The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1841-06-17
MYFlRST lACK-KNIFE

and the blade Sgnncanily lnVVihg yOu W uo
test. by the two monosyllabes try me-
united the characteristic Recommendation on
The haft, and an invitation on the blade into
small cOuplet, which, as nearly as can
recoIlect, ian ihus--
aBuukum" ho handle,
% s-erf 7e airy mel on the blade.
If by the word on the handle you were imPeI'
led to believe that the article abounded in
bumps of self-esteem, your idea would at once
be corrected by The blade, which, conscious
oflhe Intrinsic merit, sailed upon you prompt
ly TO tesI its superiority an union OF modest
assurance and assumed mOdesty, which /
humbIy recommend to all who are their own |
trampeters.
know not how il is, but never could take
halrthe comfort in any thing which l. have
since possessed, that took in a his Jack knife;
| earned myself and there, had feeling
Of independence; il was bought with my own
money not leazed out Of my uncle, or Still kind
or father--monsy tha. had silently esrued
on the afternoons Of those day 8 set apart Cor
boys from time immemorial, therein 10 amuse
themselves and annoy their mothers.
Yes! with spirit Of perservng industry
and self-denlal at which do now wonder; but
of kind, the tendency Of which, ! do not
doubt, has had its effect in the formation Of
many an exalted character, (lrom such tri>
val causes so great effects arise went eve-
ry afternoon during sherry !ime and picked the
ripened fruit, with eagernoss, for my heart
was in my task.
| sold my berries, and carefully accumala-
ted enough to purchase the treasure for which
so eagerly longed. went 10 one of the
village stores, and requested the conscientious
dealer in tape and moiasses TO show me his
jach>knves; but he, seeing that was only a
boy, thinking that like many others who had
bothered him before with the same request,
merely meantto amuse myselfby looking at
the incest, and wishing it was rnins; told me
not to plauge him with any nonsence while
''be was mixing liquor for the gentleman"
turned with indignation, but felt the inward
comfort Of man who has confidence in his
own resources, and knows he has the power
in his hands. quietly jingled the money in
my own pockets, and went TO the opposite
store.
asked for jack knives, and was shown lol
fresh from tbecitv, which were ,emptingly y laid
down before me, and lef,efor me TO select from
while the trader went 10 another part Of his
store 10 please another customer. | looked
over them. opened them, breathed upon the
the blades, shs, them again; oae was too hard
to open another had no spring; 6say, how
ever, after examining them with all judgment
which, in my opinion, the extent Of the invests
ment required, selected one with hole
through the handle-and, after dissertation
with the owner upon jack knives in general
and This one in particular, upon hswkbill aud
digger blades, and handles, iron, bone, aut
buck horn, succeeded in closing sailslac
tory negotiation for it..
took the instrument had purchased;-
feli sudden expansion of my boyish frame
TWAS my world! deposited IT in my pocket
among other valuabIes, twine, pipe stems
u sla.s pencils, &C. | vent home to my father
teld him how long had toiled for it, and nov
eargerly had spent time which others had al
lottsd TO play, to possess myself of my trea
sure.
My father gently chided me for not telling
him ofmy wants; but, boy as was, obser
we'd his glisteniDg eyes turn affectonately t.
my mother and then to me, and thought tina
his manly form seemed TO straighteu up AM
he 10 look prouder At any rate, he came l.
me, and. pat!lDg my curly head. told me Their
was no object in life which was reasonabl
10 be desired, thai honesty, s,H.denial well
directed industry, and perseverance would no
. place within my reach; and il through life
carried the spirit of independent exertion int
practice, which had displayed IN the matte
ofthe jack-knife. should be that great hob
by horse Of little boys, a "great man"
From that moment was new lad. ha
the walnut sapiugs for my bow, or the straigI
pine for nay arrow, or carving discovered th
Icouid rely upon myself. | took my jack
knife, and many time while cutting any m
mic ship, did muse upon the words Of m
father. SO deeply are the kind expressions
iudcious parents engraven on the heart ar
memory Of boyhood.
My knife was my constant companion; it W
my carpenter, my ship builder, my toy man
facturer nylactotum; il was out on all Occaei
never amiss aud always handy and, al
valued it, Ineyer let it part from my neck,
round which IsIung itby cord braided by q
sister. i own my selfshness;I would divi
my apples among my playmates, my wht
store Of marbles was at their service, lh
: might knock my bats, kick my football as III
chose, but ! had no community Of enjoymer
Is IN myjack,knife. Its possession was co
nected in my mind with something SO excl
sive. that could not permit an other 10 Ia
q for . rnnunont f,nr, So L... 1919. 4