Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1835-10-01

tits mans proper business to seek
happiness and avoid misery. Happi-
ness consists in what delights and con-
tents the mind; misery in what disturbs,
discomposes or torrents il.
will therefore make il nv business
to seek satisfaction and delight, and
avoid uncasiness and disquiet, TO have
as much Of the one and Us little of the
other rs may be.
But here I must have a care I mis-.
take not; for if ] prefer a short plea
sure to lasting one, it is plain cross
my own happiness.
Let me see wherein consists the most
lasting pleasures of this life, and that,
as far as i can observe is in these
things:
LIST. Heal,h,-without which no sem
sual pleasure can have any relish.
I'd. Reputation. flor that I find eve-
~ body is pleased with, and the want
oil It is constant torment.
I'd. Acknowledgements the little knowl-
edge I have, / fin6I would not sell at
any rate or part with il for any other
pleasure.
4th. Doing good-for find the well
cooked meat eat to day does no more
delight me, nay, l am diseased after a
full meal tho perfumes | smelt yes
terday now no more affect me with any
pleasure, but the good turn did yes
terday, year. seven years since, con-
tinues still to please and delight me, as
often as reflect on IL.
9th. The expectation Of eternal and
inconPrehensible happiness in another
world is that also. which carries con-
slant pleasure with II.
If then | will faithfully pursue that
haPpinessI promise 10 myself, whatev-
er pleasure offers itself to me, must
carefully look that it cross not any OF
those FIVE great and constant pleasures
above mentioned. For example the
fruit | SEQ tempts me with the taste OF
IT that / love; but il il endanger my
health i part with constant and lasting
for short and transient pleasure and
30. foolishly mako myselfunhsppy, and
am not true TO my own interest.
Innocent diversions delight me; III
make use Of them TO refresh myself af-
ter study, and business, they preserve
my health. restore the vigor Of nv
mind, and increase my pleasure; but Il
spend all or the greater part of my
time in them, they hinder my improve
ment In knowledge ana useful arts, they
blast my credit and give me up TO the
uneasy state Of shame, ignorance, and
contempt. in which cannot but be
very unhappy. Drinking, gaming, and
vicious delights will do me this mis-
chief, not only wasting my time, bat by
a positive injury, endanger my health,
impair my parts, imprint i'll habits. les
sen my esteem, and leave a constant
lasting torment on my conscience:
therefore all.yicious and unlawful plea
sures viii avoid, because such a mas
terry Of my passions will afford me d
constant pleasure. greater than any
such cnjoymenti. also deliver me from
the certain evil ofseye-a! kinds. that by
indulging myself in a present temp;a-
lken i shall certainly afterwards suffer.
Al innocent diversions and delights
as Ear as hey will contribute TO my
health and conkist with my improve
ment, condition, and my other more
solid pleasures q knowlc lsc and rep
utatioo. ! will enjoy but no farther
and this will carefully. watch and
examine that may not be deceived
by the Gsttcry Of a present pleasure 10
lose a greater.