第32章致年轻人AdvicetoYouth(2)
Nowastothematteroflying。Youwanttobeverycarefulaboutlying;otherwiseyouarenearlysuretogetcecaught,youeveragaiheeyesofthegoodandthepure,whatyouwerebefore。Manyayoungpersonhasinjuredhimselfpermahroughasingledillfiheresultofessbornofiraiiesholdthattheyoungouthatofcourse,isputtingitratherstrohaill,whileIotgoquitesofarasthat,Idomaintain,andIbelieveIamright,thattheyoungoughttobetemperateihisgreatartuntilpradexperienceshallgivethemthatdprewhiaketheaentgradprofitable。Patienstakiodetail—thesearerequiremeime,willmakethestudeheseonly,mayherelyasthesurefoundationforfutureemihinkwhattediousyearsofstudy,thought,practice,experieheequipmentofthatpeerlessoldmasterwhowasabletoimposeuponthewholeworldtheloftyandsoundingmaximthat“Truthismightyandwillprevail”—themostmajestipoundfractureoffactwhianborachieved。Forthehistoryofourradeadividual’sexperiehickwithevideatruthisnothardtokill,andthataliewelltoldisimmortal。ThereisinBostohemanwhodisesthesia;manypeopleareaware,ierdays,thatthatmandidn’tdiscoveritatall,butstolethedisanotherman。Isthistruthmighty,andwillitprevail?Ahhemoismadeofhardymaterial,butthelieittellswilloutlastitamillionyears。Anawkward,feeble,leakylieisathingwhiakeityouruudytoavoid;suchalieasthathasnomorerealpermahah。Why,youmightaswelltellthetruthatohit。Afeeble,stupid,preposterousliewilltitbeaslanderupoisiible,then,ofcourse,butthatisofyours。Afinalwinyourpracticeofthisgradbeautifulartearly—beginnow。IfIhadbegunearlier,Icouldhavelearnedhow。
Neverhandlefirearmscarelessly。Thesorrowahavebeehroughtheiheedlesshandliheyoung!htifarmhousetotheoneendingthesummer,agrandmother,oldandgraya,oheloveliestspiritsintheland,wassittingatherwork,whenheryounggrainandgotdownanold,battered,rustygunwhiotbeentouanyyearsandosednottobeloaded,aher,laughingaoshhtsheransgaowardthedoorohersideoftheroom;butasshepassedhimheplacedthegunalmostagaiarigger!Hehadsupposeditwasnotloaded。Andhewasright—itwasanyharmdoheokindIeverheardof。Therefore,justthesame,doholdunloadedfirearms;theyarethemostdeadlyahingsthathaveeverbeeedbyman。Youdoakeanypainsatallwiththem;youdoohavearest,youdoohaveanysightsonthegun,youdoakeaim,even。No,youjustpickoutarelativeandbangaway,aogethim。Ayouthwho’thitacathedralatthirtyyardswithaGatlingguersofanhour,takeupaymusketandbaghisgraime,atahuhinkouldhavebeehearmieshadbeenboysarmedwitholdmusketssupposednottobeloaded,aherarmyhadbeeheirfemalerelatiohoughtofitmakesoneshudder。
Therearemanysortsofbooks;butgoodofortheyoungtoread。Rememberthat。Theyareagreat,aimable,andunspeakablemeansofimprovement。Thereforebeyourseleyyoungfriends;beverycareful;eyourselvesexclusivelytoRobertson’sSermo’sRest,TheIsAbroad,andworksofthatkind。
ButIhavesaidenough。IhopeyoutheinstruswhichIhavegivenyou,ahemaguidetoyourfeetandalighttoy。Buildyourcharacterthoughtfullyandpainstakinglyupos,andbyandby,whebuilt,youwillbesurprisedandgratifiedtoseeholyitresembleseverybodyelse’s。