Moral Pieces, in Prose and Verse/On Youth
ON YOUTH.
YOUTH is the season when habits are most easily formed; when principles are most permanently established. That knowledge which expands the soul, and enlarges its capacity for happiness, is more easily acquired at the period of youth; because the mind is then usually unburdened with care, and unsoured by disappointment. This is the period for improvement of every description; a period which, if neglected, will occasion future disgrace, and, if mispent, may be lamented, but can never be recalled. It has been very elegantly and truly said, "If the Spring put forth no blossoms, in Summer there will be no beauty, and in Autumn no fruit; so if youth be trifled away in indolence, maturity will be contemptible, and old age miserable." Let the spirit of this beautiful comparison animate us to greater diligence in the pursuit of useful knowledge, and to greater perseverance in vanquishing opposing difficulties. Recollect also that habits are now most easily formed. The youthful mind, where discordant passions are not suffered to predominate, is like wax to the soft impression of the seal. Take care to stamp upon it only the images of virtue and of piety. Strive to lay the foundation of an amiable and an useful character. Endeavour to gain a spirit of meekness, of gentleness, and of sincerity. Accustom yourselves to condescension and forbearance. Let each of you look carefully into her own character, and reform what she there finds amiss, remembering that every error, in which she persists, removes her still farther from the path of duty. Above all, never practise dissimulation. It strikes at the root of every virtue, and undermines the foundations of all happiness. Cultivate candour and sincerity; they will endear you to the good and to the judicious. Endeavour to realize the importance of establishing good habits; of forsaking errors; and of acquiring those sources of intellectual pleasure which will continue unimpaired, when the enjoyments of youth are departed, and its bloom forever gone.
You have gained as it were a little eminence in the journey of your life. Behind you are the scenes of infancy and childhood, mingled and blended together. Before you lies the untravelled path of your existence. Fancy perhaps tells you that it will be always clothed with flowers, and smiling with verdure. Yet suffer not the meteor of fancy to obscure the calm light of reason, or prevent you from listening to the voice of experience. Let the advice of your parents and friends be dear to your heart; this will moderate the rashness of youth, and restrain its volatility. But while you submit to the judgment of others, neglect not to read that volume, which above all others is full of instruction and true wisdom. It was given you from heaven, as a counsellor to your experience, and a guide to your wanderings. Read it daily; it gives knowledge and discretion; and if studied with humility will lead to truth. From these holy scriptures we receive another argument to illustrate the importance of the season of youth. We have seen that it is the proper time to acquire knowledge and virtuous habits; we there hear, in the voice of inspiration, that it is also the time to remember our Creator. We are none of us too young to remember him, and to love him. Let us therefore endeavour to fulfil his commands, to improve time diligently, and to walk humbly before him. By persevering in the path of duty, we shall be useful and happy. We are now all of us young. But a time approaches when we shall be young no more. Let us therefore improve these moments wisely, that when they are past we may reflect on them with pleasure. Those who have spent their youth in indolence, or vain amusements, go down to the vale of life neither respected or beloved. But may we assiduously improve these hours, so precious and so transient; may we strive to gain whatever is useful and pious, and thus lay up a good foundation for the time to come.