Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-08-13
From the New-York Constellation.
 SERMON.
On the Abuse of Borrowed Articles. Alas. master! for it was borrowed"


 This was the exclamation of one ofthe sons of the prophets, who, in the days of the ia nous Elisha, went to fell timber on the banks of the river Jordan. The axe not being well secured on the handle, slipped off and fell in to the river. Then it was, that in an excla- nation of grief, the honest son of the prophet cried, as he looked wistfully into the stream, "Alas, master, for it was borrowed"
 Here we might expatiate upon the fault of keeping bad tools, or not keeping them in per- feet order. We might also suppose it was mercy that the axe, when it flew off the han dle, had not hit the head of some other chop pers, and split them open, instead of quietly dropping into the water, as sacred history has been careful to inforn us. But we waive all such minor considerations, and come directly to the important one, of the abuse of borrow ed articles
 Whether it was, that the sons of the pro- phets were better taught or more honest than their neighbors; or whether mankind in those days paid more regard to borrowed articles than is customary at the present day, we can not decide. Bnt must certain it IS, that few in this age of refinement would think of mak- ing such an exclamation of grief at the loss or injury of a borrowed article. Instead of say ing "Alas, master, for it was borrowed" they would be more apt to say, Careessy, '" ".Wcver mind, it 7uas only 6orrozued." And should some honest Elisha set about repair ing the loss, or injury, they would say-"Give yourself no trouble, Mister, for it was only borrowed article"
 Thus you will see borrowed books used with little or no ceremony-dehled with grease-spots, and deformed with dogs ears. You will see them thrown about the house and given to the children for play things You will hear Mrs. Slipshop say, edo give that young one something to quiet it.' And when told there is nothing to give it, except the new book on the mantlepiece, she will re- ply, "well, do give it that then 'tant ours, its only 6orroqped" The brat is nightly pleased with its new playthng, it applies it to its mouth, dribles and pukes on it, tears out theleaves, and finally ends the sport by throw ing it into the fire. "Here, ma ma the baby has thrown the book into the fire !''- "Never mind," says Mrs Slipshop, "it qvas only borro4ued.
 man borrows a wheel-barrow, with the promise of returning it in three hours, instead of three hours he keeps it three months.- Day after day the vehicle is seen standing out doors, exposed to the weather, and rot ting for want of shelter "Daddy," says a little boy, with native honesty, "this 'ere bar row-wheel hant been sent home yet, and you promised to send it home in three hours. ''- "You blockhead," says the man, "let it be, and go about your business" "But," says the boy, "it'll get spoilt, standing out here. 5 "Well what fit does }" says the man, "it's oniy borrozved" There it stands week after week, and month after month, and finally an OK cart is driven over it, and is smashed to pieces. There now, daddy" says the boy, 1'the harrow-wheel has gone to smash ''- "Never mind the barrow wheel, you dunce, /" says the father, "h's only 6orrozved."
 The manner in which borrowed horses are used, is well known. They are overloaded, hard-drven, and poorly fed. even get all we can out of them," says the borrowers; eff we do spoil them, it's no concern of ours; they're only borrowed" A fellow with a horse and gig drives as if the Old One was driving him. He shakes the reins, he cracks the whip, he cherups the steed forward; and the poor animal, straining every nerve and exerting itself to the utmost, comes up to an Inn, covered with foam, panting for breath, and trembling in every joint with over exer- tion. The borrower leaps from the gig, calls for somethingto drink, perhaps to eat, and to smoke, and enjoys himself without any re- gard to the wants of the poor horse ;.and when addressed by some humane bystander, with" You unfeeling coxcomb, why don't you take care of your horse, as we'll as your- self? Here you have driven the poor creature almost to death, and now you leave him sh- verng in the cold air, and give him nothing to eat or drink" The coxcomb replies, as he . lights new cigar, and pulls up his dickey, "Don't give yourself any trouble, sur-the creetur's only borrozoed." !"
 In short, wherever we look, we cannot help noticing shameful want of care, in relation to borrowed articles-both as regards the manner in which they are used, and the dila- toriness with which they are returned. In fact, it is a common expression, in relation to returning borrowed articles, that {" it is suffi- cient to, go after them, without being at the