Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-11-20
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SELF-TRUST,
BY HORACE GREELEY.
From the Little cornoral 1

From the Little Corporal
When | was nine years old, there un.
expectedly appeared, one day, in nv
fathers humble farmhouse, the clergy.
men, doctor, lawyer, and perhaps one OF
two other magnets of our New England
rural township, who addressed my faith.
er to this effect
"Your older son Is so promising a
student, so easy and rapid learner, that
we think he should have a better educa.
ton than our common schools can give
him. We propose, Therefore, that be be-
sent to Phillips Academy, and thence to
college,; and we offer, should you choose
to entrrst him to US, to see that he is
thoroughly schooled, withnt expense to
you."
My poor but proud parents responded
with thanks, but decided that they would
give their children all the schooling they
could afford, and this must suffice them.
Among the many things for which l
have cause for filial gratitude, accord
high place to this decision. True, had
they accepted this generous proffer, |
should have learned much that | still ur.
gently need to know; for | never was,
even for a day, pupil in any seminary
higher or other than a 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 Eschylus, Pla
to and Demosthenes, in their native
tongue; but not at the cost Of owing my
ability to read them to the bounty of
some sect or educational society, who
would reasonably expect Of me the cham
bionship Of its dogmas in return. |
would not be bound even by the siken
ligaments of gratitude, to what seems to
me the truth Of today, if l thereby be
rendered ever disinclined to accept and
welcome the deeper truth that may dawn
on my apprehension tomorrow. The
prevalent axity of fibre on this point. is
one of our gravest perils. 1t indicates a
serious, and fear growing defect of
national character. Every one wishes to
rise-which is natural and perhaps laud-
able but the great majority aspire to
rise, not by natural elasticity, nor yet by
arduous personal effort, but by clinging
TO the skirts Of some one else. Some
rich uncle or generous brother, some
wealthy friend or freehanded philanthropy
list, is expected, or at least desired, to in
flate the balloon whereby the fond as
pirant. hopes to be foated over the heads
Of the multitude into an asylum of wealth
or power. Our youth are generally am
bilious; but the crown of simple leaves
which so richly rewarded the long prep
arRtion, the abstinence and thorough
training, Of the victor in the Grecan
games, would have little attraction il
their eyes. They aspire rather to clutch
quickly and easily those material advan-
tages which are blessings to those only
who have worthily, laboriousiy achieved
them. They covet the sudden though
doubtful gains of speculation, rather than
the slow but sure reward of useful in
dus!rv. They aspire to be wealthy first,
and useful (f ever afterward, and mis-
takenIy fancy that, if an unearned for
tune were somehow showered upon them,
they would excite Gods astonished adj
miration by devoting 1.-THE of it to
some unsefsh, benificent use. Give
them the fortune to day, and they would
soon conclude that 1.-THE of 1.-THE is
all they can spare for any philanthropie
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 ran it down to nothing.
But we harshly misiudge them. They
did not begin with everything. The
handspring of noble career was want
ing. 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 sump-
tuousIy, and ride, sail, or dance album
dainty; that is rich mans chief end to
crafty his physical appetites and reyel in
sensual delights. Thus blinded and mis-
educated, they were from childhood i'm
PEELED on the road to ruin, and may large
" blame their infatuated parents or
guardians for their swift decent to per-
diton.
The great first truth to be impressed
on every unfolding mind, is the inexora-
bility of retribution. 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 in
evitable shadow of evil doing-such is
the elemental law of the universe, as vital
and operative to-day, ON this earth, in
our homes, as ever on any planet that has
revolved, any sun that has ever shone.
There are sufferings which result from
other sins than those of the present suf.
ferer; but no one ever did a wrong, and
escaped or evaded the penalty. "ln the
day thou eatest thereof, thou shalt sure
ly diel" which does not by any means
imply that you shall be alive and well on
the morrow.
But may no one ever seek aid from
others?"
:" Yea, verify! If you are ignorant,
seek knowledge; if unskilled and uneffi
cient, seek ability and dexterity in what
ever sphere of useful effort shall seem to