Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-10-02

faith being pinned to the sleeves OF
men, and operating in the rage for dis
tinction wholly independent Of princi
pies.
1t has been said, that when a man
becomes sufficiently celebrated to be
talked of by his neIghbors tor squire
he should stop-all further progress TO
wards popularity is attended with ha-
card. But Joseph had different idea:
The hammer was seldom heard in his
shop; his old apron, which, in the days
Of his apprenticeship, wore the sign Of
| much toll, grew apparently newer and
newer every day And about his shop,
the frequent cry Of shoes, shoes, was
| answered as perpetually-dye, Gyc,
TO morro,U! The tavern and the cor
ners of the streets were his places OF
resort, and the punch bowl more FIRE
quently passed between his thgmb and
| finger than the wax end
But he married, and therefore made
more money than great many shoes
would come to- He now had more
leisure than ever, and from this period
/ the dawning of bis after greatness ap
peared. 1t was curious to observe its
progress:
| The first symptom appeared in his
trimming footsteps 10 march of digni
| ty. Then he bought quart decanter
and kept it full of apple jack upon his
! table by the front window-next he
bought cane--and, finally, came to
stare a. people in the street, through a
| pair Of old spectacles, and learned 10
touch his hat when he spoke to any
one, which last was rare accomplish.
ment in those times, and created great
respect for the possessor. These were
some of his first strides.
| After little so greatly grew his re
putation that he was made an officer
Of militia, and shortly after, made a
speech TO the soldiers, being part, as
was said afterwards, of Hannibai's
address to his army. The great speech
was talked of, and the greater speaker
| had kind of feu.dc 1oic salute pep
pered over his old house and shop. for
whichhe gave six quarts of apple jack
and segars to the whole company. The
boys, and itnot unfrequently happens
that they lend strong hand to the
| helping of great man up the hill; the
boys took the hint: There was an old
gun barrel in the village, and this was
paraded up and fred before the cap
tain's door, and they consequently
came in for shat was left of the feast
| Vet Joe Frost was soon to be load
ed with new honors; a 'squire's com
mission was the result of visit to the
seat of government, and many of his
decisions are notedin the reports of the
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. He
now became the point where all the
I evolutions in the village centred; he
could not walk the streets or s,op to
blow his nose at corner without be-
ing surrounded by a crowd of sunshine
friends. The affairs Of the state and
| the nation were open 10 him; they
were, at least, often discussed by him
The made speech then, OF an cleo
ton; took an additional paper, and even
wrote for the public press piece upon
the growing of hogs and the barking
of trees. He took to wearing undress.
ed pomps, and ruilie in his bosom,
and was at lastmade legislator. Now
ne could safely be toasted on the 4th of
July, and he is said never to have fail
ed drinking that toast himself He
looked furious!y jealou. at every man
who wore cane, or touched his hat.
or pretended to know by heart that
sentence in the Declaration, eve hold
these TRUTHS" &c. He monopolized
the right of treating and dining every
body that would eat or drink, and a.
bused every applicant to office, who
did not make him the medium of his
application.
But Joe, Squire, and legislator as he
was, at last got into bad habits; his
nose swelled with crimson, and his
legs with govt. The Sheriff found his
way to the house, and, memorable as
death, drove his last COW away and
drove him from his old home. This
was an end of poor Joe Frost; with
all his hOnors thick about his brow
his children went 10 the overseers of
the poor, and himself some ill meaning
folks fairly allowed to the ID. Ergo
Honor won't replenish the larder.
Honor won't feed mans children.
| III OuOr won't send n man tn Heaven