228 THE AMERICAN PRECEPTOR. 19. You will in vain expect fuccefs in your ftudies, unlefs you implore a blefling on them from Heaven; or if you fhould be permitted by Providence to make a proficiency in knowledge for the fake of others, you will not derive from your acquifition that degree of happiness which you would otherwife enjoy. You must afk the Giver of every good gift for that moft valuable gift of literary improvement. 20. You are apt at your age to be though lefs. You enjoy health and fpirits. You are ftrangers to the cares of the world. Cheerfulness indeed becomes you; but let me prevail with you, when I entreat you to confider the value of time, and the importance of making a good ufe of it. 21. Confider your parents. Form an idea of the anxiety which they feel on your account. You must have obferved how eagerly they wish for your improvement. They feel a laudable ambition, which prompts them to defire that you may arrive at eminence in whatever profeffion or em ployment you may hereafter be engaged by Providence. 22. To them it would be a painful fight to fee you contemptible and unfuccefsful. But nothing can vindicate you from contempt, or infure your fuccefs to effectually as perfonal merit, or the qualities of a good difpofition, adorned with a competent fhare of human learning and accomplishments. 23. Your parents do all in their power to promote your improvement; but after all, they cannot but know that it remains with yourselves to give efficacy and final good fuccefs to their endeavors. The mind is not like a veffel, into which may be poured any quantity of whatever the poffeffor chooses to infufe. It is rather like a plant, which, by the operation of its own internal powers, imbibes the nutriment afforded by the carth 24. But, not to dwell on fimilies, it is certain that our inftructors can ferve you only in conjunction with your own efforts. Let me then entreat you to exert your ives, if you have any regard for your parents, whole a decifi inefs fo effentially depends on your conduct; if you ny regard for your own honor, fuccefs, and com fermon on th you hope to be useful and refpected in fociety, and future state. Citute 12. FINIS. |