The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-06-23
From The Trenton Emporium.1
A USEFUL HINT.

From The Trenton Emporium.
A USEFUL HINT.
la mingling with the busy multitude that
throngs the theatre of life, and casting around
us an observing eye, we may CLEAN many les.
sons of wisdom. Evil examples abound, and
these are to he studied and aroided Good ones
are also to be found, and these should command
our in,itation, as we'll as admiration. We jour.
ney through a country SO full of devious roads
and winding paths, that sometimes it is dfficu II
to determine which is the strait forward way.
and IRE in danger of turning % the right or
to The left very olten--buI the examples afforded
hy the history and the conditipih of others if
properly studied, would generally prove finger
posts, in doubtful cases, to point us in the right
course. have little doubt that the exercise of
II moderate share of wisdom and prudence, in
at least nine cases ont often, will enable us TO
escape most OF the ills OF life. Indeed so satisfi
ed am that men nre generally the cause OF their
own nistortunes, that whenever ] see poor
hnlf.sarved looking soul, wandering about with
holes in his elbows, and his toes peeping out OF
his shoes, say 10 myself "that man has been
inprudent," and i ask the reader when he he.
holds such spectacle to apply the test and see
whether he differs much from me in the conclu-
sion. ! sat down however to tell story.
In neat village, in that wild and romantic
country 10 which the reader has been led so Of
ten, the banks Of the Susquellanna, not far
from Alesbnry, lived family by The name of
Merton, in middlng good circumstances. res
pected nd contented Mary Merton was the ell
dest Of six daughters who, having been judicous
" brought up to habits of industry aUdeconomy,
were rather assistants than drawbacks upon their
parents. They were all well behaved, good
looking girls,and in the bright summer holidays,
and long winter evenings, seldom failed to be
well supplied with those necessary, though of
ten misclevous, troublesome things called gall
ants. The Mertons had some wealthy relations
in Philadelphia, and one of them, generous
old bachelor, sent Mary one summer an ele-
CANT gold chain, with diamond chsp, of ex.
1uiste workmanship, and great value. do
not know precisely the amount in dollars, but i,
was some hundred, and these were speedily
magnified into thousands by the astonshed ma
tiyes whose eyes had never behed rich
spectacle.
Mary Merton WINS accordingly the toast IN al
the country, round--the golden chain evidently
added wonderfully to her charrns; she was cour
ted by every body, and had her choice among
the beaux. She married.-Tae chain adorned
her neck at The wedding; and the bridegroom
looked most lovengly on her and on the brigh
folds of the gay ornament alternately, "abc
smiled and looked and smiled and looked again.
For a time she wore it in every party, and was
the envy of her less fortunate companions, and
although when the the first wonder wore away
they rihiculed j; little, and remarked that Ma
RVS wedding and outfit was only ten times more
costly to her father than it would have been
had she never seen the chain, that It made fine
clothes necessary to correspond with it, &c, YET
il was easily seen that the young married coup
le bore themselves more stately, and with more
self complacency than was usual, on It's account
and the young bride even showed some symp.
toms of superior inporta nee towards her nus
band, and these proved that she did not regard
whit others might say or even think.
Time passed away; the young people hogan
hi, IL ri
well. The mistress of such golden chain
could not descend to the entire level OF useful
ness and industry in family matters. The hus
band became infected with sundry notions oil
gen,ility not altogether compatible with his cir
cumstances. The chain became sinking fund
Ii brought one expense after another, and yield
ed no profit-for it was n present and could moi
he soli-and it turned out in the end ruinon;
affair. One of the last recolections associated
with Mary and her partner, is the sale OF the
golden chain, by the constable; for store debt
containing many an item Of silk and satin and
all the ct ceteras of extravaganza. They left the
country soon after in poverty and morthcntion.
The story is short and leaves the greater room
for improvement. Whenever see poor per
son wrapped up in family, and holding his head
full of notions of quality, in lofty deness above
the common class, cannot help thinking OF the
golden chain and the consequences THAT gre"
out of its possession.
1t is somewhat questionable, whether, under
anv circumstances, a life Of idleness is an inno
cent life. He who is not engaged in so'ne use
fnl employment, cannot certainly fulfil the duty
everv one owes to society and his Maker. NO e
ovation, no rank, no wealth, can be disgraced b,
labor. So the great Cincinnatus thought. a
m is,ake has in our days crept into society, VIZ
Industry is considered disgracefn, and idienes'
bonorable reverse is the motto of wisdom.
OLIVER OAKWOOD.
We notice i'm the Mobile Journal Statement
respecting the Rev. G. F. Simmons, weo MAJ