Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-04-28

loiu 'he, was owing to the sinful upllftingS
OF my nature. A sick gentleman came
to our house on horseback, and father
told one of us boys to go to the tavern and
buy some gin for him.
The tavern was three quarters of mile
off, tine road lay through pokerish bit of
wood, and it was beginning to be dark.
My brother Jim had parcel of raw
head and bloody-bone' stories told him
and ne didn't altogether like the notion Of
going. You must know, neighbour Jones.
that man and boy, l have been over and
above willing to be brave by proxy. as
they call it. So I says to Jim, ant you
ashamed Of yourself to be scared IL had
Just as lief go through that ere wood. as
10 go to'bed.' My father laughed, and
looked sort ofmischievous, tho't. Well,
Will, suppose you go then, said he. He
might just as well have shot me dead as to
have said them words. But thinks to
myself, Jim ill crow, and Dick ill laugh
$50 I.ma2 as well stand to my word.' Ii
was 'btt asboy's motive, neighbour Jones !;
but if you will show me a man who is not
governed by just such a motive in the way
of politicks, business, and the like, I will
tell you that man is one in five hundred.
Well, off | scampered, barefoot, over the
hard, frosty ground, seeing a witch on ev-
cry black stump, and ghost in every
bush. bought my gin, and was back to
fathers as quick as patent shuttle. |
guess the gentleman knew how the case
stood-for he took out four-pence and
gave it to me with smile. My quarrel
with Dick Brown was about this four
pence. I tell you money always has its
evils. The first money ever got made
me insolent. showed Dick my four
pence, and called him poor ragamuf-
fin.
Dick knocked me down; and we did Mt
speak for fortnight. We made up after
wards; and Dick often went with me to
look at the silver bit I had locked up in
my little box. Dick and | went to prem
tice afterwards-he to shop-keeper, l to
a blacksmith. We both got up in the
world, and began to look upon a four-pen-
ny bit as very small concern: Dick
turned out the most prosperous Of .fie two.
He's got his country seat and his carfiafe,
and has sent ten boys to college; but I'd
bet a beaver that he'd be glad to go
back to the time when he knocked me
down about the four-pence, He has got
in dreadful uneasy way-thinks be has
got thousand complaints that never
come near him, and that his sons are 60
ing to bring him to the alms-house.
He has some reason for that, poor man,
for they are set Of scape-graces sure
enough. They never earned any money,
poor lads how should they know the
worth of it They don't take TO books,
and their father makes EN- go through
college, for the name on't-what can the
poor fellows do with their time, without
they have high go now and then? We
ought to have deal of compassion and
charity for the rich. neighbour Jones. |
was going to tell you about myself /
heard tell about Dicks house and furni-
ture-I had a pretty sum of money, so
thought I'd turn gentleman, too. gave
up business and bought two horses and a
sofa. | was id!e-and | called it being at
my ease but not speck of ease could |
find I had my chimneys pulled down
four times. M. said there was nothing
the mater with them; but said there
was. However, it was bad business to
pull down chimneys for living, SO | gave
that up. The wind and the weather fur
nished me with considerable occupation.
I watched the westher-cock as close as
ever | watched my anvil and found no
small comfort in grumbling about the dry
and wet spells, which l said was going to
ruin the farmer. Having no business Of
my own, kept an eye upon other peo-
pies. thought | was pretty close OBJ
server, and | declared, as lazy folks al
ways do, that the world was going to de-
struction as fast as it could go but the
world didn't mind me-so / gave that
up. I wanted to complain to my neigh
bours. but they hadn't time to hear me.
When I talked to my wife, she kept on
her knitting, and only said, always
told you, you was fool for giving up your
business If d had any real calamity,
might have been pretty well off, though
l had too much money. My eldest son
grew very fat and for long time l wor-
ried myself every night for fear he would
be attacked by apoplexy +; but instead OF
taking fits he took to politicks, and could
soon count his ribs. 1t was too bad-with
all my whims and notions, | could not
get enough to think about. l could not
take my favourite walk without having the
east wind blow in my face. Folks came
to me for my money. and let 'em have
it, because | did not know what to DO
with myself, there was real satisfaction IN
being of use to somebody. Now | did
watch for my bills to become due = Ma
nv time I've had breakfast an hour ear
lier than common, and set out on brisk
trot to pay mechanick, who lived ten
rods from my door,
=