INTRODUCTION. Early youth is justly considered the most interesting and important, yet dangerous period of human existence. It is interesting, because of the innocence, the hilarity, and the zest for enjoyment, which is then evinced. The mind, like the morning flower, at this period begins more fully to open its leaves to be impressed with the enlivening rays of the sun of knowledge, and evinces by the gradual developement of its powers, that its possessor belongs to a grade of beings vastly more elevated than the brute creation. Youth is the most important time of life, inasmuch as the habits then begin to lay their foundations—the character commences its formation, and the occupation is to be chosen—upon which depend mainly, the enjoyments and prosperity of after life. And it is the most dangerous period, because, ardent, volatile, inexperienced, and thirsting for happiness, the young are exceedingly liable to be seduced into wrong paths—into those fascinating, but fatal ways, which lead to degradation and wretchedness. It is at this season, that the sports and amusements of childhood, lose their charm, and their influence. Childish things are put away and there commences a desire for, and a looking after more mature, yet more dangerous sources of enjoyment. As the gallant bark leaves the secure haven to go out upon the bosom of the mighty deep, with its snow white sails spread to the inviting wind, its broad flag and gay streamers floating in air— bounding o'er the billows "as a thing of life," and wholly unconscious that Ocean, in its far regions, is nursing the whirlwind and the storm—so youth launches upon the vast sea of life, decked with all those gay and bright fancies which the imagination vividly paints in the morning of existence; spreads the wide expanded sails of hope, and fain would believe that an ever-favoring breeze will speedily waft to prosperity and peace. But the young should be aware that, as the wide waste of waters is ploughed into the mountain wave by the fury of the wind, so the sea of life is often swept by howling tempests of disappointment and misfortune; and that upon the one, as upon the other, unless they are guided by the pilots, wisdom and discretion, shipwrecked hopes and blasted anticipations must ensue. Young ladies and young gentlemen—I crave your attention for a short season, from time to time, as I proceed in a series of Essays, on a variety of subjects intimately connected with your welfare and happiness. Will you lend me a listening ear? Will you occasionally devote an hour, to hear what I have to offer upon topics, which you will acknowledge are of the utmost importance to your peace and prosperity? Come, sit down with me, and in a friendly manner, we will converse upon those things which pertain to your future success in life. I am aware that, upon the ears of some youth, the word advice grates harshly. But I attribute this dislike more to the improper manner in which they have been instructed, than to any natural bias. Parents and instructors often seem to imagine there is no method to advise the young, but in the harsh tones of reproof and upbraiding. And the effect of such a course, is to harden those whom they would benefit, and cause them to dislike every thing which comes in the form of counsel. Advice, to be effectual, must be clothed in words of affection and kindness, and accompanied with a tender regard for the feelings of those to whom it is tendered; and it should be given in such manner as not to imply the degradation of those who are its objects. Communicated in this manner, I think it cannot truly be said, that, as a general rule, youth are averse to counsel. Nevertheless, it is well known that one of the common failings of the young, is to be wise in their own conceit— to imagine they can get along quite well of themselves, and that they can discover coming evils and avoid them, as readily as their elders in life. This wisdom, however, is of a premature growth, and generally passes away as age advances; but often, not until it has involved its possessor in troubles and misfortunes which sometimes exc through life. Hence have arisen those common sayings, that youth is wiser at fifteen than at thirty—i. e. in its own estimation—and that the first indication of true wisdom in the young, is, their ascertaining and acknowledging how little they do, in reality, know. Listen! You desire to be happy—you thirst for enjoyment. This is natural, and it is proper. God has designedly implanted this desire within you, and he is perfectly willing that you should gratify it in the proper manner! But, remember that in this, as in every thing else, there is a right way and a wrong way to accomplish your object. If you adopt the right way, the desired good is speedily obtained and enjoyed. But if, unhappily, you select the wrong way, so far from securing the wished for happiness, you will reap nought but misfortune, degradation and wretchedness. And in pursuing this wrong course, however you may imagine, for a season, under the fascinations which evil often assumes, that you have found the real enjoyment desired, you will ere long discover—and often too late—that you have embraced a gilded shadow, filled with human wo, while the actual good is far from you. You can but perceive, therefore, the critical condition in which you stand, and the importance and necessity ot obtaining counsel in regard to your future conduct. Were you about to travel into a far land, a |