Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-09-14
Frorn.the. Albany Plough Boy
THE MORAL PLOUGH BOY,

/" Wine is mocker, strong drink is
raging, aud whoever is deceived thereby
lis not WISE" These are the words oil a
Writer whose views embraced the whole
ECONOMY Of life, aud whose experience
had taught him all that was wise In prac-
ltice, as his genius OF inspiration had ena-
Ibiea him to perceive all Thai was yiftaens
in precept. We are not, however, aboul
10 write an essay against drunkenness, al
Iihe words we have quoted would seem 10
import. 4 he confirmed dfunkard is, per-
lhaps, in most cases, beyond The reach oil
reform; and the task of redeeming him
from his dreadful malady is more hopeless
ss.Aifas'. the sleep Of he grave. The vice Of
which we are speaking, is disorder OF
1.-The appetite, more easily prevented than
cured. ItIrequently approaches by slow
degrees, and originates ia small desia-
ltions from correct aud steady habits. Ii
was justly observed IN late newspaper
paragraph, that while you are labouring
10 cuitaiI the vices oil the grog shop,
would it not be well to remember the side
board" This is an excellent Thint, aud
strikes al the root Of practice, which ire
lquenty leads TO the vice OF drunkenness /;
Ia practice the existence of which We have
iong regretted We mean the custom Of
inviting all who bappento step into our
houses 70 make friendly call, dissipate
IN idle moment, TO drink ardent spirits.
On these occasions, 6 Mill you take a
glass of mine ~ is the first salutation, after
being seated. Ii the question be politely
it's renewed as politely in the
shape of persuasion: Pray do not re-
fuse; a litle nil not hart yot ]; it ,viH do
you good.
" A little will not burt YOU" These
words have done more mischief among
mankind, than perhaps all the artillery oil
Satan besides. 4 little taste Of the forbid
der tt.ui., said the arch tempter TO the
mother of mankind, mill not hart you. Il
mill on the contrary OPEN ,your eyes to be-
hold hidden mysteries. The unsuspecting
fair one believed 100 readily, and we all
know aud feel the consequences. 1t is
indeed, as every person OF observation
knows, by lutte and little, that every sps
cies Of human ffailty gains upon its VIC
inns, till it subdue their mental fortitude
aud bid defiance to their noblest resolu-
tons. A little mine will rarely hurt one
but that little, too often repeated, becomes
lntemperance intemperance produces
|iAleness, idleness confusion of affairs, con-
fusion Of affairs debt and embarrassment,
and these lead directly, if not 10 fraud
and embezzlement, TO penury, want, and
The limits of Jail. Here is pretty eli
max, indeed, Of human frailtY and weak
ness, aud all for the want of little forth
tude and firmness to refuse at first TO &C.
cept little sideboard hospitality. 10
short, little sleep in the mornins--a
little punch at noon--a little wine and bit
tiers before dinner-a little visiting and
little more drinking at night; all these
soon wind up the industrious concerns Of
the Plough Boy, the Mechanic, the Mer-
chant or professional character; and leave
them alike the victims not OF little. but Of
la great deal of wretchedness. We be-
seech the Plough Boys, OF all others, to
avoid these little beginnings which lead
to such great evils, and such wretched
ends. Instead of indulging the freaks of
appetite, and hankeriDg after luxuries
which never fail to destroy the wholesome
habits essential to their prosperity in life,
let them cling to those habits as ship
wrecked mariner would to the last plank
of his i'll fated bark. 1t was said Of the
illustrious Edmund Burke in the very
meridian Of his spendor, that he made
his dinners Of the simplest food and that
he would frequently invite such men as
Pitt, Fox, and other shining characters
of that day, to dine with him upon a leg
of mutton and turnips, and bottle or two
Of mild claret. 1t was " the feast of rea-
son and the flow of soul,' andsno the in-
diligence of sensual, irrational appetite,
that was sought by those illustrious cham.
pions of Engiand's fame and glory. Such
was likewise the temperance and frugality
Of our Franklin, whose immortality is
built upon the same basis as that Of the
Burkes and Pitts Of old England. From
such examples, let us learn to despise and
Danish luxury and dissipation from our
houses and our festive boards Aud let the
Plough Boys be the first TO pursue this
path of domestic virtue and economy.
Let them never sicken at that labour,
which they cannot avoid, because Provi-
dence has decreed it, as the most salutary
mean of human subsistence. Let them
rather rejoice, that they have always la.
bour enough, if they choose to pursue it to
keep the Devil from catching them idle,
that he may draw them into his snares Of
destruction.
Cincinnaius, the Roman Patriot, weed
ing his turnip garden; Burke, the British