24 T)r. Barnes's Plan for the Improvement and 



ufelefs, if not a dangerous one for youth. And 

 yet, who would fcruple to fay, that more depends 

 upon this period, as to the formation of manners, 

 of habit, and of future chara6ler, than perhaps 

 upon any other part of life, of equal duration ? 

 In this period, from fourteen to feventeen or 

 eighteen years of age, the tranfition is made from 

 boyifhnefs to manhood. The company, the 

 tafte, the plan of future life are now generally 

 eftabliflied. In this fpring, you behold the blof- 

 foms i you prognoflicate the fruit. A boy, before 

 the age of fourteen, very feldom fees the end to- 

 wards which he is going. After that age, he 

 begins to obferve the point he (hould aim at: 

 and not unfrequently, he gets more of real know- 

 ledge, and of the proper bent and diredion of 

 the mind, in two or three years after that period, 

 than in all that have preceded it. 



But what (hall a young man do, during this 

 important interval? Shall he ftay at home? 

 But here, probably, is no objedl before him, to 

 fix, to entertain, or to improve his mind. He, 

 is in danger, therefore, of falling into liftleflhefs, 

 and languor ; of flying from this, inafiivity, fo 

 irkfome to the fprightlinefs of youth, into im- 

 proper and dangerous connexions j orof feeking 

 for amufement in gay company, the confequence 

 of which is, difTipation and ruin. Hence, the 

 trembling parent often finds himfelf obliged to 

 ieiid his Ton abroad into the world, though ever fo 



defirous 



