Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-07-07
From the U. S. Gazette.
HARD TIMES,
AND THEIR REMEDY.

AND THEIR REM EDY.
A friend stepped in our den yester-
day, to have a good hearty grumble at
the hard times, and to predict the future
difficulties. Now we know very well
all the difficulties of the times, but we
know they might be worse, and des-
pondency will make them so. We feel
for, indeed, we feel acath, those who
suffer, and therefore understand the
grievances Of our nelghbors.
We inquired of our friend how he
was situated-whether he was inextri-
cably involved, and learned with plea
sure that foreseeing, he had forearmed ;
and though he was making little-per-
haps rather out living his nett profits
yet he was comfortable because safe.
Still he exclaimed, "What are we all
to do ?"
"There are" said he, s'to be paid
not less than six millions of dollars ~
"Awfult what all in one day'''
"Oh, no, not in one day, but in this
season; and where is the money to
come from -
Greatly, do not know; but ima-
CINE that the same water which floats
the steamboat at Market street, is used
by the vessels at the Navy Yard. Let
me tell story, very old and very COM
mon, but tolerably applicable to the
subject which occupies your mind.'
One day tt there eTe was trouble with the
great house clock. All hands had come
to dead stand. The whole works had
stopped. This excited the surprise Of
the long minute hand, who was in the
habit of bustling about at rapid rate.
He therefore put his finger down, open
ed the little door in front, and asked
the cause of delay. He found the pen
dulum in the dumps, quite gloomy and
at stand still.
"What is the matter below?" asked
the minute hand.
81 am disheartened," said the pen
dulum, Cat the gloomy prospects. l
have been looking into my years en-
gagement, ard find, to my astonish-
ment, that I have upwards of thirty
millions of beats to make this year, and
there is no aid to be obtained. l must
dc it all myself.''
"That is bad sure enough" said the
minute hand, "but what then :"
"Why,'' said the pendulum, "fnd-
ing that it would be impossible for me
to get through all this, I determined to
STOP"
@Yes," said the minute hand, des-
pondingly, "and the rest of us must
stop in consequence of your troubles"
This dialogue was overheard by the
hour hand, which was at rest among
"the little ones above" and so he call
ed down to the pendulum:
You are-quite too fearful" said the
hour hand. cit is neither just to US,
nor polite with regard to yourself, to
state an aggravated view, as you have
done, ofy your labors in advance. You
may have more to do than some of the
rest Of us, but you have no more in
proportion; and you will find that
whatever number of beats you have to
make In years, yon have only one to
make in second, and that is what all
large pendulums hayeto performs. The
wheels need considerable .oiling, and
think the works want winding up; but
then you see that in the hardest strain
that We have each wheel shares with
the other the extra force; and l expect
to hear that some oil has been applied
to ease the operation, and it is probable
that the door will be kept little closer,
to keep out foreign substances that
clog the movements. Courage and
perseverance, with little cooperation,
and all viii go well. Do you start be-
low, we will keep all hands moving,
and put the best face possible upon the
affairs, and in a very short time we shall
give striking evidence that our move
ments are right"
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LESSONS FROM HISTORY.
The following (says the Christian
0hsorverA ara the CLOSING :,ararranhS