ter is the reverse of this—who is intelligent, prudent, industrious and virtuous, has every advantage of which the other is deprived.

The necessity, therefore, of a good character, both to young ladies and gentlemen, must be perfectly obvious. And how is such a character to be obtained? Can you inherit it, as you do your name? Can you purchase it with gold, or obtain possession of it by theft? No—no. A good character must be formed—it must be made—it must be built up, by your own individual exertions! If you are negligent or indifferent in regard to this subject—if you leave the character to form itself, as chance may direct--" if, instead of exerting reflection for this valuable purpose, you deliver yourselves up at so critical a time, to sloth and pleasure if you refuse to listen to any counsellor but humor, or attend to any pursuit except that of amusement—if you allow yourselves to float loose and careless on the tide of life, ready to receive any direction which the current of fashion, or of licentiousness, may chance to give you— what can you expect to follow from such beginnings! While so many around you are undergoing the sad consequences of a like indiscretion, for what reason shall not those consequences extend to you? Can you attain success without that preparation, and escape dangers without that precaution, which are required of others? Will prosperity and happiness grow up to you of its own accord, and solicit your acceptance, when to

the rest of mankind, it is the fruit of long cultivation, and the acquisition of labor and care? Deceive, not yourselves with such hopes."* I repeat, the character must be made—it must be a work—and a work, too, of meditation and forethought.

The characteristics by which you desire to be distinguished through life, should be selected by your own well exercised judgment, and established by your industry and perseverance. Ask yourselves what character you would like to possess before the world?—whether you would be respected or despised, by the good and virtuous?— and act in accordance to your decision. And I repeat, all the excellence of character you obtain, must be the fruit of your own labor—the result of your own exertions. Friends may cheer and encourage you, but they can not do this work for you. They can not be industrious, or virtuous, or well informed, or honest, in your place. These characteristics, if you possess them at all, you must obtain by the diligent exercise of your own faculties and advantages.

To arrive at excellence of character, it is well to adopt models for imitation. Think of some individuals, the excellencies of whose characters you would be pleased to possess. And let not these standards be low ones. They should be high—they had far better be too high, than too

* Blair.

low. It is an old proverb, that although he who aims at the sun, will not reach it, yet his arrow will fly much higher, than if aimed at an object on a level with himself. So in the formation of character. Let your models be exalted ones; and although you may possibly fail of reaching their elevation, yet, undoubtedly you will ascend much higher, than had you selected some inferior patterns. Let your models be frequently before your mind--imitate the conduct and disposition which characterized those you would copy after—mark the course which they took to obtain their good names, and do thou likewise.

I can not better close this subject, than in the words of the lamented Wirt. "Take it for granted that there is no excellence without great labor. No mere aspirations for eminence, however ardent, will do the business. Wishing and sighing, and imagining and dreaming of greatness, will never make you great or respectable. If you would get to the mountain's top on which the temple of fame stands, it will not do to stand still, looking, and admiring, and wishing you were there. You must gird up your loins, and go to work with all the indomitable energy of Hannibal scaling the Alps. We can not all be Franklins, it is true; but by imitating his mental habits and unwearied industry, we may reach an eminence we should never otherwise obtain. Nor would he have been the Franklin he was, if he had permitted himself to be discouraged by the reflection that we can

not all be Newtons! It is our business to make the most of our own talents and opportunities; and instead of discouraging ourselves by comparisons and impossibilities, to believe all things imaginable, possible; as, indeed, almost all things are, to a spirit bravely and firmly resolved."

CHAPTER IV.

THE GOOD OPINION OF OTHERS.

There is no emotion more natural, and none more proper, than the desire to be thought well of, by others around us. This wish, cherished by the young, with proper restrictions, and brought consistently to bear on the conduct, will become as a kind of guard to screen them from many improprieties and their accompanying evils. Those young people, who are inspired with the laudable desire so to demean themselves as to obtain the approbation and respect of community, may be considered as walking in a safer path, than those who have no such inclination. It will cause them to become circumspect and watchful in all their conduct to be careful what they do, and what they say, and what disposition they exhibit in their intercourse with the world; and will induce them to listen seriously to any faults that may be suggested as attached to their conduct. Wise youth are willing to have their failings pointed out. And when a fault is asserted to pertain to