The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-05-04

IN reading-A Word to the
Boys.
ave boys love stories" Ofcourse
vou do. I like them myself, but the
LANCER is, that with such o multitude
If exciting, sensational ones, as are
'aid nowadays, you will read moth
ng but stories And hat would b.
paying deae for lie whistle, Il would
i not2 If ~ the sake Of books that
have not the slightest toundatioain
truth, nor, indeed in the probable,
written to amuse not moro than .
single grain of wheat hidden in q
whole page Of chat, you lose all rel.
ish for . higher and better style of
reading, You do yourself . grievous
l ] an lot odadsn1ing yoa q dry,
dull books, indeed, I am not. Ny
own young days are not so far away |
but I 'know quite llwhss you want.
But only think of the books, that are
waiting u take you IN over this
great world of ours; up into the arc
ito seas; down below the equator
showing you all the strange forms Of
life ii those tropical regions; into
The depths OF the sea, and pointing
out the still stranger forms Of life
there = whole volumes of travel and
adventure that will add, to- your
stock Of knowledge % we'll - enlist
your eager interest and histories
without end, that will charm you
like fairy tale, il you only give them
. chance; taking you through, not
| only the world merely, but through
the past centuries, showing the grand
discoveries aud dreadful struggles
which have made the world what it
is now. s aaas tsHa M ,aE
Then think of the stirring tales Of
real heroes, who have fought the bat
ties Of life and como off conquerors;
have struggled through boyhood
of poverty and trial, aud temptation,
into q noble resolute manhood. Isn't
there enough in such examples as
these to interest Doesn't it set
your blood tlngiing 10 think what
others have done with what you may
do? 0a d$ aa 9
i Now, word about the newspaper.
l always feel hopeful of boy who
reads, habituslly, the daily or week
ly paper. set all such down for
live, wide awake boys, when see
them taking such an interest In the
current news of the day. But | wait
FIRST until l see to what part Of the
paper they turn most eagerly. If
as the sheet is unfolded, they run
, over the telegraph column, 70 find
ont what is passing in other countries
az we'll a. in our own, then I know
! there is an intelligent interest. Their
, ears have been open 10 the discus
, sions among the older members ol
the family. and the mind has been 81
, work. There is no excuse tor igno
, rance. When oil the nations Of the
!. earth are knocking at each other
! doors, we may learn what We will
1 If / see the eye brighten over some
. noble deed Of charity 10 the poo
d and suffering, then i am glad, for
know there is generous spark dowr
in their own hearts, that shall 70
/ kindle into flame of it's own, ians
gladden. othcrs some day with othel
q noble deeds. Buff / see them will
: eager interest reading the horrible
details of crime and murders, hop,
) dies out Of my heart, and 4 turl
4 away with real pain. 1t lie crying
I evil of our day, this publishing ii
! such tminutenoss these loAthesom
4 details of crime. / SEQ NO end o
: purposes Of justice to be answere'
: By It, but only fearful harm. You
A 4 young hearts should turn in instan
h recoii from such brutal tales. Boys
!. IL the public journal, that should b
3 q school Of better morals, spread
# this snare before you, do not yo'
q walk into it. 1t will blunt all you
q finer feelings, and familia8e you
q mind with forms of cruelty and si
|. that otherwise you would neve
e come in contact with. Every on
d knows that anything made familia
!. to the mind loses half its deformity
% Never suffer yourself to read one Q
= these articles. Ii your eye catche
y the startling heading, pass it instan,
ly by. Do not fill that mind 9
Ie which should be all manly and nobl
if with these dreadful pictures Of sil
e and guilt.
:. l have said nothing about thos
q poisonous books-low and vulgar
that sometimes find their way &c
:. cretely into some boys pockets. q
n trust there is no need to caution 20,
i against these. Never, never, rea'
: anything you would blush TO hav
n your mother or sister SEQ. Read
> but pray be careful Uhat you read
,fI Hearth and Home. ui