The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-11-14
From the Emporium, Published at Trenton
New-JerseY-l
Look before you Leap.

i - Il
When | was boy, one day walked
out with an old friend of my fathers,
and while engaged in conversation we
came to wide ditch. The old gentle
man paused" Oliver" said he, (see-
ing was about springing for the 9TH
er side, Z" look before you kap''-but be-
fore the sentence was finished, ] had
made my leap. The other side was, as
it happened, extremely slippery, and
my feet had scarce touched it before |
found myself laid at full length at the
bottom, covered completely with mud
and water The consequence was, my
new clothes were utterly spoiled, and
although my mother had a company of
lively young friends TO tea that very
evening, was obliged to keep my
room; and what was worse, received
a severe scolding, and the promise of
no more new dresses until learned to
take better care.
This misfortune made deep impres-
sion on my mind-the lesson it gave me
will never be forgotten. Since that
hour have always Looked before
leaped, and many heart-ache it has
saved me- Yet have never locked
round me in the world without seeing
many that were as theughtless and fool
ish as had been. have seen young
men take social glass for friendships
sake and have known such often to
be verify laid in the ditch before they
had done with social glasses. have
seen old men build castles in the air, and
known these castles to fall and push
their builders into the ditch IN the end
have seen young men marry wives be-
fore they were able to support them
selves genteelly; and | have known
them to drag their wretched and help
less families down with them into the
ditch. have seen old and middle
aged men indulge foolish wives and
spoiled children in every fnery, and
known such families to wind up their
concerns in ditch at hast.
It's no matter, Messrs. Editors, what
kind of ditch it is-and those Of drunk
enness. crime and poverty, are the very
worst in the whole world, and are all
easily avoided if men will-Look before
they leap
When | see meehanick about to,
leave his shop and go to keeping tavern,
think, good man you had better-look
befors goa leap The ground on the 9TH
er side is slippery, and may by chance
give you fall
When hear a young man resolving
not to learn trade, but to get gig
and dandy suit, and set himself up for
RIGA wife +; would fain whisper to
him, friend look before you leap. And
when see poor but pretty bowing
and scraping gentleman putting his neck
into the yoke with cross old maid, her
pocket full Of bank notes, and her head
as empty as kettle-drum; remember
the boy and the grindstone, and think
how often people put their noses to it.
When see a farmer adding acre af-
ter acre 10 his plantation, though it is
larger already than he can cultivate.
and mortgaging the old homestead for
payment, would say to him, beware
lest you and your farm go into the ditch
together.-When see an honest cult
vator of the soil, who BY hard labour
has laid up few hundreds, getting a
carriage and horses, buying broad
cloths and canton grapes, and striving to
initiate the fashionables from nv soul
wish he had little Of the spirit of the
poor cobler, who, when friend called
to him to come out from his stall and
see the procession passing to the coro-
nation of George the third, innocentIy
replied" God sent me into the world
to make shoes, and | have nothing TO do
with those fine shows and ceremonies
But again-when | see man or
woman. old or young, great or small,
living as if they were to live forever,
without one thought of, or preparation
for death, would thunder in their
ears if ! could-Leok before you leap J;
for leap you must, perhaps when least
you expect it; and if you slip then, it
will be for an-eterDity
LAKEWOOD.
There are no persons who are more,
troublesome or unpleasant companions
than those who think that their merit
has been overlooked, and that they are
not sufficiently honoured by their fell
iow-citizens. Take care, therefore,