Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-07-18


TO do the whole and Paul though he
had power to dispense with it, yet la
bored with his own hands, when for
examples sake, i, seemed to be good
to do so. And who will read the inim.
liable description of the virtuous wo.
man, by the heaven guided pen OF Sol.
mon, without being assured that the
dillgent use ofthe hands is not incom-
patible with the proper culture Of the
mind, and the most particular attention
to every domestic duty not unfavorable
to the sweetest disposition ofthe heart.
| doubt not my friends, that if there
was first only the willing, we should
all of US be able to find useful and suit
able employment both for body and
mind, MS well foseurselves as children,
from an earlyage. If, instead of null
tiplying tbs Socoasions for the services
of,others to ourselves and children, we
were ever seeking to diminish them
instead tof seeking totavoid as much
employment as possible, we were try
ing TO appropriate to ourselves full
share, and thus become more and more
independent in the true sense Of that
word, we should not fail Of our object.
We might in spite ofour peculiar cir.
cumstances and temptations to the con-
trary, give to our children such an cd
ucation Of body and mind as would in
a great measure relieve anxious parents
from all that distressing apprehension
which now affects them even TO misery
at thought Of their children. They
might behold in every diligent and well
trained child, one who need not fear
that God would provide employment
and support. They might say TO such
"Trusl in the Lord" my child, "and
be doing good" dwell in the land"
in this land-or any part of our land
-" and verify thou shalt be fed. p
The very poorest district of our State
or Country, by the blessing of God,
will yield a support to diligence, fru-
gality, and prudence.
But still some may say, are there
not many whose easy and abundant
circumstances exempt them from the
necessity ofdiligence, and who, If busy
themselves, would leave others to be
idle. To this | reply, if idleness te
great evil, and diligence blessing,
are we required to love the poor and
our servants better than ourselves, and
give them all the good and take all the
evil to ourselves This indeed is GO
ing beyond the royal law oflove. No,
my friends, we cannot admit any ex.
ception to the duty of diligence, unless
We could find one TO the duty Of piety.
What, while there is so much to be
done for the Redeemer's kingdom--fo for
perishing millions can any christian
plead for the privilege Of idleness
What if our every want be supplied by
those who could not well be otherwise
employed, shall we sit still, folding our
arms in idleness. or rove about for
pleasure when there is SO much to be
done for Gods glory, Christ's king
dom, and the poor of this world Is
not our very leisure demand for gen
erous action in behalf Of others? Let
me suppose the case OF daughter,
whose parents are now able to supply
her every want, without any labor Of
body or mind, would it not be the part
of prudence us well as charity to teach
her TO do what now she needs not, but
one day may need-would it not be
well to give exercise to her charity,
and teach her some female arts which
she may exercise for the benefit OF the
poor, the ignorant, and the wretched 7
And if she is benefactress TO the poor,
or If from the labor Of her own hands,
the exercise of her own skill, she con-
tributes her twenty, or as some have
done, fifty dollars each year to the trea-
sury Of the Lord-will her parents
fear to die and leave her to the cold
charity of the world In any reverse
OF fortune--and who can bid defiance
to calamity--has she not in this, her
habit of diligence, and the skilfulness
other we'll tutored hands, under God,
sure support? How different from
many unhappy young ladies in our land,
who live entirely dependant upon the
toll of mothers, or servants, or miliners,
who sit as it were for shew, and rove
about in search of pleasure, and are at
length cast upon their own resources,
ignorant, incident. and wretched r.
The former will find a sure and hearty
welcome almost any where in the hou-
ses Of the good and pious-the latter,
no where--for they are burthen TO
themselves and to all others around
them.
And as to the sons-in this rich and
abundant country-what father need
fear for their well doing, if he has trail
ned them up in an adherence ofidle-
ness and dependence--if they are fixed
in habits of industry and economy;
for if all other means fail, they can IN