Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-12-04

one thousand volumes OF history, biogra-
ply, travel, &c. In his native town lived
a lady in whose house was an extensive
library. One day she put into his hand
a book AID asked him to return IL amer
he had read 1t. He did so, and then
another and another. That was the ini-
tial step to the future greatness which
waited for him-all unknown to his in
spirer or to himself That was the spark
which kindled so great flame.
Similar efforts may he made with SINH
lar results to-day. There are boys in
every town who are hungering for intel
lectual food-whosc minds are quick,
| clear, and containing the germs OF future
greatness. And the man or the woman
who Giscerns the drift of such minds and
ministers to their uouriShment is the man
or the woman who in the years to come
is to speak through these to their coun-
trymen, stimulating their patriotism,
| quickening their intcllects, and thrilling
their very souls with nobler impulses and
more enlarged ideas of what life is.
IL becomes those who admire the true,
the beautiful, the good-who believe that
the government under which they live is
worthy of the best talent, and demands
in its important places the purcst hearts.
I say it becomes such to seek out these
hidden, embryonic patriots, philanthro-
pists, and statesmen, and lay, so far as it
! is possible, sure foundation stones upon
which their future character and great
ness shall be reared.
1t has been said that ''tIIere is no coun-
try in which society has such an interest
| in bringing strong moral and religious
influences to bear on young men as this,
for our country has been distinguished by
the premature growth of those to whom
| it gives birth. Our young men come for
ward into life sooner than in Europe
mix sooner in the stir and conflict OF
business and politics; and form sooner
the most important domestic relations y
Hence the necessity of watching for and
guiding the .intellects that begin to feel
the desire to push out into the adventures
aud the experiences of the world for
| themselves. Let them be encouraged
help them-puSh them even, but before
all things else, the truest patriot, the
| best citizen ought to see that these hope
full, promising ones are made acquainted
with the clements of true greatness.
In the future let it not be as it has been
in the past and is ct the present, that one
of sterling qualities, who masters the
senses, protects himself against animal
appetites, contemns pleasure and pain II
comparison with that which is right, DIES
pises honorable positions when theil
price is the bondage of mans noblcst in
stincts and emotions-that such an one is
Singular-forming very marked contraS
to most others in authOrity-but let there
be infused into the souls of the young
men of our country the idea that GREATNESS:
in its truest sense is only a synonym fol
goodneSS-that "he most lives, WhC
thinks most, feels the noblest, acts tn,
best"
But | cannot, and l would not if
could, draw my discourse to close with
odt saying something to the young mel
and to the boys themselves. And whel
l speak to you, speak also to myself
| rejoice that | am young and that life
battle is still before me; and, if it pleas
God, hope to live to good old age
serving faithfully my God, my country
and my feIlowmen.
There are men whose hair is silvcre'
: with age-who to-day would recall tn
past, and, if possible, blot 1t out forever
But there it stands. The past is past an,
forever gone. In it they have allowet
themselves to be wasted, to be ruled b.
appetite, to be governed by passion, t.
be consumed by vice until they had be
come Slapped and weakened in the vigo
of their bode$-"for brass they have Civ
en- gold; for madness they have givel
sanity; for the pleasure of momen
they have given years of contentmcnt
Body, mind, and soul have been squan
dered, and in their old age they hav
been tossed upon the shore of irretrieva
BILE ruin but for the mercy and grace o
God, who makes sins of scarlet as whit
as snow, and d;eds Of crimson as til
undyed wool.
From these shores they shout till the
are hoarSe, "Come back, come back IN
YOUTH" but the demon who snatchcd
, from them after he had bandagcd thei
, eyes, stopped their ears, and bound thei
feet, only grins with a grin that is dey
lish, and bears away the trophy.
And these are men who might hav
been patriots, and statesmen-mcn who's
native abilities, if trained would hav
urged them to the front in the hearts O
their countrymen.
Look, young men, at the appalling
sight, only long enough to gain strengt
to cry aloud to Him who makes men FIRE
and free indeed, for that deliveranc
which all need and without which we to-
must be wrecked. Turn now to the Gil
cumstances that really are. See yoursel
only at the first page of your historical
book, writing what the future must read
; counsel you, beg of you beware
You are citizens of a noble land. You
, country has already woven the crown
which may rest upon your head and tn
future bids you "come on, Every tick G
the clock, every beating Of the pulse, onl
brings you nearer the goal Are you t
be citizens that will compel remembrance
not by virtue of what you are in evil bu
) what you are in good?
Others may be helpful in fitting you 70
places of honor, but the work, the grea
work must be begun and carried on in til
heart. To-day you can shape your live
as you will. Everything is plastic; every
thing is volatile, and you can cause it t
crystalize as you please. Whatever Their
is, therefore, that ought to be cut off fror
your character, let it be cut off to-day
? whatever there is that is helpful, see tina
it be not weakened.
Remember that that character whic
bears the nearest semblance to the char
acter of Jesus is the grandeSt that man
kind can wear.
Opportunities for physical development
are yours. See that you do not abuse them
The parts of this body are so fine-man
of them so delicate that imprudence 500
weakens and deforms them. Take car
of health and have in reserve an abund
ance of physical power.
Advantages for intellectual culture ar
abundant; let them not pass unimproved
Read much and carefully; study hard an
persevcringly; think long and patiently