The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-08-23
WORDS no THE YOUNG.

You cannot too soon or too sensibly
learn the great importance of having a
fixed aim in life, and following the object
with unfaltering zeal. Even in the
matter of attending school, and reading
books there must be an earnestness.
But remember good schools, wise pre-
ceptors, many books and facilities, are
not the certain guarantees Of success.
These are all good ard necessary in a
certain degree, as also 10 sound mind,
with the ability to study; but the boy
or girl who succeeds in any sense wor-
thy of the high calling Of our race, is
the one who studies. / do not mean by
this the one who spends the most time
at school, or goes through the most
books, but the one who early in life
takes charge of his own inherent powers
of mind and heart, and as the engineer
of his own destiny-always keeping on
the track which God has laid-by the
strong apparatus of his oson soi1 and
thought, draws himself ont into the wide
fields of knowledge. Not to chase the
beauties of nature and science with
eager step, simply as child does the
fitting butterfly, or run hastily from one
beautiful flower to another-reading
many books and studying none. Not
inhaling the intoxicating fragrance from
thousand rich meadows Of wit and
fictitious learning, and laying up none
Of the nectar Of happiness for after life.
But stop, took, think; see in the dust at
your feet the pearly gems Of wisdom,
trodden under by passing millions of
tboughtless mortals. Dig for them, pick
them up, though you may have to stoop
| or soil your hands, and let your minds
and hearts be caskets only for the "good,
the beautiful and the true" Then hav-
ing wealth of your own, when far out
| on LIES busy field, you will have no
| needto faint until you have crossed the
wide waste plains oftime, and you will
even be furnished for the great journey
Of eternity.
Yes, rise, young man or woman, arise,
using the superior advantages Of this
age as the ladders to lead you up to the
bright fields of wisdom which lie above
and beyond the range Of unthinking
minds. By the enginery of thought
and deep investigation, bring yourself
far up into the great temple Of Gods
| woudrous universe, discovering its se-
cret beams, its lofty pillars, its spacious
| halls, and dwell there before the God
whose image you bear, in life of holy,
adcring and contemplating love. And
apply the great gains of your researches
and success to the amelioration Of your
race, rejecting the image Of the Sun Of
Righteousness on all about you. I
sometimes fear that our race does not
grow good, as it grows learned and
polished.
True learning, true polish, is that
which discovers God in all His glorious
attributes in everything, and strives to
be like Him and to glorify Him. It is
great mistake to suppose that We must
sever ourselves from Gods Church, dis
card the Bible, and leave the good old
paths of religion in order to become
great or successful in this life. Not so,
my young friends. You will find that
the wisest, greatest, and NEST useful
men and women Of our age, aud Of every
age, are those who have devoted their
heart, mind and hand, to the service of
God. There is much indeed in life that
is lovely; in nature that is enticing to
the senses and in human society that
captivates, aud for a time seems to
satisfy. But nature, life, or friends, of
themselves cannot make us happy.
Nature in all her grandeur and lowell
ness, would be a haunted pile ofruins to
the immor,sl spirit, if it found no traces
of holy and afectionate God therein, to
| love and adore. Life itself, so sweet to
us, would be cherries journey through
gloomy solitudes down to hopeless
grave, had we no intercourse with the
Giver of every good. The society of
| our friends would be but a aeeting
pleasure to the immortal mind, did We
not by faith add hope span the valley Of
death, and have treasure laid up in
heaven.
Then be not content like thoughtless
thousands before you. to play upon the
sands Of life like idle children, or even
to sail near the shore Of this world al
ways; bu. having equipped yourselves,
launch out on the great sea; do brave
battle with the heavy elements of evil
and ignorance, overcome the pirates Of
iu6delity and passion. and directed BY
Gods word aud Spirit, land at last on
the shores ola happy Immortality, laden
with the spoils whereon you may feast,
and whereby you may glorify God for
ever. Trust God and youraeI, and
press on! "The whole duty Of man is
to fear God and keep His command
menks" " HEkYEH,