The news & observer., 1905-11-05
A MORNING TONIC.
(Robert E. Lee to his children

(Robert E. Lee to his children.)
Study hard, gain knowledge, and
learn your duty to God and your
neighbor; that is the great object OF
life.
In your youth you must be careful
to discipline your thoughts, words
and actions. Habituate yourself to
useful employment, regular improve
ment and to the benefit of all those
around you.
AS to reading and music-all ac-
complishemnts will enable you to give
pleasure. and thus exert a wholesome
influence. Never neglect the means of
making yourself useful in the world.
If you want to be missed by your
friendS-be useful.
You know my objection to incur
ring debt l cannot overcome it.
You must patch up your house and
get a sweet wife. You will be more
comfortable, and not so lonesome. Let
her bring a COW and churn. That Will
be all you Will want.
Experience will teach you that, not
withstanding all appearances to the
contrary, you will never receive such
love as is felt for you by your faith
er and mother. That lives through
absence, difficulties and time. Your
own feelings will teacn you how 1t
should be returned and appreciated.
L hope you Will also find time to
read and improve your mind. Read
history, works of truth, not novels
and romances. Get correct views of
life and learn to see the world in it's
true light. 1t will enable you to live
pleasantly. to do good. and when sum-
money away to leave without regret.
Do not go to many parties: pre-
serve your simple tastes and manners,
and you will always enjoy more pleas
ure. PlainnesS and simplicity OF
dress, early hours, and rational
amuSementS, / wish you to practice.
You must bear in mind that it will
not be becoming in a Virginia girl
now-,to be fine or fashionable. and
that gentility as we'll as self-reSpect
REQUIRE moderation in dress and gay
ETY..
A farmers life is one of labor, but
it is also one of pleasure, and con-
sciousness of steady improvement.
though it may be slow, is very en-
couraging.
If you can do nothing more than
prepare a site, lay out garden, Or
chard. ETC., and get a small house
partly finished. SO as to inhabit it, it
will add to your comfort and health.
Then, too, you must get a nice wife.
| do not like your being so lonely. L
fear you will fall in love with CELL
bacy.
We must never yield to difficulties.
but strive the harder to overcome
them.
l am clear for your marrying, Il
you select a good wife, otherwise you
had better remain as you are for a
time An imprudent or unconganial
woman is worse than the minkS.
A failure in crops will occur occa-
sionally to every farmer even the
best, with favorable surroundings.
1t serves a good purpose, sinculcates
prudence and economy, and excites
energy and perseverance. These quail
ties will overcome everything.
You are very young still, and if you
are virtuous and. laborious you VIII
accomplish all the good you propose
to yourself.
hope that you are becoming more
and more interested in making those
way to secure your own happiness.
around you happy That is the true
The farmers motto should be toll
and trust.
People have got to work. 1t is
creditable to them to do so; their
bodies and their minds are benefit
ted by it, and those who can and will
work will be advanced.-Ladies'
Home Journal.