Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-10-01
A Talk with Young Men.


To the young men readers Of the Farmer,
the following thoughts are addressed. Could
you but realize the comfort you are when
you pursue the right course, aud the heart.
aches you cause when you pursue the wrong
course, you would ponder long aud well ere
you plunged into those follies aud vices that
are a discredit to our nation and that annu.
ally sweep to ruin and the grave hundreds of
the flower aud beauty Of the young men of
our country. Aud whenever | see, or hear,
or read Of the numerous dens of drunkenness
and vice that, in cities, in villages, and in
many places in the country, stand with open
doors and glaring signs to entice the mex
perienced aud uuwary, the wonder is-not
that so many become drunkards and loafers,
and good for nothing, but that so many
come up to be good aud useful men.
Young men set your mark high. Spend
not your time in gay frivolities, or in Idle
and wicked pursuits Do not mind being
laughed at because you cannot smoke cigar
or drink glass Of wine. For although very
good men sometimes drink wine and smoke
cigars, yet neither of these habits ever helped
10 make good men. Mind not so much what
your avocation or calling 10 life may be, pro-
vided it be honorable, but aim to elevate
aud dignity yourself and in that way you
will elevate and dignity your calling. The
business Of tallow chandler was never
thought to be very much, and yet, the father
Of that eminent statesman aud philosopher,
Franklin, was tallow chandler by trade.
A young man Of whom | know follows the
humble calling Of soap making, working six
days of ten hours each, every week in the
year. Aud yet there are perhaps few men
better informed, more temperate in their
habits more beloved at home or respected in
the community in which they live than he
His home, though humble, is model OF
comfort; he is neat in his dress, and in every
respect an exemplary man. Though his
wages are nothing great, he occasionally in
dulges in a new book, aud keeps himself
supplied with several leading newspapers.
once knew young man, the son Of q
farmer. He was scbooled to hard work as
boys usually are on farms. But all Of his
leisure moments were spent in acquiring at
education. For liquor aud tobacco he cared
nothing. But should a curious stone OF
some marvel Of an insect como under hi
observation, he carefully picked it up ant
preserved it. In an old back room of hi,
fathers house he prepared a galvanic bat
terry, and arranged two or three good micro
scopes, and in that humble laboratory spen
many profitable AND happy hours. Tha
same young man is now q leading physician
in thriving Western town.
Sometimes when out in company youu,
| hot kaan taA 10 ka;s
great favorites among the girls, and ais
among silly mammas who have marriageabl
} daughters. On seeing them, The though
, frequently comes into my mind, "Wel,
, don't wonder the girls are smitten, for yo
are good looking, graceful in your carriage
well dressed, drive fast horses, and seen
withal fine fellows" Chance, or perhap
design, throws me in their company. w
I attempt conversation, for it is only an al
tempt, and the favorable thoughts concern
ing them give place to those of ditferen
I nature. Poor fellows they know nothin
/ TO talk about and remind me of q certai
rustic lad that in Eye auld lang syne" on
q certain summer of my schoolgirl life, az
{ peared at the front gate or peered over tn
: fence, as passed his home, and saluted n
: with Good morning, Miss -; fu
}, morning Guess we'll have a fac day." A
r another time the salutation would perhaE
). be varied by the information that it ha
Q rained or was going to rain. The weathC
a and its immediate phases and changes wi
= the drift of all his conversation. A simple
:, minded woman is scarcely to be endure
=" What then shall be said Of q simple-minde
y man ? The complaint is often made, "Wh
have no opportunities and can't DO an,
+; thing if would" Now, am well awal
j. that opportunities have much to do with OF
d destiny here. But at the same time b
if lieve every person can, if they will, hunt Of
d a few opportunities and store their min,
1t with absolute nothipgness. But enough &
'e the present. Perhaps more anon Mrs
d Il. Snow in Ohio Farmer.