Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-09-26
From the National Advocate.
THE CRITICAL oRsRRvkR-

From the National Advocate.
raR CRITICAL. oBsRavER.
/" Look ere you leap, or else you'll play
the fooif'
of May, when, 10 accordance with the
cbeennlness Of the season, party Of
youngsters, Of whom | was one, were
amusing themselves by all kinds Of capers
anieng the ruins of an old barn, belonging
10 my uncle Bartholomew. The sport
had continued for some time without inter
ruptiou, when, just as was about to per
form some new feat Of agility, my uncle
unexpectedly made his appearance among
lus. " Dominic said he, $ look ere you
leap, or else you'll play the fool aud
immediately left us. The advice was
quaint. and, at apy other time. might have
been attended 10; but at that moment,
was bent on following no ones advice ex-
|ceptins my ewn, aud therefore looked up
on the proverb OF my uncle, as very
silly saying. ! Ieaped, and as may well
be sIrmised, "piayed the foil" An old
beam projected good way from the wall,
upon which we had repeatedly ieaped in
our ganboIs, with safety, but by The fre-
quency Of our weight falling on it, it bad
become very much loosened- this ciGcum-
stance, | might easily have discovered
had been inclined TO follow the dictates
Iof the proserb; but, as said before.
looking was entirely out Of the question.
| jumped upon the beam-it gave way,
and feIl--and, to end the matter, WAS
carried into the house with my shoulder
|dislocated, besides being otherwise severe
lily bruised. Here was sad comment
upon my uncie's textl-Biueriy did
rue not following his advice; but repining
az my i'll conduct did not one jot abase
the pain, and bore it as patiently as pos
sible, inwardly resolving to be more cir
cumspect 10 future. But IN the main, |
had not much cause 10 regret the fall, for,
when busily employed 10 " building cas-
Ties in the ali" which in my young days,
was frequently the case-poh, the prov
'erh of my uncle rushed into my mind
the talisman was broker, and l returned
TO the paths Of reason. Ii likewise fur
oished me with store of advice for my
fellow creatures.
When / see young farmer possessed
of good farm, well stocked, aud in good
condition; and by which he is really in.
Icreasing in wealth aud responsibility, get
a within into his head, that by selling off
and moving TO mem country, where he
is entirely unknown, he can do mach bet
ter, then the proyerb comes into my head,
aud / whisper in his ear, " took ere .you
leap, or else you'll play the fool"
When see a young tradesman, owning
small though sure stock, and gaining
good livelihood, disregarding small gains,
and eudeavouring TO force that tickle
minded Jade, dame fortune, to bestow
more copious gifts, by adveniuring in lot
tories, and necessarily bese.tiug the banks,
in order to engage iu specnlations, thereby
involving not ouly himself, but his friends,
| cannot forbear crying ont to him, g look
ere yOu leap, or else .yoatW play the fool"
When I observe young damsel inner
iting, besides good figure aud be0utifed
face, considerable share of the good
things Of this world" j. e. a fortune, con-
tinualIy " shopping" for the purpose Of
bedecking herself with ge,uga'vs and COR
sets, thereby peryertiHg nature's laws;
and, after all, upon the point Of bestowing
her person aud fortune upon some worth
less rake. whose only merit lies ia follow
| iug the fashions. and being dressed in the
very ton" then cry out, g in the very
bitterness Of anguish, for heavens sake,
my dear girl, look ere yox leap, OF my
| word for it, you'u play the fool"
From the Albany Gazette.