to hear counsel in regard to their future conduct. And when such listen to words of instruction, they will treasure them up as food for future meditation.

Permit me to impress upon the minds of all the youth who read these lines, the importance of seeking for wise counsel, and of bestowing much thought and reflection upon all those subjects connected with their prosperity. Meditate not only on those affairs which are transacting around you, but upon the prospects of the future which open to your view. Reflect upon the sources of human happiness and human wo—ascertain the real causes of peace and satisfaction on the one hand, and of degradation and wretchedness on the other. Examine with thoughtful care, the history of your race, and the history of those of your acquaintance who are advanced in years.— Ascertain and remember what has caused one individual to be respected and loved, while another is shunned and despised. And where you perceive that others have failed, do you remedy; for let it always be remembered, that the same causes which led others to infamy and ruin, will involve you in the same disastrous circumstances, if you place yourselves within their influence. Meditate seriously upon the dangers which surround the path of the young. Were you pursuing a solitary road, around which you had reason to apprehend lurked the deadly assassin, how cautiously would you proceed—with what vigilance

and watchfulness would you examine every object you approached. But remember, there are legions of foes hovering around the pathway of life, ready to assail you at every opportunity--they are the human vices. They will beset you at every turn, and fasten upon you with all their accompanying woes, unless warded off by a firm and determined opposition. But let cautious reflection be your handmaid, and you will be enabled, in a good degree, to withstand the temptations which surround you, and to walk in that wise path wherein lies every pure earthly enjoyment.

CHAPTER II.

CLAIMS ON YOUTH.

The young should be fully aware that there are claims upon them, of the most important and enduring nature. And it is highly necessary, that they should become acquainted with the character of these claims, that they may qualify themselves to discharge them in an efficient manner.

1. Society has claims on the Young.--In every civilized and well regulated community, there are certain important duties, of a public and general character, which must be properly discharged, to insure the safety and welfare of its members.— Those who now execute these trusts will soon become old and pass from the stage of life. They cannot always remain, to instruct by their wisdom, and guide by their counsels; but as time's unceasing wheels roll on, they recede from our view, and no more mingle with us. "I look forward a few short years, and see the aspect of society entirely changed. The venerable fathers who have borne the heat and burden of the day,

are dropping, one after another into the grave, and soon they will be gone. Of those, too, who are now the acting members of society, some have passed the meridian of life, others are passing it, and all will soon be going down its decline, to mingle with the generations who have disappeared before them from this transient scene of action. To a mind seriously contemplating this fact, it is an inquiry of deep interest—who are to rise up and fill their places? To whom are to be committed the invaluable interests of society? who are to sustain its responsibilities and discharge its duties? You anticipate the answer."* It is upon the young that these duties and responcibilities will devolve. You will soon be called to occupy all the various stations now held by those more advanced in life. You will become parents, and guardians, and directors in all that pertains to the welfare of society. Soon will it depend upon you to determine, whether religion, morality and virtue shall prevail and shed their benign influences upon community, or whether infidelity, immorality and deep corruption, shall blight all that is valuable in our midst. Soon will it be your prerogative to declare, whether institutions of learning shall be fostered and multiplied, sending their light into the dark abodes of ignorance and raising man to that elevation in knowledge for which his faculties so

*Hawes' Lectures.

eminently fit him, or whether the darkness and ignorance of ancient times, with all their follies, their superstitions and wretchedness, shall return and shut out the beams of science and art, and plunge this happy land into degradation and ruin. Soon will it be with you to decide, whether wholesome restraints, good order, harmony and peace, shall prevail and continue to impart their blessings, or whether all shall be unbridled profligacy and wild anarchy. Soon will it be in your power to perpetuate and hand down to succeeding generations, those wonderful improvements in the arts and sciences, and in all that pertains to our prosperity, which have so eminently characterized the present age, and which are sending their blessings to earth's far ends, or whether the spirit of improvement shall be arrested in its valuable career, all anticipations of future exaltation and perfection be cut off, and the mind, with its high capabilities, made to stagnate in stupid indolence! In fine, all those interests which render life a blessing, will ere long come into the keeping and control, and be at the disposal of those who are now young.

Do you not, then, perceive that society has claims, deep, abiding, important claims upon you? And how will you answer them? Surely I can receive but one reply to this inquiry, from all youth of reflection and forethought. You undoubtedly discover the propriety, yea, the urgent necessity of preparing to discharge these claims