The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-29
THE YOUNG MAN ABsALoM.


A boy baby is born into family which
welcomes him and is well fitted to care for
him. He is surrounded only by good infiu-
ences from infancy to manhood. His par
ents, with wise and loving solicitude, seek
to instill into him the principles Of truth,
only evil can come from the slightest devil
alton from these principles; that even the
so-called minor vices are not to be INDUCED
in with safety. He is carefully guided in
his choice of companions, his school en-
vironments are considered not only for their
effort is spared to build up in this boy a
character so well balanced and so firmly
based that he will be able to withstand the
temptations that must inevitably confront
him when he goes out into the world of
men to act upon his own responsibility.
Then he enters this world, and how often
alas! how piteously often-all this train
ing, all this environment, all the teaching
that has been his and the example that has
been set before him seem to go for naught.
With eyes wide open to what he is doing,
with intelligent and full comprehension of
child of many prayers turns his feet to the
primrose path and follows 1t down to dark
ness and to death.
Another boy baby is born into different
environment. His physical welfare may be
considered, but his moral and spiritual ma
ture has no attention. He is boy Of the
streets, he finds such companions as he
may, he gains such education as chance
gives him, the atmosphere about him is
possibly one of crime; yet how amazingly
often such a boy develops into an honest
self-respecting and well-respected member
of the community.
Who Is he that shall solve the mystery
of these things? 1t will not do to say that
| training and environment mean nothing and
are useless; that precept and example are
never of avail. Every one knows that this
| is not true; knows that training is the sal.
walton of the many, and that of those who
miss 1t many go to destruction. But what
shall account for the Absaloms? Shall
| their career be ascribed to remote hered.
| ity-the case OF one who goes wrong
yet who has a long line Of known
ancestors of incorruptible character? So
many sins are placed at the door
| of heredity 1t is doubtless true thai
the foundation Of character should be lait
| hundred years before a child is born bu
what OF the child who has the benefit o.
1
by them? Is there a defect In the method
of the training that Is given-the training
that has seemed wise and sufficient to par
ent and educator, and is everywhere &C
copied as the best? Is not enough stress
laid on the physical and moral degenerate.
that follows even mild dissipation? Is tn
standard Of honesty and integrity no
placed high enough or made sacred enough
/ Is the boy not made to understand and t
| know that no smallest deviation from tn
straight and narrow way Of rectitude i
ever justihable; that no reward of wealtl
or fame is great enough to pay for viola
ton of conscience?
Whatever Is the secret, 1t is one tina
many fathers of sons would gladly dis
cover. For they must equip their sons t
meet temptation, since, while the worl
stands. the evil one will not cease to lie il
wait for them at every hand. And every
where are the fathers who have done tn
best they knew and are bowed in sorro,
over the dear ones fallen.
THAT It's a common grief
Bringeth but slight relief;
Ours is the bitterest loss,
Ours is the heaviest cross;
And forever the cry will be:
Would God had died for thee,
. Absalom, my SOM I"