Litchfield enquirer., 1830-01-07

Their plumage to his wings!
 The following Essay wpOn Nothing has been hand' cd us in manuscript, with a request thNt h may be published in our paper. It was wri,,cH by clergy mnn a. present residing in the State of MassNchUses aud has, we arc assured, never before been prn.cd
 Imagine to yourselves, my gentle audit. Ors, a man tortured, even to agony, with thirst, and some friend presents him with cup, purporting to bo filled with pure water from the cool fountain and while the snt- ferer is on tho very tip-too ofexpectation, of enjoying tho luxury ofthe dranght. he turns up the cup, and behold there is NOth- ing in it.-or suppose man on the very point of starvation, when wrought up to such keenness ofappetite, that he would ,levour evon his shoe leather, to be invited to take his scat at table, where he expects to find all that is delicious, and when tho covers are removed his astonished eyes are saluted with the sight of nothing in all the dishes before him--such man, l fancy, would find himselfi in somewhat of quan- dary. Now, my friend, all this arrives from mere mOthiMg. Whatever may be your views of this same mothing, can as. sure you that it is a thing not to Do snooT- ed at. You may smile at the WOthingness of my subject, but 1t is nothing to me l; and when have done, you will find tt will bo motkSng to you.
 Look at this vast globe on which we dwell. View the sun in the firnameni !; survey tho planets which wheel majesUc- ally around him behold the starry heav- ems, and let your eye catch tho innuolora- ble orhs which glitter in the mighty sx- panse of its canopy--all these were spok sn into existence from NOthiRg. I see yDu stare, but so it is they were all made out of nothing, and what is more, they W il all be again reduced to nothing. If th'a bc so, m0thing is not so contcmptible a th'ng as you would, on first thought. imagine. But to apply 1t to those things with which we are more immediately conversant.
 It is what the poor man commonly car. ries in his pockets and in hispursc. When the sheriff pats him on the shoulder with an execution, this same nothing is present- ed in payment. But will the sheriff take it? he can't help himself. But can he not get the body2 if he does, it usually amounts to mere mothing. Were now to ask ma ny who hear mo, what you have in your purses, would you not say nOthing? l can tell you that is the case with me.
 When the poor man asks charity of the miser, what does he get 2 why, nothing. When he asks forbearance from the law yer, tho same blessed nothing. If sick man is asked, after puking, bleeding and blistering, what all the doctors nostrums have benefited him, he will commonly toll you, nothing.
 What avail all the preachcr's warnings and threatening to the ungodly generally nothing. Many of you know this to be true, have no doubt. Now, nothing is of so much importance, that multtudeS quarrel about it; in fact it is tho cause of agreat part of the ieal0usies, bckerings, and animosities which exist in society. 1t is what men of honor stick at. The du- elist spills the blood of his friend and brother for this same nothing. Kings go to war about it and for it states and em- pires are deluged tn hlood--and after all their fighting, expense and bloodshed, it i. just what they get for their pains.
 Good advice we all consider of great importance in multitude of situations ir which mankind may be placed. And yet in most cases, what does it amount to, ol what does it avail why, verify, nothing What is it which creates sO much fuss, and confusion, and turmoil in families, neigh. borhoods, and societies most commonly nosking. l have known man give hi: rid tremendous basting for nero noth. ing--and have seen an aifectionate wift ply the broOmstick about the ears of heI dear husband for tho self-same thing. Fol this they often pull hair and snarl mos delightfully."-.
 Ask the sly rogue of a school boy, wheI he has been re6Eaged in mischief what h, has been about, and with face as long a your arm he win toll you nofkiRg. Many poor fellow of this class, has been cruell!