A CHAPTER FOR BOYS 385 



prosperity and future greatness of the nation, by tak- 

 ing care of yourselves, by being pure, noble, true to 

 yourselves and to the demands of high moral principle. 



Cases Illustrating the Effects of Self-Abuse. 

 —The land is full of poor human wrecks who have 

 dashed in pieces their hopes for this world, and too 

 often for the next also, against this hideous rock which 

 lies hidden in the pathway of every young man who 

 starts out upon life's stormy voyage. Gladly would 

 we cover them and all their dreadful deformities, with 

 the mantle of charity from the gaze of their fellow- 

 beings; but their number is so great that this could 

 scarcely be done, and the lesson to be learned from 

 their sad fate is such a grave one, and so needful for the 

 good of the generation of young men who are just 

 encountering the same dangers, that we cannot resist 

 the promptings of duty to present a few examples of 

 the effects of vice in men and boys that have fallen 

 under our own observation. We have seen hundreds 

 of cases of this sort; have treated many scores of per- 

 sons for the effects of the terrible crime against which 

 we are seeking to sound a warning, and the number of 

 cases we might describe would fill a volume ; but we will 

 select only a very few. 



Two Young Wrecks.— Charles and Oscar B 



were the sons of a farmer in a Western State, aged 

 respectively ten and twelve years. They possessed 

 well-formed heads, and once had beautiful faces, and 

 were as bright and sprightly as any little boys of their 

 age to be found anywhere. Their father was proud 

 of them, and their fond mother took great pleasure in 

 building bright hopes for her darling sons when they 

 should attain maturity, and become competent to fill 

 useful and honorable positions in the world. Living 



