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

silly 'Ah,' said my grandfather, 'if
you look about you as you grow older,
you will find many who boast of rea.
son, playing at the same game that has
ruined that poor insect
/ was naturally OF an ineuisitive
turn OF mind, and could net rest until
| had penetrated to the bottom of eve
~ thing that interested me, and that I
could comprehend. i did not under
stand, precisely, what my grandfather
meant, and bore it constantly on my
mind, frequently pondering it over
When one evening, as / was driving
the sheep TO pasture by star light, l
saw man just staggering away from
a still house, so much in liquor that he
kept his feet with the utmost difficult
ty. The story of the miller came into
my mind. l remembered the remark
of my good old grand pa, aud thought
comprehendcd it at once. Poor
Man, said i, you have been in the can
die.
Not long afterwards, l was sent TO
collect small sum of money in dis.
tant town, and having TO stay night
at a tavern along The road, I took a
seat nf,er supper among the men in The
bar room, who were drinking beer
and amusing each other with stories.
While there, young buckish looking
fellow came in, and before long got a
gambling, and lost twenty dollars in q
few minutes-thcre's aeiother felo,c
IN the candle, l exclaimed as he with.
drew sheepishIy throughthe back door,
and sneaked away home.
When l returned, Sam Pclt and
the constable with him, was at the
house. Sam was pleading with my
grandfather TO be his security for sum
of money, for which he had been sued.
But he only got a smart lecture for his
misconduct, and when he was gone,
the old gentleman observed, there is a
chap who might have been wealthy
but for his villainous propensity to test
the payment Of every cent he owed at
the law; The execution now against
him will probably carry him to gaol,
and yet the original sum was but two
dollars-he has added cost TO cost. IN
til IN maintaining the suit he has spent
every cent ne has, and is now unable
to pay. 'Ah hal said 7, Sam has
been in the candle has hep MY grand
father acqulesced, and felt proud at
having discovered the nearing of his
observation.
Since that time, I have almost daily
had the old story brought fresh TO my
mind.
When / seea man abusing his wife,
h's relations, or neighbors, think of
the miller end the candle. He's in a
far way to burn his fingers.
When l hear man talking about
his business, speaking contempiuously
OF it, and neglecting it while he saun-
tiers about the street, ] remember the
miller and the candle, Tento one but
he gets singed in the end.
When l see man pushing and sho.
wing one, one way, and another ano.
ther way, to get into Office himself, |
think, good man, you mag get through
safe, but take care! you are buying a
mong the candles.
When l see pretty, gay, sprightly
girl of sixteen, laughing, and whisper
ing, and giggling, and playing hop
and jump with every wild fellow who
wants to be her beau, l would like to
speak word of caution TO her-take
care you don't get your pretty wings
slnged, you are playing with candle.
l would not advise any one, friend
or foe, to buy experience at market
SO dear as this. The commodity will
cost more than it comes to.
[Chdrleston Paper.