The history of the first locomotives in America. From original ...

ADDBESS TO THE GRADUATEkS. , I35
of 'human blessings—a diligent, wise, industrious, faithful, and
affectionate wife; and in the work of founding this institution,
aided by the earnest sympathy and active coSperation of my
children, who justly regarded as the richest portion of their inher-
itance that part of my wealth which I desired to consecrate to the
public welfare. Hence, my last lesson for the young is to marry
at the proper age, when, and not before, they can see the way
clear to a decent and comfortable support, and thus fulfil the
first law of Nature with a high and holy sense of its happi-
ness and its duties, the greatest and most serious in the path of
life. io«e and duty I have ever found to be the passwords of
all that is true and noble in life, and, when they are separated,
the fires on the family altar die out, and life loses all its charms,
never to be compensated by the false jewels which are often worn
in the public gaze.
" These are, indeed, simple truths, which I have endeavored to
set forth in words equally simple, because I feel sure from a very
long experience that they will do good to every young man and
young woman who will firmly resolve to make them the rule of
life, and because I began Ufe without means, and know the truth
of what I affirm,
" But, having also acquired what is regarded as riches, have I
earned the right, by the use I have made of them, to give any
advice or speak a word of encouragement to others, who, by the
will of God, are intrusted with the great responsibility of wealth ?
Whether I have this right or not, I feel impelled to record my
conviction, derived from personal experience, that the rich man
who regards his wealth as a sacred trust, to be used for the
welfare of his fellow-men, will assuredly derive more true enjoyment
from it in this world than from the most lavish expen-
diture on mere personal enjoyments and social display. I
do not pretend to prescribe any standard of expenditure for
others; and I am quite ready to subscribe to the doctrine
that a just and faithful trnsteB should be liberally paid for his
services, and should not be restricted in the reasonable grati-
fication of his desires, so long as the rights of others are not thereby
infringed; and I desire to give the fullest recognition to the
sacredness of private property, and the conservation of capital, as
for the best interests of society and all the members thereof But
I cannot shut my eyes to the fact that the production of wealth is
not the work of any one man, and the acquisition of great fortunes
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