And to look on him in this character, you must turn with me to the domestic circle, and you must see him at the fire-side and in society. And in the Christmas songs lyrics domestic circle you behold the man with father, mother, brothers, sisters, and friends around him. To be happy with them, and that they may be happy with him, he must be
THE DUTIFUL AND OBEDIENT SON;
THE FOND AND AFFECTIONATE BROTHER;
THE FIRM AND UNWAVERING FRIEND.
And the first book of Adam and eve dutiful and obedient son honors his parents, and bows submissive to their[25] commands. And he does honor and submits to his parents with the first book of Adam and eve, not only during the period of his minority, but also in his more matured years. He respects them in the obedience of his manhood, and he shows to their gray hairs, in the exercise of his manly strength, that the principle by which he is moved is that which was instilled into his mind in the hours of his childhood, and which strengthened as his youth advanced. The filial reverence of the boy is to be seen in the actions of the man. And this reverence is seldom or never seen in the actions of the man, if the principle from which it springs has not been made a part of the character of the youth. The crown of honor, which the domestic circle weaves for the brow, is worn only by him that bends in the respect of his manly years before the silver locks of those who gave him being, and ministered to the necessities of his early life. And for this principle to be carried out in the man’s history, it must be firmly implanted within him, and become a part of his character and of himself in his early years. As with all other principles of like nature, it must be imprinted upon the character in its[26] formation, and become identified with the individual while his faculties are in their incipient state, and before they are fully developed. The boy must be the dutiful and obedient son, or the man may never be honored with a name so praiseworthy, and so much to be desired.
And as an affectionate brother, his character shows itself in his gentleness, and in the spirit of love and kindness, which should ever be exhibited in his intercourse with those who are bound to him in the tender ties of fraternal affection. To his elders under the paternal roof he is respectful, and to those younger than himself he is conciliating; and to all he is open in his love, and generous in the exhibition of his tender regard. And such a brother is a jewel at the home circle. He is a boy, and a man of character; and while his brothers share in his sturdier enjoyments, his sisters look to him in confidence as one that is ever ready to minister to their happiness, and to stand by them as an unflinching protector.
Carl Linnaeus Love Man in his social character Elements of character Roman Patriotism Domestic Altar Loadstar of My Life You Know the Saying Our Swords Will Play the Orator The Day Before Yesterday The Cause of Troubles Precautions from the beginning Desire to Exceed One's Program The Daily Miracle Some Wonderful Efforts The Dawn of Freedom Of Our Striving The beginning of slavery Second Residence in England Return to Basle First Visit to England Life of Hans Holbein And, as a friend, he is firm and affectionate, open in his intercourse, and candid in the expression of his sentiments.[27] He is as bold in the reproval of his friend’s faults to his face as he is in the defence of his character when he is absent. He is to his friend, in all things, just what he would have his friend be to him under the same circumstances. Deceit is the thing he scorns, and to treachery he is a stranger. Selfishness has no part in his character, and from meanness of every description he flies as he would from the pursuit of a serpent. Such a friend is worthy of the name, and if youth were trained for the character there would be more of them in the world than there are.
And the principles of character which would render the man a valued brother and friend, like those which would make him a worthy and dutiful son, must be incorporated into his nature in his childhood, and in his youth. He must be the obedient son, the affectionate brother, and the firm friend in his boyhood, or the probability is that he will never be so at all. There is some truth in the adage, that friendships, to be pure, and disinterested, and lasting, must be formed in youth, and that those which are formed in more matured years are not so. I say there is some truth[28] in this adage, though, to the credit of man’s nature be it spoken, it does not universally apply. And the truth of the adage is proved by faithful and honorable exceptions. And there is reason in the thing, though that which is most generally given is not so well expressed as it might be. The reason assigned in favor of early attachments and early friendships is that because in youth the feelings are full, and fresh, and free, and warm, and that the young heart is surcharged with gushing sympathies. This is even so. But I will state the reason in another form, which is more suitable to my subject, and which, I have no doubt, will be more useful to you. It is because in early life the character is formed, and the principles incorporated into the subject which produce his character. And with this in view, I would encourage you to adopt and practise such principles as are pure, and high, and holy, and then your friendships will be well selected, and you will yourselves be valuable, aye, inestimable, as friends.
