Chapter I: Preface

“Who reads a preface?” Many do not; but jump at once into the middle of a book. But it is well to know something about a book, before reading it; and who so likely to give you information respecting the contents of a book as the Author himself? I wish to see the youth of my country come forward upon the stage of life, models of excellence, with characters formed for the times in which they are to act. How much influence my book may have, in securing such a result, I cannot tell; but my design in writing it has been, to contribute something toward forming the character of some of those who are to be our future electors, legislators, governors, judges, ministers, lawyers, and physicians,--after the best model; and, from the kind reception of my former attempts to benefit American youth, I trust they will give a candid hearing to the few hints contained in the following pages. It is intended for boys,--or, if you please, for _young gentlemen_,--in early youth, from eight or ten to fifteen or sixteen years of age. It covers substantially the same ground occupied by a work for girls issued simultaneously with it; and some of the chapters are identical in the two books, while others are entirely different, and some partially so. It is the hope of the Author, that every one who reads it, will strive to _be a man_, in the highest sense of the term.

JANUARY, 1847.

CONTENTS.

I. ON CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH 7

II. NATURE AND OBJECTS OF EDUCATION 12

III. PIETY, AS THE SPRING OF ACTION AND REGULATOR OF THE
SOUL 17

IV. FILIAL PIETY 24

V. TREATMENT OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND OTHERS IN THE
FAMILY 37

VI. BEHAVIOR AT SCHOOL 45

VII. BEHAVIOR AT TABLE 51

VIII. BEHAVIOR AT FAMILY WORSHIP 56

IX. PRIVATE PRAYER 59

X. KEEPING THE SABBATH 64

XI. HABITS 83

XII. EDUCATION OF THE BODY 100

XIII. ON USEFUL LABOR 109

XIV. EDUCATION OF THE HEART 121

XV. EDUCATION OF THE MIND 145

XVI. READING 155

XVII. WRITING 161

XVIII. INDOLENCE 165

XIX. ON DOING ONE THING AT A TIME 168

XX. ON FINISHING WHAT IS BEGUN 170

XXI. CHOICE OF SOCIETY AND FORMATION OF FRIENDSHIPS 172

XXII. BAD COMPANY--MISCHIEVOUSNESS 176

XXIII. ON AMUSEMENTS 181

XXIV. GOVERNMENT OF THE TONGUE 192

XXV. ON THE ART OF AGREEABLE AND PROFITABLE CONVERSATION 198

XXVI. INQUISITIVENESS 206

XXVII. ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ABLE TO SAY NO 209

XXVIII. ON BEING USEFUL 212

XXIX. ON BEING CONTENTED 216

XXX. UNION OF SERIOUS PIETY WITH HABITUAL CHEERFULNESS 220

HOW TO BE A MAN.