St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-05-03
AT HOME FOR YOUNG
MEN.
BIZ TReo. l.. Otlyler. d. ID.

u" lie primal uuGE OF every IdCHeF anu
Other is to make home attractive to
ne boys and girls. Some godly- mind
II fathers, who are very regular at
rayer meeting, and some mothers
no never miss their "DOrcas SOcie-
b." make shocking plumbers in the
engagement of their own children.
heir Gown vineyards" are badly Kept
nd yield only sour grapes. When a
Oy begins to dislike his home and
eeks to escape from it, he has very of
en reached the first milestone on the
pad to "the bad ;" and for this dislike
is parents may be more than half re-
pOnsible.
may entreat every father and
Other to see to two things. The one
that their own dwelling be made
Ist as attractive as possible (and a
right open fire will pay tenfOld more
IAN it costs as "means of grace" to
our family. The other is, to be care
Il how you trust your boys with a
ght key. If you know where he is,
S cry we'll if you hand him a night
ey and do not know or care whittier
goes with it, you may find out one
these days to your sorrow. A saga
GUS father said to me lately, "The
nchOrage of my children has always
cen a bright, happy home" That
ban has never seen one of his sons
Frecked on the rocks of ruin. Thou
4 lnds of young men really have no
ONE, except the parlOr of a boarding
Ouse, and no domestic property eX-
ept a trunk up in a hird-stOry bed
pom.
But however a young man may be
tuated, the evening hours bring to
i'm certain temptations and perils.
ne days work is over and nature
raves recreation. No one understands
lis natural necessity better than the
evil; and he makes the most of it.
he evening is his harvest time then
Ie opens his numberless dOOrways of
emptatiOn. Then he lights up his
laces of enchantment-bring out his
ice boxes, and cards, and champagne
BOTTLES, and billiard tables, and rOu-
tie boards; then he tunes his horns
7hd viOlins, and filings wide open his
rimsOned and chandeliered gateways
% sensual indulgence. 1t is in "the
|lack End dark night" that the shame
ess wantOn prOwls the streets in quest
f "the young man void of understand
ng"-yes, and of some gray headed
polls likewise. How many one (while
atheT and mother are in their uncOn
ciOus SLEEPY "gOeth after her straight
nay, rs an OK gOeth to the slaughter,
ind knOweth not that it is for his life.n
SO successful are these various bats of
he tempter, that if all the young men
FhO have spent any one evening in
dangerous places could be mustered
he next morning in a mass meeting,
Is size would be appalling, and the
composition of it wOdld strike many a
parental eye with horror. After thir
y-One years of close observation of
&ity life, | am not surprised that so
klany a mothers son is led astray. |
$nly wonder that so many escape de-
#tructiOn.
4 The best antidOte to all dangerous
places and pleasures is to find safe
bnes. Where and what are they7 A
wholesome home, of course, stands
lrst. AS long as you are tethered
3here, you may live in happy ignorance
Do manifold things which pure heart
lIOuId not wish to know; for blessed
ss the youth that does not know too
hluch. No matter how plain or cheap
our boarding quarters may be, my
y
kOOd books, you may spend many an
Avening in company fit for a king. Sc
lure a ticket in a public library, and
hen bring to your room such authors
Is you can afford to be intimate with.
6hun every book that stirs lewd pas
#iOn, or shakes your faith in your
fattlesnake. Some of the best educat-
= l.,
Ahey had ewes in their heads, and
books we'll studied brought a univer-
sity up into their scantily furnished
Rooms. Don't ask to be everlasting
III amused it is the mark of a baby
Efnind, when a young man cares for
'hOthing but fun and frOlic.
Music is one of the most thoroughly
wholesome of evening recreatiOns, If it
BIS only the enjoyment of a violin, a
banjo, or flute, in your own room.
Put aside a dollar often out of your
wages or your salary for the best pub
dc concerts, and for tickets to the art
galleries. As for the whole matter of
will give You one whole
some rule. Every amusement or re-
creation which makes the body health
Ter, the mind stronger, the heart purer,
is right. Let the others alone. What
ever you think of with twinge of
conscience, or an ugly taste in your
memory next morning, never do. 1t
is the next mornings whip of scorpi-
ons that spoils the sensualist's revel-
ries. 1t is a good rule never to spend
an evening in snch a manner that you
cannot pray with clean conscience
when you go to bed.
| pity the young man who is without
acquaintances among the other sex.
Spare no pains to put one or more fe-
male friendships between you and the
temptations of the "Devil and his an
geIs.n | am inclined to favor early at
tachments and engagements; for the
society of a pure girl, evening after
evening, has saved many young man
from perditiOn. Put yourself also lHto
the circle of some Christian church as
soon as you come into town. Its week
ly meetings and social gatherings will
anchor you from drifting away from
your mothers Bible, and from the
faith of your childhood. One of my
church officers said to me lately: "When
L went to Boston, a poor homeless
clerk, the Bible class and young peo-
pie of DR.. Kinks church saved me from
drifting to destruction" Heavens
blessing rest on young Mems Chris
tan Associations 7" They have given a
bright, soul cheering evening home to
thousands who were under the stress
OF loneliness or temptations. Re care