READING.
READING occupies a very important place in education. It is one of the
principal means of treasuring up knowledge. It is, therefore, highly
necessary that a taste for reading should be early cultivated. But a
mere _taste for reading_, uncontrolled by intelligent principle, is
a dangerous appetite. It may lead to ruinous consequences. The habit
of reading _merely for amusement_, is a dangerous habit. _Reading
for amusement_ furnishes a constant temptation for reading what is
injurious. It promotes, also, an _unprofitable manner_ of reading.
Reading in a hasty and cursory manner, without exercising your own
thoughts upon what you read, induces a bad habit of mind. To profit
by reading depends, not so much on the _quantity_ which is read, as
upon the _manner_ in which it is read. You may read a great deal, in
a gormandizing way, as the glutton consumes food, and yet be none the
better, but the worse for what you read.
If you would profit by reading, you must, in the first place, be
careful _what you read_. There are a multitude of books, pamphlets,
periodicals, and newspapers, in circulation at the present day, which
cannot be read, especially by the young, without great injury, both to
the mind and heart. If any one should propose to you to associate with
men and women of the lowest and most abandoned character, you would
shrink from the thought--you would be indignant at the proposition. But
it is not the mere bodily presence of such characters that makes their
society dangerous. It is the communion which you have with their minds
and hearts, in their conduct and conversation. But a great portion
of the popular literature of the day is written by such characters.
By reading their writings, you come into communion with their minds
and hearts, as much as if you were personally in their company. In
their writings, the fancies which fill their corrupt minds, and the
false and dangerous principles which dwell in their depraved hearts,
are transferred to paper, to corrupt the unwary reader. Here are,
likewise, glowing descriptions of evil conduct, more fascinating to the
youthful heart than the example itself would be, because the mischief
is artfully concealed behind the drapery of fine literary taste, and
beautiful language. There are, likewise, many such writings, the
productions of persons of _moral lives_, but of _corrupt principles_,
which are equally dangerous. You would not associate with a person
whom you knew to be an unprincipled character, even though he might be
outwardly moral. He would be the more dangerous, because you would be
less on your guard. If it is dangerous to keep company with persons of
bad character or bad principles, it is much more so to keep company
with bad books.
I have treated at large on the subject of _novel-reading_, and other
objectionable writings, in my “Young Lady’s Guide;” and to that I must
refer you, for my reasons, more at length, for condemning such reading.
I shall here only suggest, for the regulation of your reading, a few
simple rules.
1. ALWAYS HAVE SOME DEFINITE OBJECT IN VIEW, IN YOUR READING.--While
pursuing your education, you will be so severely taxed with hard study,
that reading merely for diversion or amusement does not furnish the
relaxation which you need. It keeps the body idle and the mind still in
exercise; whereas, the diversion which you need, is something that will
exercise the body and relax the mind. If your object is _diversion_,
then it is better to seek it in useful labor, sprightly amusements, or
healthful walks. I can think of nothing more injurious to the young
than spending the hours in which they are released from study, bending
over novels, or the light literature of our trashy periodicals. Not
only is the health seriously injured by such means, but the mind loses
its vigor. The high stimulus applied to the imagination creates a kind
of mental intoxication, which renders study insipid and irksome. But
reading is an important part of education, and some time should be
devoted to it. Instead of mere amusement, however, there are higher
objects to be aimed at. These are, 1st, to store the mind with useful
knowledge; 2d, to cultivate a correct taste; 3d, to make salutary
impressions upon the heart. For the first, you may read approved works
on all the various branches of knowledge; as history, biography,
travels, science, and religious truth. For the second, you may read
such works of imagination and literary taste as are perfectly free
from objection, on the score of religion and morality,--and these but
sparingly at your age; for the third, such practical works of piety
as you will find in the Sabbath school library. But, for all these
purposes, the _Bible_ is the great Book of books. It contains history,
biography, poetry, travels, and doctrinal and practical essays.
Any plan of reading will be essentially defective, which does not
contemplate the daily reading of the Bible. You ought to calculate on
reading it through, in course, every year of your life.
2. BE EXCEEDINGLY CAREFUL WHAT YOU READ.--Do not take up a book,
paper, or periodical, that happens to fall in your way, because you
have nothing else to read. By so doing, you will expose yourself to
great evils. But, though a book be not decidedly objectionable, it may
not be _worth reading_. There are so many good books, at the present
day, that it is not worth while to spend time over what is of little
value; and it is better to read the Bible alone, than to spend time
over a poor book. Avoid, especially, the fictitious stories that you
will find in newspapers and popular magazines. They are generally the
worst species of fiction, and tend strongly to induce a vitiated taste,
and an appetite for novel-reading. If you once become accustomed to
such reading, you will find it produce a kind of _moral intoxication_,
so that you will feel as uneasy without it, as the drunkard without
his cups, or the smoker without his pipe. It is much the safer way
for young people to be wholly directed by their parents, (or their
teachers, if away from home,) in the choice of their reading. Make it
a rule never to read any book, pamphlet, or periodical, till you have
first ascertained from your parents, teachers, or minister, that it is
safe, and worth reading.
3. THINK AS YOU READ.--Do not drink in the thoughts of others as you
drink water; but examine them, and see whether they carry conviction
to your own mind; and if they do, think them over, till they become
incorporated with your own thoughts, part and parcel of your own mind.
Lay up facts and principles in your memory. Let the beautiful thoughts
and striking ideas that you discover be treasured up as so many gems
and precious stones, to enrich and beautify your own mind. And let your
heart be impressed and benefited by the practical thoughts you find
addressed to it.
4. REDEEM TIME FOR READING.--Although it would be improper for you to
take the time appropriated for study, or to rob yourself of needful
diversion, yet you may, by careful economy, save some time every day
for reading. A great deal of time is thrown away by the indulgence of
dilatory habits, or consumed in a careless, sauntering vacancy. If you
follow system, and have a time for every thing, and endeavor to do
every thing with despatch, in its proper season, you will have time
enough for every thing that is necessary to be done.