The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-06-03
From he Nantucket Inquirer.

ltude is Its own reward, ingratitude is il,
own punishment; and ifa cheerful acqui
escence to the frowns Of fortune has
powerful tendency to dismantle the fcklC
goddess Of her gloomy attire, repning !:
equally etiicacious in giving TO her the
lurid appearance ofa demon. Experience
teaches the most salutary lessons; but in
some instances it would be difficult to in.
struct or be instructed on this practical
principle. For what one may realize as a
snperlative Joy or an extreme misery, may
be, and often is, 20 exclusively connected
with the mind, with the inris,tie man. that
II can neither be fully appreciated, felt, nor
comprehended, by another. In conse
quence of this inability to L?ow the happi-
ness and sntierings OF others, every man is
too apt TO imagine that al. around him are
more blest than hinself. That tins opinion
| is too generally admitted is very obvious
from the prevailing ingratitude and repin-
| ing of mankind.
The poet (Dr. Young we believe) says
in allusion to mans forge,fulness ofdes,h-
"All mon think all men mortal, bu, them
selves"
And in connexion with our subject, we
would say
All men think all men happy, but them
selves.
But this is the most mistaken notion tina,
can be cherished IN the mind. With equal
truth every man might come 10 the con
clusion that he is the only recipient OF all
the blessings the world affords, and that
III the millions Of the human race besides
HIMSELF were born TO owrctchcdness.
Suppose, kind reader. that you could pc.
ruse the heart Of your neighbour rs eusily
as you can this paper, and that all his joys
and sorrows we're as leglble as the impres.
slons Ot the type upon this sheet, what then
! would you say OF his happiness or misery,
compared with your own? Perhaps you
would perceive the worm Of care preylug al
the fountain which you had before consld.
cred as the source of felicity. Or perad.
venture you might find that the abode OF
Joy was IN heart which you had long be.
lleved 10 be the residence Of grief
In order TO set this subject it its true
light, we have employed very ingenious
| artist TO construct telescope with such
surprising power of mugDitylng, that the
most secret recesses of the human heart
may be explored, and q fair inventory tax.
EN- Of oil its comforts and Affections.
The first person we applied our new
telescope to, was a rich merchant, the Sc
rcnIty oi whose countenance Indicated n
Tranquil and kind heart. But Judge OF our
| surprise when we found II inhabited by
| little gentlemen Of an eltsh semblance, and
who appeared perpetualy employed in dry.
rng up the small rills Of happiness that
were gushing into the heart la various di-
rec,ions. One Of these hite lmps was IN
dustrlously engaged in casting compound
interest on a large sum OF money the mer.
chant lost some years ago, by endorsing
for friend; and when the result was Us.
certained, he showed the amonnt in such
glarIng capitals, that the whole heart up.
peared, for sboit time, like u barren des.
ert Another OF the little malicious rascals
was making Trial Balance, but could moi
make It foot right without inserting the
loss Of ship; while the third was hum.
ming over mournful di,ty to the tune OF
ten thousand dollars which the merchant
had lost through the irnudulence Of others
The next heart to which we applied
our curious telescope, was that of n day
Iabourer. Ills apparel was coarse and
solled, and his face besmeared with swea
and dust. But # we were surprised tc
find the rich mans heart the seat of care
and anguish, we were aston,shed 10 dis
cover this occupied by contentment and
happiness.
The third heart We took peep into was
that Of 9 parson, IN which we saw a mum
Der Of dwsrfs dressed in black; one pre-
pairing tracts for Sunday schools, another
writing a missionary sermon, while the
third was preparing the genealogical &C
counts Of Matthew and Luke. On finding
that the two accounts differ materially, b,
retired for information to a remote apart
ment Of the heart, over the entrance t.
which was written the word MYSTERY
The present peace Of the worthy clergy
man was very much annoyed by an Imper
tinent fellow, who was ransacking every
avenue OF his heart, and claniouring for q
higher salary
Withdrawing our telescope from the
parsons heart, the next subjcc, that ap
peared was o fop, whose outward figure
was as neat IS wax work. On applying
our glass to his heart, it looked at first
like a dark blank;--bui while we were
considering whether il most rescmbled the
The unbra or pennnbra ofa total eclipse,
we discovered IN the centre Of the shade
two squalId little fellows on the forehead
Of one was inscribed Folly, and on that Of
the other, Ignorance.
Just at this moment coquette stepped
before our glass, and as her attire was
none OF the Ihickest, the full powers Of our
telescope reached her heart. She appear
ed SO volatile and gay, that we expected to
find q heart corresponding; but what q
contrast NO drawing room ever present.
ed q fuller crowd, and yet we could not
discover a single inhsbitant Of her heart
capable Of bes,owing real happiness. or