Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-01-11
THE HAPPY MAN.

In walking down second street Oh Friday after
neon on nv wny 10 the al senal, ! found crack
IN NV boot; and .ecollectng the old ajage, that
'a stitch in time saves nine" popped into the
first cobbler's shop met 10 get IT mended. IN
looked for pleasures are generally most relished
and had no expectation Of meeting with phi
losophical cobhler Pulling off my boot, looked at
the man. What an expansive forehead! What
an expressive eye! There is truth in plysiognomy.
exclaimed to myself that fellows brains are not
made of green peas
As he was fixing The boot then thought of n
man born with capacities for intellectual pleasure
and improvement ''ofy, ordly man" wasting
his whole existence pent up in small room
knocking away with his hammar. and bending
from morning till night over lapsone ana n
piece ofleniher ! took another look at the man
and, while the glorious sun was rolling IN his gol-
den course and all nature smiling III her most gor-
geous and superb scenery, wooing the gaze, and
filing the gazer with sublime feelings, here, said
to myself, sits man perpetuay sranng his ewes
to poke hogs brisle through little hole What
an emp ovmenl for man capable, it properly iu-
sructed of measuring the distance 10 Mercury
1t is impossible he can be happy he is out of his
sphere. Just as lie had got the thread through
the third hole spoke to him aud said, "four
room is very small are you happy here ?"' He
answered, with some energy Happy? yes. as
as happy the day is long, ard would not eX-
change situations with Gen. Hurrison. l don't
interfere with politics. but know all about it,"
| "But are you happy in your employment, con
| fined all day in this small room?'
| Yes, certainly; the fact is, the half OF the
world don't know the way to be happy. l was
| for while myself humbugged about happiness
bur, sitting OH my stool and rejecting seriously
one day, ] got the secret. thought, to be happy
you must be rich and great, and have an incon'
venientIy large house, more furniture by far thar
necessary, table grooming with every Thing bu
| soon found out all that was stuff. | am happier
here with my last and hammer, than thousands
with their fine houses and sple ndd equppage
and have great deal of enjoyment, i'll looking
out of my little cabin and laughing at the foe:
of the world. They don't me, and 1t does
them no harm; and between you and me, the
world are busy pursuing mere shadows. One
wants TO he rich, another TO get into office never
satisfied; but here am, mending old shoes, con-
tented with my lot and situation, and happier by
far Than king. Indeed, am thankful that Heav
en- in its wrath never made me king, for il is
poor business"
BY this time my boot was ready ard wishing
to prolOng The conversation with man who dis
played much real practical philosophy, said
-"Have you no distressing cares TO vex you, NJ
anxetes no sleepIess nights, no bills TO meet, M
pangS for yesterday, no fears for Tomorrow =? liz
stared at me aud said -"No, none. The onll
cal which have comforts have wife
the best IN the woi Id, and Two children, and tina
is enough of comforts for any mau 10 enjoy. Al
to bills, | have none TO meet never buy oi
credit, and never buy what do not really want
As for the fears of Tomorrow, have no lear, bu
trust in kind and ever wachu Providence, he
lIievng that Sufficient unto the day is The evi
thereof and reSg nation TO Providence to he tn
truest philosophy" What noble fellow, SAID
to mend crack in boot Himself piece of no
bile workmanship felt inwardy the truth of IN
saying "cOntenlinent is n kingdom = and, after
let my philosophical cohbler, tho't much abou
him, and am satisfied that his philosophy wa
sound, and that mankind, in general have yet II
learn the secret to be happy. His situation in Life
is obscure, but
Honor and fame from no condition rise,
Act well your part, there Nil The honor lies"
| 81. Louis Bulletin.