you are a fool. I know that the grave swallows daily, by scores,
drunkards, every one of whom thought he was safe while he was forming
his appetite. But this is old talk. A young man in this age who forms
the habit of drinking, or puts himself in danger of forming the habit,
is usually so weak that he does not realize the consequences.

[Illustration: LOST SELF-CONTROL.]


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HABIT.


It is almost as difficult to make a man unlearn his Errors as his
Knowledge.--COLTON.

There are habits contracted by bad example, or bad management, before
we have judgment to discern their approaches, or because the eye of
Reason is laid asleep, or has not compass of view sufficient to look
around on every quarter.--TUCKER.


1. HABIT.--Our real strength in life depends upon habits formed in
early life. The young man who sows his wild oats and indulges in the
social cup, is fastening chains upon himself that never can be broken.
The innocent youth by solitary practice of self-abuse will fasten upon
himself a habit which will wreck his physical constitution and bring
suffering and misery and ruin. Young man and young woman, beware of
bad habits formed in early life.

2. A BUNDLE OF HABITS.--Man, it has been said, is a bundle of habits;
and habit is second nature. Metastasio entertained so strong an
opinion as to the power of repetition in act and thought, that he
said, "All is habit in mankind, even virtue itself." Evil habits
must be conquered, or they will conquer us and destroy our peace and
happiness.

3. VICIOUS HABITS.--Vicious habits, when opposed, offer the most
vigorous resistence on the first attack. At each successive encounter
this resistence grows fainter and fainter, until finally it ceases
altogether and the victory is achieved. Habit is man's best friend and
worst enemy; it can exalt him to the highest pinnacle of virtue, honor
and happiness, or sink him to the lowest depths of vice, shame and
misery.

4. HONESTY, OR KNAVERY.--We may form habits of honesty, or knavery;
truth, or falsehood; of industry, or idleness; frugality,
or extravagance; of patience, or impatience; self-denial, or
self-indulgence; of kindness, cruelty, politeness, rudeness, prudence,
perseverance, circumspection. In short, there, is not a virtue, nor a
vice; not an act of body, nor of mind, to which we may not be chained
down by this despotic power.

5. BEGIN WELL.--It is a great point for young men to begin well; for
it is the beginning of life that that system of conduct is adopted
which soon assumes the force of habit. Begin well, and the habit
of doing well will become quite easy, as easy as the habit of doing
badly. Pitch upon that course of life which is the most excellent, and
habit will render it the most delightful.


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A GOOD NAME.


1. THE LONGING FOR A GOOD NAME.--The longing for a good name is one
of those laws of nature that were passed for the soul and written down
within to urge toward a life of action, and away from small or wicked
action. So large is this passion that it is set forth in poetic
thought, as having a temple grand as that of Jupiter or Minerva, and
up whose marble steps all noble minds struggle--the temple of Fame.

2. CIVILIZATION.--Civilization is the ocean of which the millions of
individuals are the rivers and torrents. These rivers and torrents
swell with those rains of money and home and fame and happiness,
and then fall and run almost dry, but the ocean of civilization has
gathered up all these waters, and holds them in sparkling beauty
for all subsequent use. Civilization is a fertile delta made by the
drifting souls of men.

3. FAME.--The word "fame" never signifies simply notoriety. The
meaning of the direct term may be seen from its negation or opposite,
for only the meanest of men are called infamous. They are utterly
without fame, utterly nameless; but if fame implied only notoriety,
then infamous would possess no marked significance. Fame is an
undertaker that pays but little attention to the living, but who
bedizens the dead, furnishes out their funerals and follows them to
the grave.

4. LIFE-MOTIVE.--So in studying that life-motive which is called a
"good name," we must ask the large human race to tell us the high
merit of this spiritual longing. We must read the words of the sage,
who said long centuries ago that "a good name was rather chosen than
great riches." Other sages have said as much. Solon said that "He that
will sell his good name will sell the State." Socrates said, "Fame is
the perfume of heroic deeds." Our Shakespeare said, "He lives in fame
who died in virtue's cause."