Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-04-02


lowing letter, is curiosity in newspaperdom.
WIN. WEIGH Esq, of Madison, who was printer
in early life, has complete printing Office in his
private residence, and publishes the DIAH4 without
reward except his own qualification, and the ecu
cation of his son, its editor. We think the letter
will be acceptable to our readers as well as to Mas
ter VICTOR.
PREscoTT. WIS.,, FEB. %, 1869.
MASTER VICroR JOHN WELcH:-A
visit to the office of the Home Diary,
and the perusal Of its fiIes-a valued
present from your father-has given me
the ambition to write "a letter for its
pages, and thus join the choice circle of
your contributors.
A printing Office in a gentleman's pri.
vate residence, with an editor whose
years are expressed by single figure. is
at least, an anomaly, but in future years,
when your pleased eye shall look over
the pages of the Diary, you will find,
that although small in dimensions, in
sprightlIness of fancy, in incisive thought,
in pungent criticism, it fairly rivals more
ambitious sheets.
I
TOR, and if in. learning to form them
into lines and marshal them into col
umns, YOU also learn to use that wonder
full instrument of power, the English Ian
guage, with case. and accuracy, and Wig
or, you will find that your father has
given you "a better start in life" than if
he had endowed you with stocks and
bonds, or made You the owner of vast
estates. Your name appears as editor
of paper at an age when less favored
boy would perhaps feel the first prompt
ings Of ambition to secure this distinction.
In maturer years you will moro fully
appreciate this honor, and will perhaps
translate into fact what is now pleasing
fiction.
In my boyhood often stood on the
wharves of one of our sea-board cities
and saw the great ships depart for far off
lands, and as they boldly stood out upon
the waste of waters, Wondered whether
the cruel, roaring, hungry sea would
swallow them up, or whether, after many
months, they would return. bringing
wealth to their possessors, and happiness
to waiting hearts. Just so. VIcToR, does
thoughtful man regard a boy, who is
playing on the margin of that sea of
life across which he must boldly steer.
1T may be that tho CULTS will wash
him down; Z" 1t may be he will reach the
Happy Isles"
None make the voyage in unbroken
sunshine. Storms will come, my boy,
but WILL and WORK are faithful pilots,
and will bring you safely through.
In the years of your manhood, which
is to come, you will find that great hopes
will die. great faiths will be wrecked,
great loves will be misdrected and mis-
placed. But you will also find that Man
is not the powerless slave of Nature or
Passion; if he cannot imperativeIy rule,
be can, at least partially control them
both. The sun goes down, but we light
our lamps and make circle of bright
ness in the wide surrounding and close
pressing night; and SO, when the death
of great hope or the wrecking of
great faith darkens life with loves
eclipse, we may yet make it comfortable
and serene By the aid of smaller joys. of
lesser faiths. of homely duties faithfully
performed.
1t is easy to be advisory, VIcroR, and
it this letter is didactic in its character,
it will be but the common fault of men
when writing to the young.
Your parents and teachers will impress
on you the necess ty of forming correct
habits. but it is desirable that you early
appreciate the almost omnipotent power
of habit, when once ii has obtained