The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1877-02-08

Our life may be considered as a day
Of which youth is the breakfast-time. In
orr infancy We may be said to commence
eating Iife's breakfast, for the sustenance
OF cur minds and character At that
time it is administered to us by the low
ing hands Of father and mother. How
wstchfnl should parents be of the food
which they place before the minds OF
the child. Here parental love perverts
parental judgment and causes them to
indulge the child in many little evils
which are like small seed, that will, after
9 time, terminate and shoot forth
branches of Wickednsss. Every one
Knows by experience how eagerly the
mind of q child will grasp things, espe-
eialIy evil things. Then how careful
parents should be in their example. Ii
some fathers could only be as calm and
thoughtful spectators, instead of actors
in their home scenes, wher they, in a
half drunken state. are stirring up the.
''toddy," and feeding it to the sweet, in
nocsnt trusting child on their knees, CT
when they are profaning the name Of
God, il the presence Of their children,
asd smiling when they see the lips of
IbeiR promising boy soiled and his heart
corrupted by such examples; how ap-
palIing, how reproachful, how disgustfui,
would even the shadow of their folly be-.
But the most trying time is to be when
parental care has been compelled to
draw aside its helmet of protection;
~hen the mind Of the youth begins to
battle with the eVer-Folling tide of sin,
without the direction of the cain, far
seeing eye Of loving, Judicial parent.
Then it is that the pure metal is brought
80 she surface; then &c is that the whole
spirit must rise, or be lost amid the
WhiFling vortex of temptation. Here are
same who have come in hopefulness
from the home of their childhood. They
are plunged into the haunts of tempta-
sion; they earelessly look about them
here and there; they sec groups of fel-
lOW-meA, who seemingly enjoy them
selves; they join the jewellers, and for
awhile get along finely, bat nov the are
sinking deeper, deeper into destruction
Ans on every hand We see objects who
we're once bright and hopeful lads, but
now they are too miserable for human
pity to reach them; all because they
chose the wrong food from life's break
fast table. How often do we hear old
men cay, ''Oh, if could only live my life
again, how different would l spend my
youth" IL the youths Of our country
could only realize for one hour the sor-
row which must cause such expressions,
think all would be greatly benefited;
hut as Ee cannot experience the sad
reality till IL is teO late for any improve
msnt IN our condition, now in the golden
hours Of life should be our time for seek
ing out the choice dishes of honesty,
truth, virtue, kindness, temperance, in
dustFy, and others whose purifying in
auences OnOble the soul, instill in our
hearts lasting mako Of morality aad love,
aAd prepare for Us a happy and useful
life.
We all know that anything not apprO-
pTiAfed to the necessary nourishmeut of
Of our physical strength is entirely use
less and is destructive to our bodily
growth. So it is with the mind Every
thing that il cannot digest and use prac-
tieally, is q burden, and obstruction, be-
cause it occupies the room where much
good might DO placed, and we may say,
il is q poison, because it has its amount
Of attraction, and leads the mind away
from duty's path and places the chaEac-
ter In an igns6le position. If We would
have . noble mind and irreproaohable
character; one that is capable Of direct
ing our steps amid the pits and gibbets
of sin one that will make US happy and
work Out some great good for our fellow
men; one that will proudly stand the
Bullets Of temptation; one whose purity
will be unspotted by the dark biots OF
Gin; we must push aside the gilded cups
OF vice, 80 temptingly placed before US
snd eaTefullY select food for cur minds
from the good dishes.
oh, how thoughtful and prudent must
che young man of the present age make
his steps amid the pitfalls of destruction.
Let ne keep forward in the path Of
honor Just beyond, only few years Of
toll, care and energetic advance frDeg
footing ~ i'll be found and the victory is
ours. Esteemed, hOnored, and made
happy by Doing good, and with true no
bilisy shining on the surface of our
works; We will never regret the trouble
OF our good selection from Lies bread
fast table.