Mower County transcript., 1871-07-13
Floating or Rowing.

| EIOAClne OF NOWlDss
1T may be very pleasant to soalc-it is
certainly very lazy life, this
FLOATING down the ribcr,
| On dc Ohio"
The fact is, we Noot too much, and VIC
ro'o too little. 1t is this floating, instead Of
rowing, which draws us on and Oh to
habits of Incidence, unthritt, hel plessncss.
mean floating. II can" and IL will, "
III life, resolved ON having All easy time. lie
keeps this as he keeps no other resolution.
lie shuns real work, and seeks u ln'silnll
rs bart, ndrr in drinking saloon, or as Il
stage or carlagc driver, 81 that he can
lidc rather than walk; or he seeks Il situa
tion as keeper of u toll gate-itis is not hard
word to take and make change, you know
Or, failing this, he will oilcr his service to
exhibit a horse, Il machine, or take situ-
alton in the custom house, where the ,iu-
tics arc light, hours short, and pay enough
to keep him in liquor, tobacco and second
hand clothing. lie is not always expected
to pay his board, for is not his "socicty" an
ample equivalent for what he cats, and |,
place to sleep? lie sings songs, plays on
fiddle, tells stories, aud is entertaining.
Another young man Of like aspirations
once joined 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 were learned by heart, and as
he was accustomed to do, were fired off "
for tho amusement of stable boys, loaicrs,
barroom loungers, and other idlcrs. Al
one time he concluded that he would go
on whaling voyage. Here, he thought,
was an opportunity for long and lazy
voyage, with plenty to eat, and but little
work. lie returned after a three years
trip, sharing the luck of all lazy fellows,
having got more experience than oil. lie
returned once more to his friends, and now
relates his hardships, and begs for sympa.
are against him, and he resigns himself to
season of rcposc. When rallied about
what he intends to do in the future, he re.
plies. IL have nothing in views" or Busi-
ness is dull there is no work to be done
but If 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 we'll have it as any one. But do
you not intend to marry and have home
Of your own?" mo; l can scarcely
support myself, to say nothing of support
ing family. 1t costs me nearly ali the
change can pick up for tobacco and some
thing to drink" Poor fellow! what will
he do for 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 poorhouse.
The young man who starts out in life in
tent on working his way up" expects to
climb hills, overcome difficulties, endure
defeats. suffer revcrscs, and 9'oao against
tide, currents and breakers. But he will
never .toat. He hears the roar of the cata-
ract in the distance, and cxers himself to
keep clear Of it. 1t is the lazy floating
boatman who is carried over!
Parents owe it to their children to wake
up, call out, and develop the latent powers
with which they arc endowed We grant
that the first duty, or business, or privilege
of childhood is to groeo to grow bodily
rather than to Ovcrtask their brains or
nerves. Still, they may-must-bc trained
to use their faculties in order to make
headway in life. Ovcr-indulgcncc is as
fatal rs ovcr-work. Every boy and every
girl should be thoroughly impressed with
the fact that se]f-helpiulpcss is Il duty, that
idlcncss is Il sin. It is true that
Satan finds some mischicf 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
need for perfect slecp-naturc's sweet re
storcr. Lay out their work or studies, and
see that they do it; so also their play and
their sleep. Ii hard tasks bc given to
children, stand by them, encourage, and
help them through. Never overload a
colt, or you spoil the horse. Teach chill
drcn that there is real merit in achieve
mcnts. One success will be followed by
another; and when the boy becomes a
mau, he will go through, not around, a
hard task. He will tunnel the mountain,
when in his way, or force his way "up the
rapids, instead of lying On his oars and
floating down tho stream. 1t requires cn-
crgy-combativencss tirmncss, executive
ness, and ambition to cxcel--to insure sue
cess in life. The absence of these manly
qualities leaves the miserable creature
among pitiable imbccilrs and helpless
paupcrs.
Young man, whittier are you tending :?
Are you standing still, drifting on the
tide, or lazily floating down the current :?
Arc you already a miserable slave to nasty
habits? Do you chew tobacco? smoke
tobacCo? snuff tobacco? and drink Or,
are you still clean n-mouthed, pure-minded
and unpcrvertedy 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,
and worthy citizen, growing in health, in
grace, god!iness, and will leave the world
somewhat tho better for having lived in it.
Choose ye, whether you will 0ont or ro,o
your way through life. and suffer the sor-
piness which comes of obedience to the
laws of God.-PArenologicN Journal.