The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-07-06
Floating or Rowing.
IT may be very pleasant to sone-it is
certainly very lazy life, this

1T may De very pleasant 10 sohe-il Is
certainly very lazy life, this
Floating down the riber,
On de Ohio"
The fact is, We f0at too much, and we
ron too little. 1t is this floating, instead OF
rowing, which draws US on and on to
habits of Incidence, unthrift, helplessness-
Il couldn't help it. can't, simply
mean floating. Il can and q will, "
mean r0lciHg. A young man will start out
in life, resolved on having an easy time. He
keeps this as he keeps no other resolution.
He shuns real work and seeks q position
as bartender in drinking saloon, or as
stage or carriage driver, so that he can
ride rather than walk; or he seeks situa-
ton as keeper of toll gate-it is not hard
word to take and make change, you know.
Or, falling this, he will offer his service to
exhibit horse, a machine, or take STU
alton in the custom house, where the du-
ties are light, hours short, and pay enough
to keep him in liquor, tobacco and second
hand clothing He is not always expected
to pay his board, for is not his society" an
ample equivalent for what he eats, and
place to sleep? He sings songs, plays on
fiddle, tells stories, and is entertaining.
Another young man of like aspirations
once joined a circus company, and travelled
for time; but it was too hard work, this
pulling up stakes, and changing places
so often. The old anecdotes repeated by
the clown We're learned by heart, and as
he was accustomed to do, were I" fired off
for the amusement of stable-boys, loafers,
bar-roOm lOungerS, and other idleTs. At
one time he concluded that he would go
on whaling voyage. Here, he thought,
was an opportunity for a long and lazy
voyage, with plenty to eat, and but little
work. He returned after a three years
1 trip, sharing the luck Of all lazy fellows,
having got more experience than oil. tie
returned once more 10 his friends, and now
relates his hardships, and begs for sympa-
thy and support. Poor fellow, the f2tes
are against him, and he resigns himself %
a season of repose. When rallied about
what he intends 10 do in the future, he re-
plies. Il have nothing in view" or Bust
ness is dull there is no work to be done;
but il there were ever so much, the pay is
very poor; and while the old man has
any thing left, prefer to stay with him;
may as well have it as any one, But do
you not intend to marry and have home
of your Own:" No; | can scarcely
support myself, to say nothing of support
ing d family. 1t costs me nearly all the
change | can pick up for tobacco and some
thing 10 drink" Poor fellow what will
he do for a home when the old folks de-
part? He has learned no trade; knows
little or nothing Of business, and is float
ing on towards the p0orhOuse.
Ihe young man who starts out in life in
tent on working his way VI" expects to
climb hills, overcome difficulties, endure
defeats, suffer Ieverses, and roao against
tide, currents and breakers. But he will
never f0at. He hears the roar Of the cata-
I l., IA
L, ep clear of it. 1t is the lazy floating
boatman who is carried Overt
Parents owe it to their children to wake
up, cali out, and develop the latent powers
with which they are endowed. We grant
that the first duty, or business, or privilege,
! of childhood Is to 9rO10 to grow bodily
rather than to ovcrtask their brains or
nerves. Still, they may-nust lrained
/ to use til air faculties in order to make
Roadway in lie Over-indulgenca is as
fatal as over-work. Every boy and every
/ girl should be thoroughly impressed with
The fact that self-helpiulness is duty, that
| idleness is sin. 1t is true that
Satan finds some mischief still
/ For idle hands to do
! Give young children short hours for
! study; long hours for play, real earnest
/ and hearty play and all the time they
J lCtu lOI pyiACCJ SICtI1-udtuIC SNeSt &c
storer. Lay out their work or studies and
see that they do it; so also their play and
their sleep. If hard tasks be given to
( children, stand by them, encourage, and
4 help them through. Never overload a
4 colt or you spoil the horse. Teach chill
/ dren that there is real merit in achieve
ments. One success will be followed by
another; and when the boy becomes a
man, he will go through, not around, a
/ hard task. He will tunnel the mountain,
J -.rl,@z. -, his NOV f.rnn hie way ''nn the
rapids" instead of lying on his oars and
floating down the stream. 1t requires en-
gy-combativeness, firmness, executive
ness, and ambition to eXcel-tO insure sue
cess in life. The absence of these manly
qualities leaves the miserable creature
among pitiatle imbeciles and helpless
| paupers.
Young man, whittier are you tending ?
Are you standing still, drifting on the
tide, or lazily floating down the current !?
Are you already miserable slave to nasty
! habits? Do you chew tobacco? smoke
tobacco? snuff tobacco? and drink? Or,
are you still clean-mouthed, pure-minded
/ and unperverted? In the one case YOU
are on the road which leads to dissipation,
! disease, crime, and premature death in the
other-if You live right you will rise in
! life, become useful, successful, honored,
aud worthy citizen, growing in health, in
/ grace, goodness, and VIII leave the world
somewhat the better for having lived in it.
| Choose ye, whether You will float or r0aC
! your way through life, and suffer the sor-
/ rows Of d misspent life, or enjoy the hap
! plness which comes of obedience to the
laws of God.-Phrenozogjcal Journal.