The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-04-25
THE pEDANT AND THE SAILOR.

n man OF learning lived upon the banks
OF rver; he was not one of those anna
bic sages who enjoy in solitude the fruits OF
their Studies, but q real pedant, overlooking
with Greek and Latin, who necessarily tor
mented every body he met, with quotations,
metaphors, &c. If he had but contented
himself with addressing those who were
able to understand hinl-but he was sur
rounded by poor peasants, who knew little
beyond their field and plough, and yet he
prosecuted even them into their huts, with
Homer, Horace and Sophocles, without
even translating his quotation. "Sir, said
the peasants to him, let US till our fields,
and plant our cabbages-if we spent our
time in filling our heads with things which
we do not understand, your cook would find
no vegetables in market, and you would not
have such fine fruit upon your table,
But instead of seeing the truth of this OBJ
servation, he exclaimed, with much self
satisfaction, " Labor Improbus onlnia vin-
ca."
Not far from this pedant lived a sailor,
q droll fellow, who was always merry and
happy, constantly singing, and was consid-
cred very skillful in his profession. One
day the pedant had occasion to go to the
other side of the river, and went On board
the sailors boat who Immediately took his
oars and pushed off. On the way the fol-
lowing dialogue took place between them.
Friend," said the passenger to the
boatman, "you seem to be very cheerful
and happy, and ] suppose you are very
well satisfied with yourself?"
'And why should not be satisfied ? said
tie boatman - make a good use of my
! tine, and have no cause for sorrow
"Ah you make good use Of your time
truly should he glad to know whether
pu deserve to be SO happy. Can you read p
No, sir, not letter.
"Poor wretch you cannot read, and
! ct you sing Why you have lost guar
err of your life y
The boatman did not answer, but con-
inued to sing. Soon after the pedant con-
inued-
"Can you write ?"
| 'Why, to be sure not I told you could
lot read, so how should write p
/ "What, yol cannot write, and are yet Sc
cheerful? You have lost another quarter
Of your life ~
The boatman shrugged his shoulders
but did not seem less cheerful than before
Presently the pedant began again.
Boatman, do you understand mineraio-
gy, or anthology, zoology, astrology, phys,
lolgy and psychology, &c. Z"
FThe deuce take all your foolish long
names !! What DO want with them !"
elbow! you know nothing of these fine
things, and yet fancy yourself happy ?
why, you hove e.i..'ae-t quarter Of YOU
During this conversation, a storm haC
suddenly arisen, the waves tossed the ligh
boat, and st length drove it on rock, Oh
which it could not but perish.
4 Sir said the boatman to his compan
lion, at this critical moment, can yoI
swim 2"
No indeed, cannot have had more
important matters to attend to-"
| 'Well, then, fear you have lost your
whole life
4 Thus saying he leaped into the waves
and swan on shore. He suffered the ped
ant to struggle awhile in the water, and
pretended not TO hear his cries for assis
lance. At length he took compassion OF
him, helped him out Of the water, anC
took him home half dead with fear, drip
ping wet, and trembling with cold. Since
that time the pedant is said to have los
most of his pride.