The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1818-09-29
CAmpBFLL.
From the Connecticut CoFrG1lf
THE BRIEF RE.u.4RkEK.
Philadelphia, Sept. II, 1918.

From the Connecticut CogrGnt.
THE BRIEF RE.N.4RkER.
great part of the Ill we suffer might be avoid
ed, if we would only learn to let cel alone. But
such is the plague of our hearts, relative to tenn
poral as well as higher matters, that we are sell
dom or never quite contented with our lot, when
even it is in no wise an unpleasant one, but must
6 pau it about till we mar and spoil what we
peryersely endeavour to mend.
How often is comeliness of face, Of features,
and of personal form, disfgured by affectation,
which would fam make better what God hath
made well.
How often do we lose our health by tampering
with it, in order to make it more healthy. When
we are well, we can't be easy, and let WeI alone
but must needs be medding with the mechanism
while it is going exactly right. morning bitter,
or some farfamed nostrum, how good isit to pre-
vent disease and preserve the health, or rather
mot to speak ironically but soberly-how fire.
quently it destroys the very stamina OF sound con-
stitutions, induces train Of ailments, and imma-
turely peoples the grave healty body is diet
ed into consumption by plying it with physic
instead of food.
An Italian nobleman, whose fatal folly it was,
not to let aceH alone, ordered, as a solemn warm
ing to others, the following line to be engraved
upon his tomb s acdS WelL-I lCGRted to be bet-
ter-and here Tam ~
Mark the children that are gorged with dain-
ties, and enticed to eat before they are hungry,
who, like young chickens in an oven, are kept
from cold and moisture, and even from the open
air, and drugged, in way prevention, as well
as for the slightest ailment mark their spindle
legs, their pale and sickly faces, the feebleness
of their whole frame. And now observe, on the
other hand, the broods that have experienced
none of this queasy care whose food is plain and
but Just enough to satisfy the cravings ofnature !;
whose beds are any thing else than dolcn, and in
rooms through which the winds whistle who are
always in the free air, and often exposed to cold
and wet :-obserye their freshness OF health, their
ruddy countenances, their lnusculous limbs, their
strength and agility.
Numerous, and almost innumerable, are the
instances dwell conditioned men and families,
who are mourning over the ruin OF their worldly
circumstances-not by any direct providential
stroke Of adversely, nor by means Of conduct of
their own that was morally bad, but solely be-
caase they did notlet @eit alone
One sells the pasture to by the horse.' Wea-
ry of plodding way ollie and slow gains, he
barriers away ms fast estate for goods. single
turn Of the wheel OF fortune, turns him to BANK
rupt and whereas he merely asaagtaed himself
unhappy while holding the plough, he il now 50
indeed.
Another not content with being farmer mere
ly, bankers for the distinction Of oince Luckily
for his feelings, but unfortunately for ms crcuu-
stances, he obtains it. He neglects his farm, and
has farm neglects limits expenses increase,
and his income dminishes. lie goes behndhand
daily, and ere long, he runs out TOO late ne
sees that he has exchanged solid pudding for
empty honour.
A third scorning to be outshone by his more
wealthy neighbour, tries hard to rival him in
worldly show. He is as good, and his children
inherit as good flesh and blood has credit ena-
bles him to borrow and gentleness OF appear
ance will put his family on level with the best
so he goeth and $ his poverty cometh as an arm
ed man.
A Fourth, though snug and comfortable at
home. fancies he can do better, great deal bet
ter abroad. lie has heard Of the goodly lands
which yield astonishing abundance, and almost
without labor. He sells all he possesseth, and
Oh he goes, at random. tie arrives when 70 .
he finds, even there, fall measure Of the thorns
and thistles of the curse, and peradventare finds
himself cheated at last out ofhis all.
In sober truth, there is in our nature such
restlessnass Of disposition, that we commonly
make to ourselves the full half of the Ills we sui
ever in search of and never get at and, in this
our endeavours to sweeten it.
of all morbid habits, that Of being dissatisfied
with even the comfortable conditions of lie
which providence has placedns in, is one of the
most unfortunate. With persons OF this cast, il
makes no difference though their success1in life
be never so great; the same SICK mess Of heart
cleaves to them as garment, even after their
fortunes have never SO much exceeded their own
expectations
One of this sort was the Prince Potemkin Of
Russia. From low family he had been raised to
the greatest wealth and the highest digaities.
And his biographer, who was a familiar acquain-
lance of that prince, observes Of him, here fol-
lows He is melancholy in the midst Of pleas
ures; unhappy fir IN the excess of good fortune !;
satiated with every thing
The great art, is the art OF living and the
chief science, is the science Of being happy.
When say happy, mean not unalloyed, or per-
feet happiness. which can never be enjoyed here,
but only such measure of ii as our Maker hath
put in our power. And, IN order to enjoy and Sc
cure that measure Of happiness, the short rules
following are worth remembrance.
Live constantly in the unshak en- belief OF the
overruling Providence of the infinitely wise and
good, as well as Almighty Being, and prize his
favor above all things