Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-07-02
From the Little Corporal.
COUNSEL TO BOYS.
BY HORACE GREELEY.
SELF-TRUST.

| When l was nine years old, there unexpect-
edly appeared one day, in my fathers humble
farmhouse, the clergyman, doctor, lawyer, and
perhaps one or two other magnates OF our New
England.rural township, who addressed my pa
rents to this effect
'sYour elder son is SO promising student, so
easy and rapid learner that we think he
should have better education than our COM
mon school can give him. We propose, there
fore, that he be sent to Phillips Academy, and
thence to college; and we offer, should you
choose to entrust him to us, to see that he is
thoroughly schooled, without expense to you.
My poor but proud parents responded with
thanks but decided that they would give their
children all the schooling they could fairly at
| ford, and that this must suffice them.
And among the many things for which l have
| to this decision. True, had they accepted the
generous proffer, | should have learned much
| that still urgently need to know; for l never
| was, even for day, pupil in any seminary
| higher or other than very common school;
! but prize the independence thus secured far
above the learning which it would have dearly
purchased. [ would like to read Homer and
| Hschylus, Plato and Demosthenes, in their ma
tive tongue, but not at the cost of owing my
ability so to read them to the bounty Of some
sect or education society, who would reasonably
in return. | would not be bound, even by the
silken ligaments of gratitude, to what seems to
me the truth of to-day, if were thereby to be
rendered even disinelined to accept and wei
come the deeper truth that may dawn on my
| apprehension tomorrow.
| The prevalent laxity of fiber on this point is
one of our gravest perils 1t indicates seri-
GUS, and fear, growing defeat of national
| character. Every one wishes to rise-which is
| natural, and perhaps laudable; but the great
majority aspire to rise, not by natural elasticity,
nor yet by arduous personal effort, but by cling
| ing to the skirts OF some one else. Some rich
uncle or generous brother, some wealthy friend
or ee-handed philanthropist is expected, or at
least desired to initiate the balloon whereby the
| fond aspirant hopes to be foated over the heads
| OF the multitude into an eysium of wealth or
power. Our youths are generally ambitious;
| but the crown Of simple leaves which so richly
| rewarded the long preparation, the abstinence,
| and thorough training of the victor in the Gre
clan games, would have little attraction in their
| eyes. They aspire rather to clutch quickly and
easily those material advantages which are
blessings to those only who have worthily, Ia
| boriously achieved them. They covet the sud-
| den though doubtful gains of speculation, rath-
| er than the slow but sure reward of useful in
| dustry. They aspire to be wealthy first, and
useful lit ever) afterward they mistakenly
| fancy that, if an unearned fortune were some
how showered upon them, they would excite
| Gods astonished admiration by devoting 1.-THE
! of it to some unselish, benefcent use. Give
| them the fortune to-day, and they would soon
conclude that 1.-THE of 1.-THE is all they could
spare. for any philanthropic aim; and they
would grudge even that
We all know men who ''began the world with
| nothing" and have now all that heart could
| wish. We know sons of such who beginning
with everything 1--WE say, soon lit down to
nothing. But we harshly misjudge them
| They did not begin with everything. The main
spring of noble career was wanting Their
youthful experiences were directly calculated to
Undue them with the false notion that it is the
sum Of life to eat and drink luxuriously, dress
sumptuously, and ride, sail or dance abundant
ly; that it is man. chief end to crafty his ply
sical appetites and revel In sensual delights
Thus blinded and miseducated, they were from
childhood impelled on the road to ruin, and
many largely blamed their infatuated parents
or guardians for their swift descent to perdi-
ton.
The great first truth to be impressed on ev-
cry unfolding mind is the inexorability of re-
tribution. Drive out nature with pitchfork,
they say, and she will surely come in again !;
but retribution will not be driven out. Like to
like; so much for so much !; pain and woe the
| lneVlIdDc SudUOW Ol tfu uOluS Is IIc clc-
mental law of the universe, as vital and opera
tive to-day, on this earth, in our homes, as ever
on any planet that has revolyed, any sun that
ever shone. There are sufferings which result
from other sins than those Of the present suf
ferer;; but no one ever did wrong and escaped
or evaded the penalty. s'In the day thou eat
est thereof, thou shalt surely die;" which does
not, by any means. imply thatyou shall be alive
and well on the morrow.
''But may no one ever seek aid from 9TH
ers?"
Yes verify Ifyou are ignorant seek knowl-
edge; if unskilled and inefficient, seek ability
and dexterity in whatever sphere of useful ef-
fort shall seem to you most inviting. But seek
these, with every other good, as equivalents
for service rendered, not as aims Say to the
teacher, the craftsman, you have wisdom that
1 need /; but have young, elastic sinews, that
may be made useful to you. propose to give
on and take on terms Of mutual advantage !;
what shall they be ?" What you need is not
Charity, but Opportunity; and, if this is not
afforded on terms Of reciprocal benefit in one
direction, resolve to seek it in another. Better
live and die an independent cobbler than any
great mans satellite,