The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-08-27
Hrom flr Rtief Rcmnrknr,

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of disposition, that we commonly make To
Ourselves more than half the evils we feel.
-unsa,islied with what we are, or possess,
We are still rasng after something past or
to come, and by regrets, desires, and fears
are perpetually poisoning the streams of
present enjoyment. The weather Is too
lct or too cold, too wet or too dry. II we
have nothing Ia do, time hangs upon us as
an insupportable burden. II or eircum-
stances compel us 10 daily labor, we fret
10 see others enjoying their leisure. Al
though We have food and raimtnt enough,
aud good enough, stu We are dissatisfied
that we are not rich. II, on the contrary,
we chance 10 be rich, the weight of cares,
the palns Of getting, the difficulty Of keep
lnS, aud the fears of ioosnS give us moes-
SAINT disqiiet and fatigue.
Mrs. Thrift has IA decent competence,
together with kind husband and fine chl-
drcn; but her heart is sick because she
can't live i'll the splendid style of her veal
thy neighbor Mrs. Modish at the same
time Mrs. Modish, yokcd TO surly, snap
pish, equity husband is secretly enyying
the condition of Mrs Thrift.
Honest Abraham has good farm, and
IS AN excellent farmer, and free Of debt !
but the peace of his mind is destroyed by
being disappointed Of an Office an oiiice
too without emolumcn. Farmer Thomas
his more artiul ncighbor, who got the Of
flee, no sooner received his commission
than he began 10 dash away like IA gentle
man, and consequently he neglected his
farm and impoverished his family and by
this time he sincerely regrets his having
been SO foolish as To barter solid pudding
for empty honor.
Mercator, having acquired snug estate
by trade, grows uneasy and signs for a
country life. Purling brooks, vocal groves,
fragrant meadows, blooming orchards, and
fields covered with golden haryests, en-
chant his imagination. He sells his stock
IN trade, and purchases a farm; which he
manages with about as much skill as n mere
landman would manage a ship at sea 4: it
brings him in debt and, venting upon Il %
very gentle e1thcts, he longs 10 leave il
! and go back 10 the station he had aban-
( doned.
Agricolus, weary of IA dull ploddiag ~
Of living and of slow gains, leaves tie
/ plough and becomes mcrchant.-ile selis
his fast estate and purchases with il goods ;
running in debt a few thousands as he
would needs have handsome assortment
Ills goods are unskiI'ully chosen and meet
with wrctched market. Pay day comes,
and his creditors blest with excellent mem
cries are prompt in urging him 10 Il settle
ment, but, alas of money he has nonp.
Aud now "to break or not to break,
that's the question" lie struggles hard
makes new debts to pay old ores, sel,' II
I great loss, borruws money at 80 or 10 per
cent but breaks at last and whereas he
merely Imagined hmscIf unhappy while
hi lding the plough, he now .Jeeis, that he is
So indeed.
Thus mankind from a restless DISPOSE
ton, rrdcr themselves wretrhed when
they might be much at their ease
II would he worth to one, more than
iepn Ike ad IF l'gjag hoppity. | don't
mean perfect happiness, which is not TO be
enjoyed here but such degree OF happi-
ness as our Maker has put in our power
The art Of living happily does not lie in
stolcal apathy Tor as to the real and SHARP
allll tions oflifr, while one ought ito bear
EN- like a man he should also feel them
like a man" Nor does he know the
Ncets Of friendship, who feels little or no
pam at being sundercd from near friend.
Much less does it lie in the naIseatnS lap
OF gross sensuallty; for the enjoyment Of
the mere sensualist is no higher than thai
OF the pampered horse in the stable or stud,
or fhe Ettehing pig in The sly. Indeed the
brute has much the advantage, as it lives
according To its nature and destination,
while the man is haunted with a pcrpet-
uai consciousness of the shameful de
e addition of his moral and intellectual ia
cuites.
The following maxims or rules OF ac-
tien might, if strictly observed, go far Ia
increase the happiness, or at least to di-
! mlnlsh, the inquietudes and miseries Of
He.
Live constantly in the mistaken belief of
the overruiing Providence of al infinitely
wise and good as well rs Almighty Being /;
and prize his favor above all things.
Observe inviolably truth i'll your words,
and integrity in your actions.
AccustOm yourself to temperance, and
be master of yonr passions.
BE not too much out OF humour with the
world; but remember It's a world of
Gods creating, and however sadly il IL
marred by wickedncss aud folly, yet you
have found in i; more comforts than caia-
mites, more ciyilitics than aiironts, more
instances Of Kindness towards you than of
cruelty.
Try to spend year time usefully bot. TO
yourself and others.
| Ne9cr make an enemy or lose a fr.cnd
unnecessarily.
Cultivate such an hahitual chcerfulness
OF mind, and egenpcss Of temper, as no; to