The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-02-19

hol the Case Inc cause lays away back OF the
actual act. The evil disposition that prompted
them to the evil act, had been cultivated by some
means in their hearts. Keep your heart pure and
all your acts will be good, and you will be re-
warded with contented happy spirit where
ever you are whatever your circumstances
may be.
Henry Ward Beecher's Advice to His
The following letter from Henry Ward
Beecher to his son is declared on good au-
thority never to have been published until
recently. 1t is reminiscent of the worldly
good sense Of the advice given to Laertes
by PolOnius, but it is also permeated by
the leaven of Christian experience. The
precepts in it are those which if followed
would produce good man as we'll as
gentleman:
Brooklyn, N. Y, Oct. 1S, 1S7O.-My
Dear Herbert: You are now for the first
time really launched into life for yourself.
You go from your fathers house, and from
all family connections. 10 make your own
way in the world. 1t is good time to
make new start, to cast out those faults
of whose evil you have had an experience,
and to take on habits the want of which
you have found to be so damaging.
1. You must not go into debt Avoid
debt as you would the devil Make it
ing.
2. Make few promises. Religiously OBJ
serve even the smallest promise. A man
who means to keep his promise, cannot af-
ford to make many
3. Be scrupulOusly careful in all state
mentS. Accuracy and frankneSs. no guess
work. Either nothing or the accurate truth.
4. When working for others sink YOUR
self out of sight, seek their interest. Make
yourself necessary to those who employ
you. by industry, fidelity, and scrupulOus
integrity. Selfshness is fatal.
5. Hold yourself responsible for higher
standard than anybody else expects of you.
Keep your personal standard high. Never
excuse yourself to yourself. Never pity
yourself. Be hard master to yourself but
lenient to everybody else.
6. Concentrate your force on your own
proper business; do not turn off. Be con-
slant. steadfast perSevering.
Z. The art of making ones fortune is to
spend nothing; in this country any intelli-
gent and industrious young man may become
rich if he stops all leaks and is not in
hurry. Do not make haste; be patient
8. Do not speculate or gamble. You 20
to land where everybody is excited and
strives to make money, suddenly. largely
and without working for it. They blow
soap bubbles. Steady, patient industry is
both the surest and safest way. Greediness
and haste are two devils and destroy thou
sands every year.
9. In regard to Mr.. B.; he is a south
ern gentleman; he is receiving you as favor
to me; do not let him regret it.
10. l beseech you to correct one fault
severe speech of others; never speak evil of
any man, no matter what the facts may be.
Hasty fault finding and severe speech of
absent people is not honorable. is apt to be
self, and is wicked.
IL. You must remember that you go to
Mr.. Blot to learn to manage farm
like his. One or two hundred acres, not
40. 900 is to be your future hOmestead; but
you can learn the care of cattle, sheep, the
culture of wheat. the climate, country,
manners and customs, and a hundred things
that will be needful.
10. If by integrity, industry and we'll
earned success you deserve we'll of your
fellow citizens. they may in years to come
ask you to accept honOrs Do not seek
them, do not receive them while you are
wrOng-wait: but when you are established
you may make your fathers name known
with honor in halls of legislation. Lastly.
do not forget your fathers and your moth
er's God. Because you will be largely de-
prived of your church privileges. you need
all the more to keep your heart before God.
But do not despise small churches and hum
BILE preachers. Mind not high things. but
cOndescend to men of low estate.
Read often the Proverbs. the Precepts
and duties eniOined in the new testament
May your fathers God 60 with you and
protect yOu.-Henry Ward Beecher.
Is this your first appearance in court of
justice?" asked Justice Duffy OF vagrant.