South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-12-05
'ects of honor, of usefulness, and ofhap-

Esau being the elder brother, by the
laws of Israel. was destined to fill the
place of his father Isaac, and had he been
wise, & controlled his appetite, he would
have succeeded to all the hoDors and dis
tinction appertaining to him by his birth
tight, both political and religious. But
Esau fell He chose to indulge himself,
and in order to satisfy his craving for
| some porTAaE he battered away his
BIRTH>RIaHT, and became an outcast in
Israel. On the other hand, Jacob MAIN
tanned his character and that of his faith
er's house, and like his illustrious sire, he
rose to honor, and to political eminence
in Israel.
These two brothers having thus cho-
sen their course, it was but conse-
quence that men so opposite in character
and conduct should come in conflict. E..
sau finding that he could no longer ex-
pect any thing from his fathers house
and friends. and those of his nation who
supported the worship and institutions of
Israel. joined himself to their enemies,
and with his newly acquired friends, four
hundred in number, went out to meet
Jacob, and to contend with him, but
their meeting was without blood-shed,
and without harm to Jacob.
IMPROVEMENT.
1. We perceive by our brief history,
thenecessity Of sell control. Esau sold
all that was valuablsin life for mess of
pottage! He destroyed himself for a
little sensual pleasure. The passions,
yes, gentle reader, the passions and the
appetites must be disciplined, and you
must become their master, or else they
will master you. How many, who
commence with fair prospects, come
short Of attaining the great objects Of
life first by sitting that delicate and
refined taste which is incident to our
early years, then drink a little at
the fount Of pleasure, then a little
more, and so progressively, until their
moral sense is gone, and they come 10
treat with contempt and openly to RI
dicule the principles of their fathers as
strai! and 2uritanic. Such par, with
their birthright for mess of pottage.
2. Let the aspiring and ambitious
take heed also. How much better to
pass along the paths Of life, with feel
ings tranquil, and conscience clear,
plncking here and there a flower, and
performing Offices Of friendship and Of
duty, than to enter into conflicts, UNI
derge labors, sacrifice honor and res-
pectabillity, and the soui-and for
what FL will not say mess Of pot
sage, for that may satisfy hunger, but
the cravings Of an ambitious man can
never be satisfied.
3. We perceive how tender thing
is character. 1t is the work of years
to earn good one but the work Of
moment only to destroy il. After i. il
acquired, as in case Of wealth, much
circumspeetion is necessary 10 main
tain it, and indeed exactly. in proper.
ton as person has become respecta-
BILE in the view of the community, does
false step or impradsnt action EN-
blazon his disgrace.
Finally, gentle reader. would you be
happy 7; be virtuous, and rieidly So
let your virtue acquire consistency ,and
do not regard the popular opinion
Take Jacob for your pattern, lest in
an evil hour you should be overcome
by temptation, and fall like Esau.--
Are your commencing life, cherish
those sentiments and that deIicacy Of
feeling which we're inculcated by the
guardians Of your early years, and fear
not the charge Of singulariiy, precision
and the like, which the unthinking mai
.isude are ever ready to make, unless
you consent 10 60 with them in the
paths of folly.
In the outset, seek 10 know your.
self, especially where your weakness
lies. Ii you find it consists in an in
clinalion to pleasure, check the first
symptoms of desire for unlawful indul-
gence. Ifyou discover that ambitious
views lead you TO seek for promotion
and official distinction, beware what
plans you form to gain them. There
is great danger that correct principle
and consistency of conduct are over
looked, whilst your attention is too
intensely fixed upon the allnring OBJ
ject OF your pursuit, until at length,
having betrayed your reputation, and
your soul, you fail, are disappointed,
and coming to yourself, you are sur
prised to find that you had staked
your all upon the issue-at best but a
mess ofpottage.
GRowlNo A SToRY.-Our readers are
all unquestionably aware that stories