Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-02-02
TIE MORAL of an ALARM WATCH.

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.he pleasures Of early rising inspired me
with great respect for the habit; but it Is
said the recreant bard sinned shamciully
against his own poetry-that he seldom
rose earlier than ten, and was SO indolCnt
as to stand under peach tree, with both
hands in his pocket, gnawlng peach
from the bough; and | must confess that
|, his admircr, am half as great IA sinner
as himself Nevertheless, have always
had very philosophical heory on this
subect.--I have always maintained that
it was a fine thing to walk few miles
before breakast-i tried it once, and
came home "with the pearls upon my
feet and legion ofbusy imps gnawing
and tearing my brain. was stupid and
miserable the whole day after Howev-I
er, was easily convinced that all this
was because | was unused to the expert
ment. | maintained my theory, and gave
up the practice. But like other way
ward mortals, felt some occasional
twinges of conscience; ! could not bring
myself TO the same state of mind as the
man who loved pork excessively, and
mourned that he was not a Jew, that he
might have the pleasure of eating and
SHINING at the same moment: so bought
an alarm watch. Loudly and faithfully
the machine did its oilicc-it ratified and
buZzed in my ear like steam engine
| raised my head, wondered whether it
could be so late, thought it looked very
cold, and went to sleep again. The
same thing occurred several days in sue.
cesson; yet | was still scrupulously en-
act in arranging the noisy monitor. AT
last, | heard no more OF it. l excused
my late rising by saying that my watch
was out of order carried 1t to the ma
kcr and complained that it did not wake
me. He examined it carefully, and pre-
nounced it perfectly in order. 'Whcn it
reused you, did you rise immcdiatcly " p
he asked. | Twas ashamed to confess that
| had never obeycd its warning. 'Thcn
the mystery is all solved replied the
Matchmaker: "Those who do not attend
to an alarm watch soon cease To hear 1t:
the drowsy ear becomes accustomed to
the sound
Surely thought |, 'hcre is a salutary
moral, if mortals would but lay il to
heart
Being of n social disposition, at that
time, iEdulgcd myself IN game of whist
now and then; the habit gradually IN
creased, until | found myself at the card
table almost every evening. AT first |
felt uneasy under the consciousness of
wasting so much time; but such thoughts
troubled me less and less | know not
what might have come of it, had ! not
looked at my alarm watch.
| lately saw a New England lady,
who had been residing at the South a
few wears. 81 was shocked at the idea
of keeping slaves when fiIst went to-
the South" said she; "but really it is so.
convenient not to be forever changing do
mestcs--and after all, they don't seem
10 be as miserable as one would think
they might be-"
"Thanks to Divine Providence, who
fits the human mind to its situatlon," said
I-"No thanks To our own selfishness y
tyranny" Then told her the history of
my alarm watch.
Seeing a fair young creature with ma
ked shoulders, vcntured to speak of the
immodesty of the fashion. 81 felt guilty
the first time | wore so low Dress" she
replied, "but / don't mind it now; every
body dresses so, you know" l thought
cf my alarm watch and sighed.
And who is there that may not find fit
ting occasions in his own life to apply the
moral of the alarm watch' The proili-
gate feels ashamed of his first cxcesses;
the drunkard is restless and miserable
when he first brings upon himself the tio-
ry curse; the knave feels the sting of
guilt, when he commits his first fraud J;
he young votary of the world often feels
a heart yearning for something purer and