Year: 1861

We give the following from the United Presby-
terian, hoping that it may encourage poor young
men who are struggling to fit themselves for high
er sphere of usefulness but in danger of being dis
couraged by the dangers which lie before them
We hope that parents also may be led by it to en-
courage the aspirations of their children-Ed Rec.


We write for the encouragement of young per-
sons, especially for young lads, who by reason of
the comparative poverty of their parents, have to
struggle with many difficulties from which the sons
of the wealthy are free. insnmuch that they Of
ten ready to give up, sit down, and bewail their
hard lot


As a general fact, that is, with some exceptions,
those who have made their mark on the age in
which they lived. and whose names have been en-
tered on the roll of fame have been from the hum
BILE walks of life. 1t seems to be a universal law,
that to be worth anything young man must have
been early placed almost entirely on his own re-
sources. If there is anything in him this will bring
it out and bring it all out


About forty years ago. when there was great
demand in the West for more ministers Of the Cos
pei, and few young men were offering themselves,
we suggested to a member Of the A. R. Church the
propriety of educating some of his sons, as there
was an excellent Academy near at hand. ut il"
said he ''of no use for rich to educate his
sons for any profession" This was the only time
we ever heard him call himself rich man, and it
was by accident. He continued, 6 have lived here
a long time I have seen the sons of your Virgin
ans here to enter the practice Of the law or
medicine; they took up their lodgings at the hotel ;
they put their cards in the papers they took their
btters, and smoked their cigars; they hired car
rages and galanted the ladies around till all their
money spent. They then wrote to their faith
that they had not got into business yet, but had
good prospect, and concluded by telling them that
they wanted q little more money. When this was
all gone, they wrote again, telling the same story,
and thus sucked the 'old man" as long as he lived
Nhn nntnn-
tains with their packs on their backs who rise to
eminence IN their professions, and come to occupy
important positions in society. With this our own
observation agrees. 1t is far from certain that
wealth is really blessing to family. If we be-
eve the Bible it is certain that neither poverty or
riches is the most desirable condition But let US
look at few facts.


Luther, Calvin, &C., were all from the common
walks of life .....-.


John Bunyan, the author of "Pilgrim's Progress"
awork has passed through almost innumerable edi-
tions and of which there have been about as many
limitations, though for hundred years men of
taste and genius could see nothing in 1t but the
driveling of an old superstitious Puritan. John
Bunyan was the son Of tinker and was brought
up to the same business Twelve years he lay in
Bedford prison for preaching the Puritan faith,
though he was frequently offered his freedom if he
would give up preaching; but his reply was, u
you let me go to day, will preach to morrow" In
the prison. as he could not work at his trade, he
made lace TO support himself, his wife and children,
one Of whom was blind


John Brown of Haddington was poor shepherd
lad. While keeping sheep, he studied the Latin
and Greek languages, having had the benefit of a
teacher but for one month. He afterwards made
himself acquainted with several of the modern Ian
guages; and left behind him some valuable works
among which are Dictionary of the Bible and a
selEinterpreting Bible.


John Adams. the second President of the United
States, and according to Jefferson the Ajax lebanon
Of that eventfnl day,-that day big with danger tc
the thrones Of trysnts; that day on which the De
caration Of Independence was adopted was the sor
Of a small farmer who had but forty acres of land
and added the business of making shoes to farming
to support his family The son had to contend with
many difficulties. but he armed himself for the con
test and succeeded.


Benjamin Franklin, whose wisdom in council per
haps contributed as much to the success of the
Thirteen Colonies in their struggle with theil