The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-07-05
WHOLE NO. 1917.

but 1t really seems to me that yOl
are the more proper one to go ant
ask your own fathers permission.
''Yes. / know Jim, it would seen
so, but then, you see, I'm not very
well acquainted with him"
Here we have the cause of many
misunderstanding, and | doubt moi
of many wasted life. Parents arr
not very well acquainted with then
children, and children are not very
well acquainted with their parents
Why are they not very well lacquaint-
ed with each other? Who has bet.
ter right to be very well acquainted
Many boy thinks he is perfectly
lucky if he can keep his father from
knowing anything about him, and
many father never makes any at
tempt to know anything concerning
his son, hence they are never very
well acquainted with each other.
In the case of misunderstanding
| have referred to above, if the faith
er and son were very well acauaint-
ed with each other would it be pos
sible for such misunderstanding to
exist? Could the son wish to pur-
sue a certain course, and the father
desire him to pursue the very same
course, and yet the son pursue a
course directly opposite? Never.
Verify they are not acquainted with
each other. Sons, YOU want to get
acquainted with your fathers, and
fathers you want to get very well ac-
quainted with your sons, and in the
future years there will be fewer sto-
ries of wasted lives" to write.
Some young man may say: "But
have not got an hour that / can
call my own. My time is all taken
up" This may be true; if so, |
pity your case; but if all your time
is occupied you may console your
self with the reflection that iynor-
ance is not your fault but your mis-
fortune.
But do you not mistake the mat
ter? Is all your time employed?
What would you think of studying
Latin grammar while blowing the
bellows in smiths shop? Elihu
Burritt did that, and 'the learned
blacksmith" is a household word in
more countries than ours. How
many languages did he understand?
You may look the matter up for
yourself, ''and when found make a
note of il" as our old friend Captain
Cutie would say. But YOU must
not suppose that Burritt was under
the necessity of studying all the Ian
guagcs he understood in the manner
| have indicated. No; his very zeal,
his indomitable will made him
friends, and the same means will
make you friends. | might men
ton many more instances to show
what can be done by the undaunt-
ed courage which will attempt to
oyerleap any obstacle. which will
find way or make one.
An Englishman, who was in the
British House of Commons, was
taunted by an opponent with the
fact that he had formerly been a cob
bier. Mark his reply. Had you,
Sir. been cobbler, you would be
cobbler still" This is one of the
most caustic things that i remember
to have met with anywhere.
Never allow such a retort to be
possible to you. Improve whatever
time you have; if much, so much
the better for you; if little. so much
the more need to improve it.
Many a Dung man too may say:
II have not the money to invest in
the books you have mentioned.
Many of them are costly, ard | can
never obtain them." Perseverance
and economy will do great things.
Remember / told you not to think of
buying all these books at once. l
will add here do not buy any large
part of them at once. / have seen
a man unaccustomed to that mode
of dining sat himself at the table
with a long bill of fare" before
him, and in the plentitude of dishes
not know what to order. Just so
would it be with you should you or
der many books at time. Order
them as you can. l have not given
publishers, lest il might be supposed
that am interested in some of these
works, or, rather, in the sale of them.
/ am not, but | am very greatly in
terested in seeing the young men of
our county pushing ahead. am
interested in seeing our county the
banner county" of the State in the
character of her teachers and in the
excellence of her schools. There is
nothing Utopian in the idea; moth
ing impracticable. | know that there
are many young men of ability-of
marked ability-in our county.
Why should any one deem it sur
prise or 4 thing TO excite wonder if
Somerset county should be the BAN
ner county of the State. Young
men of ability, of marked ability,
all working for the accomplishment
of a given end are what make ban
ner counties. Work then; work
earnestly. Keep the great end in
view. Let nothing come between
you and the attainment of your de-
sires, and after you have fought the
fight you cannot fail, having well
and faithfully performed all the du-
ties appertaining to this life, to hear
in the next the grateful approval.
well done, good and faithful SER
want; thou hast been faithful in a
few things, / will make thee ruler
over many things"
My next chapter will be on Insti-
tutes.