Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-01-22
PERILs OF THE YOUNG.

Young people, says the PHILADELPHIA
Ledger, cannot be too careful to avoid bad
habits Ifa young man be idle, he will
make others idle II he be dishonorable in
business, or extravagant, or does not lay
his debts, he saps that credit, confidence
aud honor which is the life OF business pros
peflty Where these or other vicious prin-
eiples prevail among the youth Of nation,
II may sink into degradation, and eventually
be destroyed. On the other hand, where
an industrious, orderly, just, and honorable
character pertains to the youth Of people,
it insures the welfare aud progress of the
nation at large. In youth comes the crisis
OF ilfe. Those who choose we'll rise ike
the morning sun higher and higher, but
these who fail at this crisis, sink among the
perlls that surround them, often to rise no
more. At no time are passions and energy
50 strong, and experience so weak, as at the
polnt where parents and guardians relin-
qsish authority, aud the young man as
sumes theFesponsibility Of directing himself.
IL IS then that the mind and the body are
strong, courage, hope and enterprise ardent
and the appetites and inclinations powerful.
Passions, when latent 10 the breast, need
but a spark Of temptation to infame them.
If they were all pure, and properly har-
monized, the young man would perhaps
find IN them that which would give strength
to his virtue, and an instinct, which, sup
plying the place Of experience, would guide
him Alright. But it is not so. He NAV
have inherited the moral delinquencias of
the parent as much as his physical disorders.
The currents and fashions of prevailing
wickedness make it difficult for young
man to keep clear of them. What ayails
the skill Of the mariner il. the midst of the
Whirlpool He may steer by his compass,
and set his sails, and seem to be moving
Alright, while ha is really drifting into the
fatal current. The young man, led by his
youthful associates into the haunts of dissi-
patton, aud vice, is being insensibly drawn
into the fatal current. He may be amiable
aud even innocent at first, but after time
his face Is flushed, and his brow contracted
with anxiety, for he feels that be IS rushing
into the whirlpool of guilt that may end in
his destruction.
Good habits firmly fixed are the best
thing to guide the young through the jour
ney Of life II a wise aud honorable manner
Money cannot DO it; nor talents and educa-
ton, nor powerful connections and fashion
able manners. Neither can philosophy, or
even innocence and amiability do it, All
these may fade before temptation, ike snow
before the sun. Earnest and active devo-
tlon to duty to virtuous principles, and the
practice Of honor, honesty, morality aud
/ justice, are necessary TO combat the dangers
/ by which the young are surrounded Some
habits should be checked; others stimulated
some need pruning, and others wedding out
root and branch. If taken in time, it will
be pleasant duty to keep the garden Of the
mind IL order, but if the weeds get the up
+ per hand the task viii be one Of increasing
difficulty. Prince TaIiyrand took part in
thiiteeu revolutions, and was always the
acknowledged leader. His plan was to
watch the tendencies Of public opinion, and
always to take his stand little way before
the foremost, so that they would seem to be
coming up to him. He once said that the
secret Of his success Ia life was to set bis
watch ten minutes ahead Of the rest of man
kind Idleness is common weed, but is
easily kept under, If industrious habits are
formed in time, and he whose day begins
ten minutes sooner than that of those
around him, will ind the benefit of Tally
rand s maxim. So, if young man in bis
business keeps a little in advance of what
/ his employer could reasonably expect of him
I his reputation will be assured.