Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-01-01

] would speak an earnest word to those
boys who are thinking of leaving home.
You are anxious to push out for yourselves
In many instances there are younger broth
ers in the family, and you think the farm
hardly large enough for all. Those who
live in the East are anxious to go West, and
those who live in what is termed the West
desire to go still further toward the setting
sun. At any rate, as you look at it, it seems
desirable in order to succeed that you get
as far as possible away from home. No
doubt many young men have done as well,
If not better, by casting themselves among
strangers they have worked harder and
denied themselves more than they would
have done at home. But it is very impor-
tant step, and one which will pay you to
look all over, before you take it. If you in
tend TO go among friends of your family, or
with company of your townspeople, it will
make it much better; but to start out all
alone, and throw yourselves among strangers
in a distant state, is ga hard row to hoe"
1t is true you may be successful, but the
chances are all against you, and it is quite
likely you will hear the cry of "hard times, -
no matter which road you travel. Taking
it all in all, as things stand now, there is
little difference in favor of one part of the
country over another.
The man who works an Eastern farm will
have many days of hard labor in the course of
the year, on land that don't Weld much but
on the other hand he has agood market, and
can sell at a fair price all from the farm he
wishes to sell ; he will live as well, and his
home will be as pleasant and well-furnished
as that of the Western farmer; the chances
of his children getting good education are
"A { fair II hattar than in, 80
the West. The only advantage there seems
to be is that if you have little money left
when you are at your journeys end, and
know how to take care of it, you can do
more with it than at the East. But if you
have no money, and must go to work for
any one who will hire your time, you will
find that in order to get into the condition
you wish to be, will require much hard
work and self-denial. Aud when, in future
years, you visit your old home, you may be
likely to find that those of your early com.
panions who remained there have done
about as well, and somehow, you will be
apt to think, have Jared little better
Doubtless much of this changing about -
in our country is owing in a great measure
to our restless disposition. Mr.. Greeley re-
marked, while making his overland journey
to California, as he passed many emigrants
| to that Eldorado, and about as many coming
back, that he didn't think there was another
such restless, uneasy people on the whole
face of the globe.
| To the boy who has become dissatisfied
I with his home and its wholesome restraints
who thinks he is hindered from being all he
could be; who thinks the family are nc
help to him who speaks of father and
mother as " old man" and old woman ;"
who is determined to leave home whether
they are willing or not-allow me to say in
all kindness, you are getting yourself into
bad shape. Such thoughts are poison. If
you continue to cherish them, no one will
suffer more than yourself. Nothing, abso.
lutely nothing, can be done to better your
condition while you are in such frame OF
mind. As has been said before, in order
to be successful, you will have to move with
much caution all the good counsel your
family can give you will be so much cleai
| gain. SO let me entreat you to get rid OF
the thought that they are not willing to
help you to be all that you can be. When
you go among strangers you will find for a
long time that the community have only
taken you on trust. There may be nothing
wrong about you. We will allow that you
are all right, but some one has said that
confidence is a plant of slow growth" SC
you see if you go among strangers you must
for while stand before the people " on
trial" If the time ever comes when good
men are obliged to " let go of you," it will
be sad day for you.-New York Tribune