The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1840-07-31
From the Democratic Review.
JoEN BROWN. -
A TRUE STORY BY A WORKING MAN,

out honest laborIDg man, who st the
tine Of bis birth, lived in The prea, stree,
called the Bowery, III the city Of ". Y.
and who, Notwithstanding his wages
had never risen above seventy-6ve cts.
day, good hard money, had MANAGED
TO buy lot and build comfortable two
story house on it, by the savings of his
labor. He was very honest, prudent, |
religious'man, and prdctisOd on the old
maxim of always "saving something for
a rainy day."
Like most hard working people,
John's father had good number of
children, all Of which be and his wife
managed to bring up in a respectable
manner. Blythe time the boys were
ten or twelve years old, they ceased to
be burthen on the old man, and the
girls could do hundred useful things,
when they grew as high as the table.
Somehow or other the family were al.
ways neat and clean, and everything lb-
side OF The house as nice as fiddle.
People often wondered how Johns faith
or could DO all these things with seventy
i've cents day. But the old man was
industrious, bis wife a prudent body,
that never went 10 abolition meeting, g.
Providence always takes good care CT
auch honest people. For my part, ]
hardly ever saw the world or fortune
ever turn their backs upon those who
were deserving of their good Offices.
Al the time Of Johns birth, there
were no public schools, where people
could eend their children for nothing,
and be thanked for it besides; but some>
now or other, not only John, but all his
brothers and sisters, were either taught,
or encouraged to teach themselves, to
read and write, and cast up all such lit
tie accounts as they had occasion to pay
or receive. l lived in. their neigbor.
hood, knew them all; and must say,
| believe they were as honest, as wise
and as happy as most of their betters,
as they are called, who take such nigh.
~ airs on themselves.
John grew up, like all the rest of the
family, in tine paths of industry, econ
omy, and sobrety, until he was old e.
nough to be apprenticed to a trade,
when there was great debate and con-
suItatIon about the matter. The good
woman wanted him 10 be blacksmith,
+ because she said, Tubal Cain wis Of
} that business, according to Scriptures;
while the old man, who had a mighty
veneralon for the great Franklin, was
for making printer Of him land John
like good lad, resolved 10 do as his pa
rents wished. The thing was to declde
between the two, which was done in the
simplest possible manner, by each one
insisting upon yielding TO the other, in
stead Of standing out obstinately for
their own opinions. This is the bes,
way | know of to settle such matters, :
| remember TO have heard my grand
mother cay, who was a very cute wo-
man, and always had her own way, by
giving into the wishes of the old man,
who was go wilfUI, that he could not
bear to do as he pleased, without little
C ntrad ction.
Be this as it may, it go happened. that
Johp was at last apprenticed 10 the prin-
ting business, where he served out his
time honestly and faithfully and was af-
lerwards employed by his Boss as a
journey man, for several years, during
which lime hs greatly improved his
mind by reading the books which he
printed, al odd hours, when he ha { moth
log else to do. He managed. also to
save something from his wages, which
he offered to hIs ia her; but The old man
refused 10 take penny, telling John he
did not want it, for he had saved some>
thing for rainy day. John therefore
lett his little savings in the hands of his
employer, for people were not so much
AFRAID OF trusting one another at that
time as they are now>a- days.
about this time il came TO pass that
Banks began TO increase and multiply
all over the land; and as paper money
grew plenty the prices of everything be~
gan to rise,not because they were worth
more, but because money was worth less.
People began to borrow money to trade
with. and an increase of business
brought about new demand for labor,
which produced an increase of wages,
30 that those who had before only res
ceived seventy five cents, or at most a
dollar day, in hard meney, now got
one third, or one half more. and some
times double in paper. John was de.
lighted with this, but o!d Brown shook
his head, and was the frs, to give these
Bank Bills the name of .Shin Plasters.'
John was now of an age, when young
fellow S generally think o! settling them.
selves in The world, and having not on
ly little cash in the hBnds of his Bose,
but being encouraged in the rise of his
wages made his bow to clever Jersey
] woman ofhis own condition 10 life, got
married and settled himself down on a
! EN.In -, H. r.