The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-08-25
For the Boys.

Boys, please stop a moment as You
rush along in life. and think. Think
whether the Wild ''harum-scarum
lad WHO swears. drinks, fights or
steals. is fit for a model. Think
whether a reputation for dishonesty.
shiftlessness and general worthless
ness is preferable to a good lame to
the confidence. trust and esteem of
your acquaintanccs. Think whether
you can afford to fritter away your
time in running after the foolish
things of the world; in enjoying the
pleasures of sin which are SO comfort
less and of so short duration, in neg
lectiny the glorious opportunities for
self culture, social, moral and INTEL
lectual Think whether you can
afford to grope in the darkness OF lg-
norance and sin, when the means for
becoming enlightened and understand
ing the wordof God. and comprehend
ing his law Of universal love are so
abundant. Think whether you ought
to ignore the advice and the wishes
Of kind father, or grieve the heart
Of your dear. patient. loving mother:
who feels so much anxiety for her
sons welfare and happiness. Think
whether it is better to drift aimless-
" through life--a failure. OF to set
your mark high, and live to a grand
and noble purpose. Think whether
it is better to cultivate Il sweet tenn
per to speak kindly, deal gently, and
live peaceab}y one with another, or
be cross. s2uly. churlish, quarrelson e
and cyi!ly disposed. Think whether
it is better to be 4 man or Il mouse. 10
be Industrious or idle, honest or dis
honest, sober or drunken and bois-
trous. liked or despised. trusted OF
suspicioned, frugal or eXtravagant,
moral or vicious. elevated or degraded.
ill-hred and cross Or intelligent and
refined. Recollcct that you are the
architects of your own fortunes, that
you are now building up a character
either for good or evil; that the mat
ter rests in your own hands to carve
for yourself a name high on the lad.
der of fame. or to occupy the place
of the dullard and the mediocre
The position you hold in life depends
upon your own personal effort, upon
the energy, zeal and vigor you eXer-
else. Boys, the future is bright,
with glorious possibilities. Our fu-
ture rulers. law makers, divines, phi
losophers, scholars, inventors and
discoverers are to come from your
ranks. But loafers. itllers and tritlers
will never ascend to any of those
heights. The secret of success is
1uoyh. Work does everything. Idle
ness nothing. Intelligent workers
are most successful, therefore boys
strive to acquire information while
young. Bring into requisition every
means for mental culture. Increase
the power of the mind. Develop it
that you may be indeed the "nohlest
work of God, that you may fill with
credit any station in life: that You
may vic :: with the eye of reason and
the understanding the immutable
laws of the universe, and discover
the wonderful wisdom and goodness
of God. where the rnlettered see only
hatred and revenge. Seem not over
anxious to be men,. Let us be boys
while we can; for now we are SO fire"
and joyou:; our cares are few; our
trials light; our burdens easy. Then
y Thousand new duties and RESPONSE
bilities will develop upon Us. Per
plexities and temptations and un--
thought of troubles will multiply,
Boys don't swagger. don't swear.
don't fight, don't lie. don, ,tsteal, don't
drink. Be honest, upright. sober.
Industrious and frugal, and you will
live lives Of usefulness. and command
the respect Of all good people every
where. Do not say these things are
impossible. They are not. for
$50 close is glory tosoul dust,
So near is God to man.
When duty whispers low thou must,
The youth replies | can.
. I..ssIsRAzIER.