The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-12-24
A Singular and Curious
CHRISTMAS CAROL,
OF
AFTER THE MANNER OF DICKENS.
ID Il A w N
From the most Sensitive Fibres
THE
HEART I
Rude Instrument in Unthankful
HANDS.
W'7tte" expressly for the Reader by
THE AUTHOR.

know ledge ne being at the Time, one of the par
ties. judgiag by similar specimens that have come
under his observation since, as much resembling
lump of red Jelly. as any thing else the writer
can conceive certainly not possessed of reason.
ing powers sufficient tn warrant him in sealing
bargain hed with such mornen,nus consequences
10 himself, as are boldly asserted to he involved
IN 1t. Well we have been induced TO renew
This lease, from year to year, from the promp,inos
of jil,ing jade called Hone until we have be-
come tired of the repeated broken promises of the
landlord TO improve the tenement and make the
terms more easy to us. We have complied with
all the terms required of us, from the time we can
recollect, and we have only obtained the satisac
tjon of knowing, that lille our heart has never
sought 10 d" an injustice tn others, and our hand
has ever been ready To assist the weak and defend
the right, we have been marked by the world, or
is Inhabitants, as thing to be used, without a
thought of rewarding the duer of benefits, nv a
single act of relributive Justice or gratitude -
Gratitude ? Why thai is like Generosity
Very scarce for favors already conferred, hut very
promising and prolific for others expecled-ex
ac'ly as you will hear poor penniless wretch
exclam, !" oh if was rich as such and such
favored one, what benefits ] would confer"-
while we never see any nf those in the actual
possession ot the means which so coveted by
Others ready to part with them; from which fact
we infer that Hberaliy and generosity are
IDEALIrIEs engendered in the brain. by the very
want of the means coveied-it is true, that il an.
pears So to us. at all events
For part, we have done the State. and
numerous individuals, much and valuable service;
hos hoo II;
time, like lssachar the patient and strong ass,
crouchng down between two burihens for The
benefit Of others, and sume have reaped rich and
golden harvests, from our abors, while they have
forgotten the humble source from which their
gopd fortunes sprung. These are not exceptions
but, according to logic, fixed general rule
the exceptions that prove it, ire like a few solitary
beacon lights on dark. dreary and desolae coast,
and 50 uery fe,c, that treasure them as the
sunny spots In our eXistence-and the only ones
Having arrived at this settled conviction, it is not
becoming us, as man, Z" free agent" to com
plain OF the evident design Of creation, that those
shall keep ,oho hare got, and those shall get
toho can. We have the highest authority for
this dOcirine--fur is it not written that TO him
who hath shall be given, and to him who hath
"A FREE AGENT" What an admirable
idea to manace mans limbs or cut them Off
and then tell him he can 90 where, and do what
ne peases. Surround him with high and i'm
pregnabe wall of circumstances, and then tell
him he is a free Agent" it is very easy way
for power 10 avoid responsibility, and hold the
irresponsible responsible Poper! what do we
mean by that word =? In the application that we
have made of it, ailude to that inscrntable
IDEA which is vulgarly and COMMONLY called
Con, that, we are taught, was the other party to
our forced lease of time, who had against The
lump OF red jelly we at first resembed, the ad
vaniages OF Omnipoence omniscicnce and ON
nPreSence three powerful attributes TO bring 10
bear against small lump Of faulty, called free
agent. 1t is certainly proof positive that the
older party had the advantage in the contract.
Varions promises have, from the commencement
la the present time, induced us To hold on to the
lease thus fJrced upon us, and as we have found
every one of them aIse, in onr particular case.
we have settled down in The firm conviction. that
il is Improbable to continue it much longer. and
were 1t not that we have become responsible in
or character of free agent for several contracts,
| by which others must suffer. Temporarily, if we
fail IN complete them. we do not know that we
should obtrude our ideas longer upon The World.
The plain state Of the case is this we entered
into a contract with certain of our fellow. citizens
to perform certain duties for a stipulated sum
In performing part Of the contract we have fall
len IN debt not through extravaganza on our part,
| but because portion Of those, whom we know
we have benefited failed to act justly As an
! illustration! We exerted ourselves to obtain =
| situation for man, and was snccessf,l-aouther
! had obtained the PIace-we regret our efforts NOW
well we continued Ia furnish this man with our
daily labor, until we became dsgusted with his
iagratiiude- last April, we Gu, him of
from his supply. He now says, on presentation
Of our bill, that the same is not correct! Yet
makes no effort to settle It, or make ii right-al-
though through us he is in receipt Of his regular
! salary. We cite this as one case-bot there are
! hundreds Of others-lhDUgh not 81 bare faced and
unbushing, which still retains US al the COUNTER
OF TIME. We must have a settlement in justice
10 others; and If Those indebted will not vonn.
tarIy enable US to cancel orr obligations, we shall
| take those means which the World has provided
| 10 enforce them.
The leeches have sucked US dry. We feel
that to be an Improbable business. indeed. where
neither gratitude, profit nor honor are obtained bv
long continued and steady pursuit. Since the
| establishment Of this paper, under ell its various
editors. there is one thing that cannot be said
against i--snd that is : that il has ever wayered
in yielding the most decided support to its party