Henry Ward Beecher's Advice To His Son

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 120, 2 April 1891, Page 4

Henry Ward Beecher's Advice To His Son

The following'letter from the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher to his son, is ;.published for the^ first time, by an '-ATmerican^cdntenaporary, "whichj re- ■; r >markß that it is -reminiscent .of, the " worldly good sense > of : the -advice - given to Laertes- by-Polonius,- biit is a also"— permeated by It tie 'leaven! of " \ f Christian experience :— • " , . -^Brooklyn, .NX,' 18th October, "1878. <- -My, Dear -Herbert,— You are now , :-for the first time really launched into life for yourself. You .go from yjour —fathers-h ouse, and from all family • '- T cotf Sections, /to 'make 'your own way ran the world. It is a- good time to . t>inakea new start, to cast out faults of -* whose evil you have had an experi- - >— ence,-and to take on habits the want r 'f\6t which"-- you r have, found to be so , ' -I damaging. • , r / o> > tthrl/^ou must not go into debt. .-^Avoid^debt as you -would the devil. -Make it a fundamental rule : No .*=*-debt — cash-or nothing. 'j I few''pfoinises. - Religiously — if'obseryo even the smallest promise A >ia»in. who;nieana to keep his promises .' afford to make many. ; - L 3*&.' Ben scrupulously" careful in all wj statements. Accuiacy -and perfect .>S-franknesß;' f no. guesswork. Eithei _ -nothing prjaccurate -truth. ,4. When. working r ,for others sink :: J yVurself'out 6rsight;"seek their interest. -. Make, yourself necessary to those who employ you, by industry, fidelity, and— scrupulous integrity. ' '. "yourself responsible for a 3 higher? standard t than anybody else ~,i expects of you. Keep your personal standard high. ''Never excuse your,fielfvto yourself. Never, pity yourself. J^'Be a 'hard I ' master to 'yourself, but J 'lenient to everybody, else. * t(1 ' V 6. Concentrate your force on youi -<^-«wn' proper" business ; "do not turn off. 3L°\Be cuust'ant, 'steadfast, persevering., - T * > 7i The art of making' one's fortune ~_- is to spend' nothing. In this country -aii£ intellieeut and industrious young _ '-man- may -become rich Mf he stops all .bleaks and is not in a hurry. Do not make haste ; be patient. • tT."Do not speculate or gamble. ~ _ Xou go to a land -where everybody is -excited and strives to make money, ,-^.Buddenly,:largely, and without work-j:iing-for it.'-' They blow soap-bubbles. 1 Steady, patient industry is both the -^ suresfcandfthe safest [way. Greediness „ and Kaste'are two^ "devils" that destroy ..„'- thousaods every year. 9. '"ln regard'to" Mr B ,heis a t .^Southern gentlsman ; he is receiving lJsou as'ajavour to me.-; do not let _ v « him regret it. ' , beseech you to correct one fault — severe speech of others ; nevei .speak evil of' any man, no matter the^facts ( may be. Hasty fault- , ..finijiug^ and severe speech' of absent ype^ple, is, not honorable, is apt to be . ? 'unjust" aiid cruel, makes enemies to and is ' .11. You must remember that you -- go to Mr B not to learn to manage -a farm like his. One or two' hundred nacres, not 40,000, is to be your future k. homestead { but you can learn the ~^9are of cattle, sheep, the culture jof -wheat,, the climate, country, nunners and customs; and a 'hundred things that will be needful. - \ • '■*• V'i2,"lf by integrity, industry, and «- well earned success you deserve well -of _your .fellow citizens, they may, {in -^years-to come, ast'you to accept , Do, not .seek them, do not ," receive them while you are youngp -wait; but when you are establishpd you may make your father's name known with honour in Halls of Legislation. do! not forget yojur father's and your mother's God. Be- . cause you will 'be largely deprived of .gjixirch, privileges, you need all the nerve to (seep your heart before Gojd. But do not despise small churches arid bumble preachers.' ' '. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low ,«state.", - I . Read often the Proverbs, the preceptß*aiid duties enjoined in the Nejw Testameut. May your fa'her's God g«>rwith you and protect you. '"'■'"' ' Henry Wahd Beecher.