THE DUTIFUL AND OBEDIENT SON;
THE FOND AND AFFECTIONATE BROTHER;
THE FIRM AND UNWAVERING FRIEND.
And the first book of Adam and eve dutiful and obedient son honors his parents, and bows submissive to their[25] commands. And he does honor and submits to his parents with the first book of Adam and eve, not only during the period of his minority, but also in his more matured years. He respects them in the obedience of his manhood, and he shows to their gray hairs, in the exercise of his manly strength, that the principle by which he is moved is that which was instilled into his mind in the hours of his childhood, and which strengthened as his youth advanced. The filial reverence of the boy is to be seen in the actions of the man. And this reverence is seldom or never seen in the actions of the man, if the principle from which it springs has not been made a part of the character of the youth. The crown of honor, which the domestic circle weaves for the brow, is worn only by him that bends in the respect of his manly years before the silver locks of those who gave him being, and ministered to the necessities of his early life. And for this principle to be carried out in the man’s history, it must be firmly implanted within him, and become a part of his character and of himself in his early years. As with all other principles of like nature, it must be imprinted upon the character in its[26] formation, and become identified with the individual while his faculties are in their incipient state, and before they are fully developed. The boy must be the dutiful and obedient son, or the man may never be honored with a name so praiseworthy, and so much to be desired.
And as an affectionate brother, his character shows itself in his gentleness, and in the spirit of love and kindness, which should ever be exhibited in his intercourse with those who are bound to him in the tender ties of fraternal affection. To his elders under the paternal roof he is respectful, and to those younger than himself he is conciliating; and to all he is open in his love, and generous in the exhibition of his tender regard. And such a brother is a jewel at the home circle. He is a boy, and a man of character; and while his brothers share in his sturdier enjoyments, his sisters look to him in confidence as one that is ever ready to minister to their happiness, and to stand by them as an unflinching protector.
Carl Linnaeus Love Man in his social character Elements of character Roman Patriotism Domestic Altar Loadstar of My Life You Know the Saying Our Swords Will Play the Orator The Day Before Yesterday The Cause of Troubles Precautions from the beginning Desire to Exceed One's Program The Daily Miracle Some Wonderful Efforts The Dawn of Freedom Of Our Striving The beginning of slavery Second Residence in England Return to Basle First Visit to England Life of Hans Holbein And, as a friend, he is firm and affectionate, open in his intercourse, and candid in the expression of his sentiments.[27] He is as bold in the reproval of his friend’s faults to his face as he is in the defence of his character when he is absent. He is to his friend, in all things, just what he would have his friend be to him under the same circumstances. Deceit is the thing he scorns, and to treachery he is a stranger. Selfishness has no part in his character, and from meanness of every description he flies as he would from the pursuit of a serpent. Such a friend is worthy of the name, and if youth were trained for the character there would be more of them in the world than there are.
And the principles of character which would render the man a valued brother and friend, like those which would make him a worthy and dutiful son, must be incorporated into his nature in his childhood, and in his youth. He must be the obedient son, the affectionate brother, and the firm friend in his boyhood, or the probability is that he will never be so at all. There is some truth in the adage, that friendships, to be pure, and disinterested, and lasting, must be formed in youth, and that those which are formed in more matured years are not so. I say there is some truth[28] in this adage, though, to the credit of man’s nature be it spoken, it does not universally apply. And the truth of the adage is proved by faithful and honorable exceptions. And there is reason in the thing, though that which is most generally given is not so well expressed as it might be. The reason assigned in favor of early attachments and early friendships is that because in youth the feelings are full, and fresh, and free, and warm, and that the young heart is surcharged with gushing sympathies. This is even so. But I will state the reason in another form, which is more suitable to my subject, and which, I have no doubt, will be more useful to you. It is because in early life the character is formed, and the principles incorporated into the subject which produce his character. And with this in view, I would encourage you to adopt and practise such principles as are pure, and high, and holy, and then your friendships will be well selected, and you will yourselves be valuable, aye, inestimable, as friends.
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