And _the dutiful and obedient son_ honors his parents, and bows
submissive to their commands. And he does honor and submits to his
parents, 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 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.
And, as a _friend_, he is firm and affectionate, open in his
intercourse, and candid in the expression of his sentiments. 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 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.