Newspaper Page Text
13
The Thread of Discourse.
“ Borne people contract strong habits of
what may be called external association,
the body being more concerned in it than
the mind, and external things than ideas.
They connect a certain action with a cer
tain object, so that without the one, they
cannot easily perform the other : although,
independently of habit, there is no connex
ion between them. Dr. Beattie mentions
the case of a clergyman, who could not
compose his sermon, except when he held
a .foot-rule in his hand, and of another,who,
while he was employed in study, .would al
ways be rolling between his fingers a parcel
of peas, whereof he constantly kept a
trenchei full within reach of his arm.
Locke speaks of a young man, who in
one particular room, where an old trunk
stood, could dance very well: but in any
other room, if it wanted any such a piece
of furniture, could not dance at all. A
writer in the Tatler, mentions a more
probable instance of a lawyer, who in his
pleadings used always to he twisting about
his finger a piece ot pack-thread, which the
punsters of that time called, with some
reason, the thread of his discourse. One
day a client of his had a mind to see how
he would acquit himself without it, and stole
it from him. The consequence was, that
the orator became silent in the midst of his
liarrangue , and the client suffered for his
waggery, by the loss of his cause.”
Ills ofTife.
“ Theie are three modes of bearing the
ills of life : by indifference, which is the
most common : by philosophy, which is
the most ostentatious : and religion, which
is the most effectual. It has been acutely
said, that ‘ philosophy readily triumphs
over past or future evils, but that present
evils triumph over philosophy.’ Philoso
phy is a goddess, whose head indeed is in
heaven, but whose feet are upon earth.
She attempts more than shq accomplishes,
and promises more than she performs.
She can teach us to hear of the calamities
of others with magnanimity : but it is le-
ligion only that can teach us to bear our
own with resignation.”
love and Jealousy.
“ Love may exist without jealousy, al-
thouth this is rare ; but jealousy may ex
ist without love, and this is common : for
jealousy can feed on that which is bitter
no less than on that which is sweet, and is
sustained by pride as often as by affec
tion.”
,.v.
“We forgive, as long as we love.”
THE COUNTRY MAN
Old Grimes.
“ Old Grimes is dead’, that good old man,
•We ne’er shall see him more,
He used to wear a long black coat’
All buttoned down before.
His heart was open as the day,
His feelings all were true,
His hair was some inclined to grey,
He wore it in a queue.
Whene’er he heard the voice of pain,
His breast with pityjburned,
The large round head upon his cane
From ivory was turned.
And ever prompt at pity’s call,
He knew no base design, „
His eyes were dark, and rather small,
His nose was aquiline.
He lived at peace with all mankind,
In friendship he was true,
His coat had pocket holes behind,
His pantaloons were blue.
Unharmed, the sin which earth pollutes
He passed securely o’er,
He never wore a pair of boots,
For thirty years or more.
But good old Grimes is now at rest, •
Nor fears misfortune’s frown,
He wore a double-breasted vest,
The stripes ran up and down.
He modest merit sought to find,
And pay it its desert,
He had no malice in his mind,
No ruffles on his shirt.
HLs neighbors he did not abus§,
Was sociable and gay, *
He wore large buckles on his shoes,
And changed them every day.
His knowledge, hid from public gaze,
He did not bring to view,
Nor make a noise town-meeting days,
As many people do.
His worldly goods he never threw
In trust to fortune’s chances,
But lived (as all his "brothers do)
In easy circumstances.
Thus undisturbed by anxious cares,
His peaceful moment's ran,
And everybody said he was
A fine old gentleman.
This amusing ballad has been long.circula-
ted anonymously, and has been generally much
liked. Its authorship is now made known.
With the exception of the first verse, the origin
of- which is still unascertained, it was written
by Albert G. Greene, of Providence, R. I.”—
1834. •
Discouragements of Authors.
.“The Pilgrim’s Progress is one of the
most popular books in the English lan
guage : yet Bunyan says, in his poetical
preface to that, work, that lie was advised
not to publish it.
‘Some said, John, print it, others said no.’
Thus the existence of this interesting work
was made to turn upon the author’s just'
estimation of his own production. It is
known that tire Rambler was very poorly
received at first, and that the whole life of
the author was embittered by poverty.
Dr. Johnson’s literary labors never afford
ed him a comfortable living, notwithstand
ing he was a very voluminous writer. In
his declining years, a small pension was
settled on him by the king, which just sav
ed him from suffering in his old age, but
never fftnounted to competence. When
Sir Walter Scott had written a -volume of
his Waverly novels, he submitted the man
uscript to a friend, and asked his advice
about publishing it. His friend assured
him that it was not likely to be popular,
and advised him not to publish. The vol
ume was accordingly laid aside for several
years, but afterwards Sir Walter published
it, and it proved to be one of the most pop
ular of his works. Hume, whose history
of England is alasting and sufficient mon
ument to his genius, on the publication of
the first volume of that work, was so vex
ed by the cotemporary critics and unfeeling
writers, that he resolved to expatriate him
self, and was prevented, I believe, from
carrying the resolution into effect, only by
some uncontrollable circumstance.—We
may learn from the above, this, at least :
that a few individuals and the public often
differ in opinion. The appeal from the few
to the many is, notwithstanding the defects
of the latter court, one of the most precious
rights of the ^philanthropist and the
scholar.”
To Banner <fc Times.
I return the money, and send you my
paper. Please reciprocate.
Way to Promotion.
“ Speed relates that Guymond, chaplain
to King Henry the First, observing that for
the most part ignorant men were advanced
to the best dignities in the church, as lie
celebrated divine service befoie the king,
and was about, to read these words out of
St. James, ‘It rained not upon the earth
iii yeais and vi months,’ read it thus:
< It rained not upon the earth one—one—
one years, and five—one months.’ Henry
noticed the singularity, and afterwards took
occasion to blame the chaplain for it. 'Sir,’
answered Guymond, ‘ I did it on purpose ;
for such readers I find are sooner preferred
by your majesty.’ The kiDg smiled, and
in a short time afterwards presented Guy-
mond to the benefice of St. Frideswid’s in
Oxford.”
“ Women are not aware of the extent of
their coquetry.”