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The Young Man's Guide

The Young Man's Guide to the Harmonious Development of Christian Character

by Harvey Newcomb, 1847

On Childhood and Youth
Nature and Objects of Education
Piety, as the Spring of Action, and Regulator of the Soul
Filial Piety
Treatment of Brothers and Sisters
Behaviour at School
Behaviour at Table
Behaviour at Family Worship
Private Prayer
Habits
Education of the Body
On Useful Labour
Education of the Heart
Education of the Mind
Reading
Writing
Indolence
On Doing One Thing at a Time
On Finishing What Is Begun
Choice of Society, and Formation of Friendships
Bad Company. Mischievousness
On Amusements
Government of the Tongue
On the Art of Agreeable and Profitable Conversation
Inquisitiveness
On the Importance of Being Able to Say "No"
On Being Useful
On Being Contented
Union of Serious Piety with Habitual Cheerfulness

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 biblical 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 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 everyone who reads it, will strive to be a Christian man, in the highest sense of the term.