The Arkansas advocate., 1834-11-28
From the Aiaa ssscclAss ifsguirer. MY FIRST .JAcrx-KNIEE.


 smooth and semi-transparent. glowing with the unmeaning but magic word, sRunkum , and the blade significantly. inviting you to l the test, by the two monysyllables try me. united the characteristic recommendation on the haft and invitation on the blade into a small couplet, which as near as l can recollect ran thus
 sBunkum' on the handle,
 Cry me- on the blade
 If by the word on the handle you were fimpelled to believe that the article abound ed in bumps of self-csteen, your ideas would at once be corrected by the blade. which, conscious of intrinsic merit, called upon you promptly to test its superiority 5; an union of modest assurance and assured modesty, which I humbly recommend to all who are their own trumpeters.
 ! know not how il is, but I never could take half the comfort in any thing which have since possessed that Hook in this said Jack-knife earned it myself, and there, had feeling of independence it was bought with my own money, not leased out of kind uncle, or stlli kinder father money that I had silently earned on the afternoons of those days set apart for boys from time immemorial, therein to amuse themselves and annoy their mothers.
 Yesi with spirit of presevering indus 1 try and seif-deniai at which now wonder, but of kind, the tendency of which I do not doubt has had its effect in the forma- ton of many an exalted character, (fom such trivial causes so great effects arise I went every afternoon during berry time,' and picked the ripened fruit, with eager ness, for my heart was in my task.
 I sold my berries, and carefully reserv- ing the proceeds, shortly accumulated enough to purchase the treasure for which l so eagerly longed. 1 went to one of the village stores, and requested the eonscen- tious dealer in tape and molasses to show me his jack-knives but he seeing ] was only boy, thinking that like many others who had bothered him before with the same requests, merely meant 10 anuse myself in looking at the incest, and wishing it was mine told me not to oplague him with any nonsense while he was mixing liquor for the gentlemen
 turned with indignation but felt the inward comfort of man who has confi- dence in his own resources, and knows he ! has has the power in his osn hands. quietly ] iingled the money in 1tG pockets, and went to the opposite store. which believe was q temperance establishment, for I saw no re- Iceptacles of poison, mafshalled before me cooked and primed for the business of dcs- truction.
 asked for iack-knives and was shown a lot fresh from the city, which were tempt Iingly laid down before me, and left for me to select from, while the trader went to an- other part of his store b please an older customer. I looked oyer them. open ed them, 1 breathed upor the blades, shut them again; one was too hard to open, an- other had TO spring finally, however, after examining them with all the judgment which in my opinion the extent of the in- vestment required, selected one with a hole through its handle--and after disser- tation with the owner upon jack-knives in general, and this one in particular, upon hawkbill and dagger blades, and handles, iron, bone, and buck-horn, l succeeded in closing satisfactory negociation for it.
 And here let me refer once more to my conscientious dealer, who could not leave his dram-drinking friends to serve me. He sold his poison to the two gentlemen, and charged it on account, as they with ? eommendable economy, thought of inter- est and would not pay ready cash but the profit upon all they consumed was less than half the sum he would have gained by the sale of the jack-knlfe so clearly do those who mix liquor for gentlemen mis- l take their true interest.
 took the instrument had purchased,- I felt a sudden expansion of my boyish frame It was my world l deposited 1t carefully in my pocket, among other valua- bles, twine, pipe stems, slate pencils, &c. I went home, showed it to my mother l displayed 1t to my father; told them how l lone I had toiled for it. and how eagerly had spent time which others had allotted to play, to possess myself of my treasure. My father gently enid me for not telling him of my wants but boy as was, l ob- served his glistening eye turn affectionatey to my mother. and then to me, and thought hls manly form seemed to straighten up and he too look prouder-at any rate he came to me, and batting my curly head told me that there was no object in life, which was reasonably to be desired, that honesty, self-denial, wel-directed industry, and per severance, would not place within my reach; and if through life carried the spirit of independent exertion into practice, which l 1 had disnlaved in the matter of the jack