Bridgeton pioneer., 1885-12-17
DELUSIONS OF YOUTH,

tAlo liz, anu pe2lu 10 pay inc nedVy
interest due on the debts incurred by
the delusions of youth, we sigh as we
look back over the path of the van.
ished years, and recall the mistakes
that might have been avoided, oppor-
tunities for wise choice that were lost
and will never return to us again. The
delusions of young people!
All of us must have our delusions. 1t
depends upon the nature of our dclu-
sions, and the manner in which we be-
come free or disillusionized, whether in
recalling them we shall have cause to
sigh or smile. Some delusons are
harmless, some are silly, some are in
furious, some may be beneficial in a
certain sense. If enumerate some of
the delusions OF young people, you will
be able to apply them as proceed.
One of the delusions of young people
is the notion that other people are very
deeply interested in all that they do or
say. 1t usually requires q long time
to get free of this delusion. Standing
n the center of his own horizon, he
links the whole world is looking at
IN. He has not yet learned that other
people are more interested in them
selves than in him. l have very dis
tinct recollection of circumstance of
my boyhood that impressed upon me
for the first time the fact of my insig
niiicance. My feelings had been hurt by
some supposed bad treatment, and
with hot indignation and a keen sense
of injustice l left the house. feeling as
desperate as a Byronic Manfred or
Lara. Wandering sullenly along the
upper end of q millpond, among the
pines, the thought of a sweet revenge
occurred to me. | would stay away so
long that all the family would think |
was drowned, OF that some other fatal
disaster had befallen me. Thus |
passed all day long, nursing my
wrath to keep it warm,' though
dreadfully hungry. About dark l
started home, my conscience hurting
me little on account of the anguish
my absence had caused. AS | drew
near the house all was still. l went in,
and to my perfect disgust found that
nobody had noticed my absence! This
was my first opening to true percep-
tion of my relation to the universe
A boys first acquaintance with a
college is usually attended with a
chilling sensation. The one darling
boy Of home is only one of the MANY.
He is received coldly, criticized merci-
lessly, and regularly snubbed by the
seniors and pretentious juniors. 1t is
like plunging into an ice-water bath.
1t is 4 grand recipe for taking the con-
ceit out of a boy. He soon learns that
tho world ic Stonl;nor
open mouth watching his upward pro-
gress toward fame and fortune 1t is
touch of real life, and does real man.
ly boy good, and he learns to wrestle
with his fellows, to give and take hard
knocks. 1t is 4 part of his education.
1t teaches him to 60 alone. But if his
nature is one of the best, it does not
harden him. He will remember that
there is one heart to which he is dearer
than all the world; and when in the
privacy OF his own room he opens
letter traced by his mothers hand,
there will be quivering of the lip and
moisture about the eyes. There is no
delusion about mothers love. Sweet
is the solace to the homesick boy or
girl, and sacred its remembrance
through life.
There is none
In all this cold and hollow world, no fount
VI deep, strong, deathless love, save that
within mothers heart.
MY mother! Manhood's anxious brow
And sterner cares, have long been mine:
Yet turn | to thee fondy now
AS when upon thy bosom's shrine
My infants griefs were gently hushed to rest,
And thy low-whispered prayers my slumbers
blest''
Young men are deluded with the be-
lief that they can be little vicious.
and not found out. The odor of bad
company clings to a ''dissipated"
young man after he leaves it. Ii is un-
mistakable. In the good old State in
which | had the honor to be born, the
punishment for bigamy was the brand
ing of big ''B'' on the right cheek
with a red-hot iron. Thus nature
brands the violator of her laws. YOUNG
men walk our streets branded with the
Insignia of evil living. A young man
fairly entered upon his secret evil
course would be astonised to hear the
remarks make concerning him. Don't
you think he looks changedp" 81 am
sorry for him. " Il thought he was a
49, : H'SC y OuHS uldu, UuJ He Is gone.
so acquaintances talk. But how is he
at home? All! there is there an eve
quicker than all others to detect the /
change that is taking place; there are
anxious consultations, midnight Weep
lngs, and tears and prayers of agony.
DO not hug the delusion that you de-
ceiye anybody. Whisky is in your
tongue. Cloves and parched coffee are
a vain device. In using these devices
young men remind me of what hap
pened TO two well-to-do farmers in
GWinett County, Ga. Any trick or de-
eeit to cover a bad habit is but shad- |
dow that will not bear your weight.
The habit OF petty deceit is most ruin
Gus to character. 1t will extinguish all |
the manhood and womanhood in the
soul that practices it. Cowardice and
duplicity become the normal condition.
md the poor dcceiver sneaks and |
orawls rather than walks through life.
Don't sneak. Don't crawl. Do not
start in life with deceit as your COM
panion, for she is from he'll and will
lead you there Rather wed Heavenly !
Truth, for she is from Heaven and will |
guide you up to it and to God. She is
and glorious.