The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-08-29

mothers breast, before mind ant
consciousness begin, manifest
characteristics that will be founC
in after years to exert more OF les'
influence in modifying controlling
the course of life. ftSo well is ltbi,
understood, that anxious parent,
watch with deeply felt interest
tho unfolding propensitics anc
passions Of the offspring, whose fu,
ture, for good or i'll, depends very
much upon their guiding hand
But character is our subject, and VIC
must pass over the infantile years
unless it be decided, as some have
insisted that men are full grown
infants. This we will consent TO-
at least, that none live long enough
to pass the age of learning; and
that character can be improved
after the full term of mans scrip
tural allotment Of years.
Charaeter may be good or bad.
We want to know nothing of bad
character. There are elements
which contribute to the formation
ofdigniGcd, honorable life, that
can be secured and made personal
by choice and effort. Indepen-
dence,a perfect and entire reli,
ance upon ones self, is the main
thing to be kopt in vicw.. We have
somewhere said that the present
age is an age of stoieism, or words
to that effect, and it is true. The
world will defer to those who can
stand alone, who are self-reliant,
who can of themselves achieve
great deeds, endure without re-
pining, give more than they re-
ccived, and ask no favors. We say
such an one suffered terribly, but
uttered no complaint. Another
met death bravcly; or he;hazardod
his life to save others. Such an one
rose unaided from an apple boy,
or an apprenticed blacksmith, to
be Congressman, or a million
aire. Tho world adulates such,
while it contemns, or at tho best
treats with utter neglect those who
show no resources of their own.
What isitthen 10 stand in indc.
pendence, with a character that
recoils all the shafts that. are hurl-
cd against it2 First, the life must
be blameless and unspotted BY
vice and folly and crime, and a.
bound in good works; and all the
result Of individual effort and well
directed purpose, guided by vol.
tion. Tho golden rulc will not
suffer any ore to go cstray, SO long
rs it is made the rule of life, and
in its Observance is embodied the
whole duty of man. Every one
can, 1.-THE will, keep its precopts
this l shall insist upon. 1t will be
difficult, admit, under all the OBJ
staclcs that stand in the way: but
with our consciousness awake
and reason for our helm, with free.
dom of conduct, there is to be no
apology.
And how happy life might be,
and tranquil, with the conscious.
ness thatwe had never made false
statement to secure our end, or
kept back the truth for an unwor.
thy purpose, or neglected duty
either to ourselves, 10 others, or tC
the state, or TO religion; or neg,
lectcd tho suffering or tho needy
or failed TO speak an encouraging
word to the dcsponding; OF kept a
way from the degraded and vile
and cast off, when they might
have been reclaimed. because ther,
was danger that by touching them
ourselves might become de6led
BLESSED arc the merciful."
But owe no man anything. How
few there are who realize the in
dependence and the manliness thai
there is felt in being out Of debt
The debtor is always slave tc
his creditors, both in body anG
mind. Give me crusts, and straw
and rags, sothat they arc my own
If it must be SO, let mo walk th,
earth in poverty, SO that am no
in debt. The air is mine, water Il
mine, advisable nature is for my
eyes, the mountains loom up fol
mo, the birds sing for me, the star
are mine, thesun and moon are al
much mine as they are for thos'
that count th cir wealth by miliopl
and can't see across their domain
Though l do not hold a title for
foot Of terra frma, all these ar,
mino, and man can't take then
from mo.,5l-7 r,9.5 g,5 rs + 1851
Isay to those who are TO com
mence life, keep your lives pure