The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-12-26

children, into the surrounding country,
when the season was favorable, together
with many call of duty and Of charity,
supplied him with that constant exercise of
which he stood so much in need. He was
taught, too, by the same kind spirit, TO seek
his bed at a regular and early period of the
evening, and to forego his accustomed
heavy suppers, while she contrved to vile
him from his couch, each morn, at an early
hour. which he peevshly declared 10 be un-
usually early. This life ofprivations. as he
, termed it. was at first irksome enough, bu,
a short time suffieed TO reconcile him to it,
, and in the end, it became even pleasant,
and up to the present period he has persist
ed IN lt-rather becoMing, in fact, more
rigid in his habits than in any degree re-
Taxing.
My uncle has now numbered upwards of
sixty summers, and never did there exist a
more hale. robust and active old gentleman.
little notional and self-opiniated, it is
true, IN regard TO many things, but never
theiess, always sufficiently cheerful. good
natured and DESTROYS of pleasing, TO attract
around him the company of the Young.
His own children, his grandchildren, his
nephews and his neices, in particular, sell
III
spent in mis- company. He has useful sug-
gestions, practical hints and stores of infor-
nation for those who have already entered
upon the active duties of Ife-he has
sound advice and sage counsel, always de-
livered in an amiable unpretending manner,
for such as are yet in their minority; and
for the still more youthful, some playful
story-some plaintive ballad, or many a
pretty toy.
From this short sketch of my uncle's
life, we perceive how completely his own
experience contradcts the declaration
with which this narrative commences. So
long as he lived life of temperance and
active industry, so long as his habits were
simple and regular, so long he enjoyed
their invariable fruits, health, cheerfulness
and comfort. The moment he devlated
from this plan of living, and fell into habits
of luxury and Incidence, he experienced
corresponding decline Of the health of his
body and the cheerfulness of his mind.
until, by continuance in error, serious
disease was finally induced-and it was
only by returning to his former sohriety
and activity that his life was preserved
the health and sigor of his frame were re-
paired, and the cheerfulness and serenity of
his mind regained.
These facts, however, my uncle cannot
be brought to acknowledge. 1t is true he
has experienced an attack Of apoplexy and
of govt, but these he insists, were merely
accidental and might have happened 10 any
man of his particular form of body, whatev-
er were his habits. Eating and drinking
had nothing TO do with them And then,
as TO his renewed health, and vigor, when
his habits became more regular. active, and
ltemperate-why, what connection he would
ask, has The one with the other Was it
not the same with all his ancestors 1t is
a family PECULIARLY, this return of youth IN
the evening of life
So does my uncle-so do thousands of
mankind, obstinately shut their eyes upon
the evidence of their own experience, and
overlook the useful lesson that it teaches.