Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-01-23
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THE LIBRARY.

covered, young people were ignorant res
pecting a hundred things of which they may
now easily become we'll informed. ...
1t is true that sometimes they might hear
from their parents and friends what they,
in their turn, had heard from others. A
ship-wrecked sailor might tell them Of the
dangers of the sea; one-legged soldier
might recount the wonders of foreign climes,
in which he had fought and bled; and a
merchant might speak of the barbarous peo.
pie with whom he had traded but these
opportunities could not often occur, so that
whatever was passing in the wide world,
they could know but very little about it.
Few people could then afford to buy written
books, and still fewer learned enoug h to
write them.
How different is the case now! If q
young person wishes to know all about his
own country-its mountains, rivers, pro.
ductions and manufactures if he wishes to
hear about shipwrecks and disasters on the
mighty ocean, or of the inhabitants, man.
ners, and customs of distant climes, all this
information is to be got from books.
The art of printing has placed within our
reach interesting accounts of the four quar-
ters of the globe, so that no one need be al
together ignol ant of the remotest countries,
or of the most barbarous people.
The Arab of the desert, the negro of the
Gold Coast, the Indian of Canada, the Hot
tentot of South Africa, and the Esquimaux
of North America, are all brought before us
in books; we see their pictures, we learn
how they act in war and peace, and are able
to form more correct idea of the inhabi-
tants of the world.
Books make US acquainted with the ex-
tent of countries, the height of mountains,
the length of rivers, and with the animal,
vegetable and mineral creation. How little
should We know of the productions of diff
ferent countries if it weren for books
Mariners might sail round the world, trav-
elegs might visit distant climes, the whale
might be harpooned in the North Sea, the
lion hunted in Africa, the tiger and ele-
phant in the East Indies, the bear and the
buffalo in America, the giraffe in the desert,
and the kangaroo in Australia, without our
being acquainted with these matters; but
as they are recorded in books, we know, or
may know all about them.
1t is from books that we learn the his
tory of different nations, and know whether
they are Jews, Mahommedans, idolaters,
or Christians. Books tell US what the mis-
sionary is doing abroad, inform us of the
spread of the gospel, and of the different
schools established in different parts of the
world. Without books we must, most Of
us, of necessity, be ignorant ; but with them,
accompanied with Gods blessing, We may
become wise.
But though books contain great informa-
ton, very many cannot afford to buy them
they may purchase few, but they cannot
buy all they want to obtain the information
they desire.
To meet this difficulty. kind and. Chris
tian-hearted people have set up lending IL
braries of useful instructive books, and are
thereby doing much good. Then, look a.
a family library; the shelves are we'll stockt
ed with books arranged in order.
But if school and family libraries thus
make it easy to young people to acquire
useful information, the greater disgrace will
it be to them if they remain ignorant. The
old copy,
When house is gone and money spent,
Then learning is most excellent,
lis as true now as it ever was. Young peo-
pie now have great advantages.
One thing should, however, be remem-
bered. 1t is not reading all the books in
the world, or obtaining all the information
in the world, that will render young per-
son happy. True wisdom consists not IN
knowing what is right only, but in doing it.
That book, then, is the best book, which
sets the worthiest object before you, and
supplies you with the best motive to obtain
lit.
Thoug books were ten times more plenti-
full than they are, yet, if the Bible should
be taken away, we should be worse off than
before. To be, therefore, we'll in other
books, and to be but little acquainted with
the Bible, is reproach to any one, old or
young. Other books afford US passing en-
tertainment Of. knowledge respecting the
world !; but the Bible is able to make US
wise unto salvation through faith which is
in Christ Jesus.
Whatever books you read, be sure to keep
up the reading Of your Bible; it contains
the best news that ever came into the world,
salvation by the Saviour of sinners; it af-
fords counsel in difficulty, consolation in
trouble, support in sickness, and confidence
in death.
This is precious book indeed,
Happy the child that loves to read
'Tis Gods own word, which he has given
To show our souls the way to heaven.
What should you say of traveller who
had to enter strange country, if he made
diligent inquiry about the hills and valleys,
the roads and the lanes, highways and BY
ways of the first few miles, but never made
any inquiry about the remainder? you
would think and say, that he was at best
but a simple fellow. Such are all those
who are we'll read in other books and i'll
read in the Bible; who are in the things of
this world, and ignorant of the world which
is to come.
Of all the books that e'er wero penned
To sell, to give away, or lend,
From north to south, from east to west,
The Bible is tho very best.
CAN YOU COUNT A BILLION.
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