Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1874-05-07
Right-f0rmlng better than Re
forming.

forming,
would not breath one word against the
noble class of reformers who are agltating
all these great questions Of the day, which
effect the moral, physical and intellectual
welfare Of our race; for they are truly
doing a great and good work, but there is
q greater and better work to be done
than even these are striving to accom-.
plish. A work that shall do more and
better things than it is possible for any
rsformer to do, and this great and glo>
rious work is right-reforming right bull
ding up in the beginning! The laying
down of good substantial corner stones
and building thereon such noble, staunch
and beautiful edi6cies, that they shall
never need reforming a remoddling but
will stand perfect in their symmetry till
they are worn out with the inevitable de-
cay of old age. Fathers, Mothers, pa
rents and teachers, you who are guides
aud guardians of the young, begin your
work now and to-day. Begin this work
Of Right>reforming at once! Begin by
precept aud example and keep even be-
fore you the thought, that on you depends
whether you will be men and women
rounded out and developed into full and
complete humanity, "Natures noblest
work"-Or whether you will be mere no.
body's living, dying and passing away, to
be cared for 10 more.
Life is what We make it, let US then
make it of use to us and to humanity.
If you have a bad habit correct it at once,
for it will not only ipjurs yourself, but
your influence contaminates all who come
under your care, and all who associate
with you cry down with all your might
every evil you sec, live upon as high a
plan as you can, and try to lift up every
body else to your own level. The world
is far better than we think it is. There
is strong and earnest truth Inherent
in every individual, a love Of the pure,
the good and the virtuous. All that is
needed is the Right-formiDg of the mind
SO that all shall see and appreciate the
happiness of doing right, to make of this,
our own beautiful earth, a perfect para
disc! No one ever really enjoys com
hitting a bad or cruel act. No one likes
to be q sinner against community or
against himself. The drunkard may
seem to enjoy his cups, but all the while,
in his innermost heart, he despises and
abhors himself that he is such o slave to
his appetite. Right,forming would have
been so easy. Reforming is now almost
impossible The victim of the weed may
praise the virtues of tobacco, and tell how
il cured him ofthis or that ailment, but
after all he would give worlds if he had
them, could he once get rid of it the
habit that so enslaves him. The liar
may excuse, palate and deny his untruths
but all the time he is wishing that he had
never forfeited his rightto unquestioned
veracity! 30 it is all through the long
catalogue Of sin, error and crime. Shall
we not then catch and all use our greatest
effort at Right forming? All hindering
crime and error in all ways possible, by
teaching, preaching, and doing only the
right! Don't wink at small wrongs, little
evils and white lies, but condemn them
all as seeds that will grow larger vice.
BE always looking higher and seeking
something better. Life is short, too short
to let one hour DO devoted to anything
that lowers OF degrades the tone Of our
m%entalor bodily vlgor. And always res
member that we cannot better ourselves,
without lettering others as far as our in.
fuencc goes.
Since life is but a passing day
What right have we to throw away.
One single chance which might be ours
To strew another's path with flowers.
r. g