Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-05-14

From that day, if there was one prominent
feature about the mans character, II was his
slnglcness of purpose-a simple reliance up
OH his hands. lie practlcCd precisely what
he knew, and never vcntllrcd to step beyond.
He understood bis trade, and he kept al it
he looked to no other resource, and bent hIs
attention entirely 10 his buslness-and never
expecting TO rise by any other means, he
troubled himself about no other.
Changes passed upon changes IN the VII
age and the neighborhood. Land rose and
fell, and money was made and lost-but Billy
Bunkers hammer still went from morning till
evening. Among the boys who used to as
sembe at the old school house, in It's days OF
primitive simplicity, some went to the cities
and became merchants-some became law
yers or doctors-some speculated in lands
and stocks, and some in lotterles-but still |
! Billy hammered and hammered upon his an
vii. quarter of century hardly changed
him in appearance, and worked 10 change at
all in his habits. There he was still with his
check shirt and chip hat, his hard hands and
his hammer.
Through all the vicissitudes of twenty-five
years-and all the ups and downs OF life a
round him-the honest Blacksmith scarcely
ever lost days work or nights Sleep
lie moved in the humble sphere of his oc-
cupation, pretty much like piece of machin-
cry, which every body expects to perform it's
accustomed part with uniform regularity and
uniform effect. His work was always well
done, and punctual!y done, his charges al
ways the same-his bills always collected
once quarter-and as he did not like to
trust much to his arithmetic, he never con-
tracted debts. No man was ever governed
oil
and exactly up to them. And that was the
secret Of his success.
For he did succeed There is a neat white
Cottage on the hill, beyond the village, cir
cled by grove Of old oaks, surrounded by
quiet and contentmcnt-a hand of simple
taste has trained the honey-suckle to the
eyes, and embelished the little yard and
garden with fruit and flowers. That is Bun
ker's. lie lives in his old age, upon the am
pie earnings of q long life OF steady industry,
devoted to a single object, and the certain
result of the simplest Of plans, pursued by
the simplest means
The small school at the foot of the hill is
taught by an old man, to whom the reader is
about to be introduced.
That beautiful Cottage place, with two
hundred acros Of choice land, was his patri-
mony. He was genius. lie finished a SUI
perior education in the city-wrote for the
newspapers-made speeches at public meet
lngs-held for some years Justices COM
mission-and was q leading man.
But there was in his management Just that
strange compound of wisdom and folly which
is so often seen in the lives of men of genius.
He had gone in pursuit Of knowledge so far
beyond the limits of utility, that he never
seemed to get back within her pale-and,
holding that il was by no means necessary
that man should know how to cook beef ,
steak, he forgot it was often very important
to know how to provide the means to procure
one. lie was q man in theories wonderfully
superior to the blacksmith--in practice
wholly his inferior. He spent his estate,
and the other acquired it.
What is unquestionably true in the ordi-
nary business of life, is equally true in all its
departments. The ablest and most valuable
professional men in the world, are not as a
general rule, the most highly gifted. No
they arc the hard working comlnon-sense
men, who have risen by dint of untirlng ap-
plcation, and unwearied effort, from small
beginning. They are the self-made men,
generally, who are the safe men.
The truth is, while you only hear people
tax, you Will be very apt to thnk there Is n
vast fund of wisdom aioat in the world but
when you come to observe closely what they
do, perhaps you will conclude there is
greater amount of folly. In both cases, one
is liable to let his judgment 60 to extremes.
The secret is, the head most moves the
tongue, and the heart the hands. We say
what reason tcaches-and do what passions
and feelings, and incinations prompt.
-. L.. 4
benefit have devoted this half hour, to be
not mere sGyer, but docr of wise things.
Education is good-rules are good-maX-
inns are good--good for just as much as you
make them tell upon your practice.