INSCRIPTION. ΤΟ THE YOUNG MEN OF AMERICA This Book IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED, EY THEIR SINCERE FRIEND AND WELL-WISHER, DANIEL WISE. PREFACE. I LOVE to look upon a young man. There is a hidden potency concealed within his breast which charms and pains me. I silently ask, what will that youth accomplish in the after-time of his life? Will he take rank with the benefactors or with the Scourges of his race? Will he, erewhile, exhibit the patriotic virtue of Hampden and Washington, or the selfish craftiness of Benedict Arnold? If he have genius, will he consecrate it, like Milton and Montgomery, to humanity and religion; or, like Moore and Byron, to the polluted altars of passion? If he have mercantile skill, will he employ it, like Astor or Girard, to gratify his lust of wealth; or to elevate and bless humanity, like some of our living merchant princes? If the gift of eloquence be hidden in his undeveloped soul, will he use it, like Summerfield, in favor of relig ion, or like Patrick Henry and Adams, in battling for human rights; or will he, for mammon's sake, prostitute that gift to the uses of tyranny and infidelity? Will that immortal soul, which beams with intelligence and power in his countenance, ally itself with its Creator, and thus rise to the sublime height of its destiny; or will it wage war with truth and duty, and thus sink to degradation and to death? As I raise these great queries, I at once do reverence to the high potentiality of his nature, and tremble for his fate. I feel a desire arising within me to bear a part in guiding him into the way of right, duty and happiness As a fruit of that often-felt desire, I have written this book. May its success equal the ardor and sincerity of my wishes for the best good of young men. DANIEL WISE. Fall River, Nov. 1850. CONTENTS. THE young man invited to view the future- A joyous thought - A young man's dream of life-Disenchantment - The sower and the harvest- The young man a sower in the field of life - The two harvests-To be a young man a very serious fact-Sailing on a quiet river, and steering through dangerous straits-The enchanted hill-Life an enchanted hill, with many victims- Every young man who falls is his own destroyer- The Alpine muleteer and the meditative man— An enemy at home- The asp-The young man's complaint anticipated- Caution the parent of success- Napoleon's forecast-Dupont's incaution- The defeat at Baylen - Every young man may conquer the obstacles of life-The young man should cheerfully contend for success - Alcinou's Garden,. The stately mansion - Its ruin - The owner's folly - Every young man is constructing a character - Its materials - Importance of a right found- ation-Building on the sand-Ruin - The true foundation of right character-The temporal advantages of a religious life-Prosperity not the exclusive heritage of worldlings- Benefits of religion - The lovely charmer and her promises - Religion not the only path to temporal good - Worldlings prosper without it-No tranquillity to mere worldlings- Confessions of Voltaire-Chesterfield-Lord Byron-Nelson-Talleyrand -Randolph-An affecting contrast - Religious life preferable to one of profitable sin-Extract-An illustration- -The poisoned water - Spe- cifics-The poisoned heart - The genius of the world and religion - The choice of wisdom - An appeal-Caution-Elements of success in life- Religion creates them all-Every young man may reach success through |