Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-03-15
''.:..:::'@. 80.
From the GLEAEER.
FROM THE DESK OF POOR ROBERT,
THE SCRIBE.

!
UAat 7yealfh does lnbom zceH directed bring.
A single stroke of an axe is of little conse-
quence, yet by the continual application OF that
small power, properly directed, what amazing
effects are produced ! The sturdy oak and
lofty pine DO not sngly own its power, but
whole forests fail before it, and the wilderness
becomes garden.
Industry well directed, will give any man
competency In ten years. The greatest lii
dustsy nsapplied is useless.
NJ neighbour Samuel Steady is not only an
Industrious man, but his industry is applied
directly to one object His hammer Is heard
It the cocks growing, and the fire blazes III
his shop during the winter evenings from the
goth Scptcinberto the Doth Of March, according
to the Old Scabrook platform. Go to his shop
at any time Of the day and bespeak plaln-lro,
or Il plow share CRATE or d grldlron; you are
sure to be promptly supplied. The conse-
quence is, lis old purse is filled with dollars
and his cellar well stored with beef, pork and
cider I" and that's what l call comfortable. .
Although suitably liberal and enjoying the
good things of lie as he goes On, ten years or
health will enable him to bay the best plan
tation in the country.
But then there's nv young friend Nathan
Notonui he is the busiest end most industrl-
Gus mortal in existence; but as the old saying
is, " ne has too many irons in the fire." and
with all his industry he goes behind hand.
He has fine farm, but instead CT pursuing
the cultivation oft, he flies oil and sclzes on
every new project that occurs. i.astyear, alter
having sown a number Of fields OF grain, he
resolved to rent his farm; sell tie grain on
the ground, buy team, and so to hauling,
for bv nice calculation he had proved that mo-
ncv might be made By it. 4 team was procur-
ed but after one OF two trips, Notlona con-
Guided to sell his team; buiid saw mill and
go largely into the numbering. The dam
was completed, the irons made, and three
fourths Of the expence incurred, when by
nice calculation for no one makes nicer cacu
lat;ons,) he found that IN oil mill would afford
the best profit; and to work he went with
great industry building an oil mill. happen
cd to go By there week or two afterwards
and the whole organization of the mill was
undergoing an alteration, to fit it up for cot
ton and WOODEN manufactorv.
A qnizzical neighbour of mine intends to-
morrow to propose to him to abandon his pres
ent project, and to enter largely into the man
ufacture of flour; have not the least doubt
but Nathan will readily accede to the propo-
sal.
So sirs, with all his industry and expence
he is neither benehting himselfnor the pub
lie. Such course continued ten years,
would sink the best farm in the country.
Ifyou would kill game tits true YOU must shoot
But thenyou mustaim, and hold steady, to boot.
THE ROBBER--A ER4cuEN7.
The foitc7yng article is selected from, the 4" Ca
binet," sveekly literary sheet, hu5Ashed in
Boston, by Mr. j. Beicher. Tie story
is seid to 6efounded on fact, and has Afford
edmueh amusement to the hu6Hc.
-s' The wearied animal can proceed no
further," said the Doctor, as he stopped hi,
bcrsc at the turnpike in. He entered the
bar-room, inwardly cursing the bad roads,
which prevented his reaching Salem before
night, and seated himself by the blazing fire.
Gloomy were his meditaions, which be-
came more horri6c at the entrance of two
men. whose faces presented to his disturbed
ina gination pictures Of fierce banditti "Six
hundred dollars,' thought he" WY did
bring it with me?-andt. proceed alone
but perhaps they may not be robbers-per-
haps they may not overtake me-a, any rate
will process" After an inspiring draught,