are SO be-
cause they have formed the habit of
doing ,cell those things which are
right and proper to- be done. The
most degraded men differ from them
mainly because they have fallen into
bad habits, and repeat continually
what they should not do at ait A
few prominent habits of each class
will be pointed out as illustrative of
the subject. In a previous paper we
have spoken Of the ralue Of time, and
therefore call attention. first to the
habit of early rising as of great i'm
portance. Tho writer does not re.
member ever having read the biogra-
ply Of a single man who ever made
a mark in the world, that was not an
early riser. There is something en-
nobling and invigoratingin breaking
away from the embraces of Nor
pheus at the early dawn, andit is the
experience Of all who have tried it,
that the early morning hours are the
best for.all kinds Of labor, physical
intellectual and devotional. The
writer in early life, tell into the COM
mon error Of burning the midnight
lamp in literary pursuits, often call
ing TO his aid the stimulous of two or
three cigars during the evening"
The consequence was great, nervous
excitement on retireiDg to bed, and
extreme languor in the morning.-
An entire change of habits in this
regard, has shown that Doctor Frank
Inns adage = scarly to bed and ear
ly to rise is founded in wisdom
One hour in the morning is worth
two at night, for any kind of study.
Sleep is "natures sweet restoNr :"
and when not abused gives to the
mind q freshness which makes it
capable Of grasping thoughts which
it could not comprehend at the close.
of q !aborieus day, after being |
to its greatest capacity. The l.aull
Of early rising enables a per-
son to keep ecea with his busi.
ness which is Of itself an
consideration. 1t is
tho foundation OF punctuality a
habit altogether worthy ofattention.
It is simply the habit offdoing things
at the appointed time. lfa man has
an arrangement to spend Q certain
hour with you on business, asd does