The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1847-07-09
SHORT PATENT SERMON.

|
The following are the words of my text
| AS I walk'd by myself, talked to myself,
| Myself !, said unto me.
Beware oithyself, take care of myself,
| For nobody cares for thee
| My hearers,-That this is selfish worlt
every one finds out j"st about as soon as he
ceases sucking and begins TO watch for
bread and butter. Even the little pigs a.
they root each other aside, and scramble
over one anolher's backs. to get at the swill
trough know it. The lame chicken, Too
feels it most lamentably as he hobbies along
far in the rear of his flock, and arrives in
| time just 10 be too late for the last crumb
and whena hungry hawk darts among then
he must look out for himself or he is gone
chicken. What do the other chickens care
for his safety or welfare? Not gravel stone
In the beast of the field, the fowls of the air,
and fishes of the sea, you behold, my friends,
dark picture Of selfshness, unlluminated
by single ray ofmutual kindness or COM
mon sympathy-and mankind presents one
equally as dark. The Thistles of selfish
ness overspread the whole social ,.moral, po-
litica and religious world; and as for erad-
icating them you might as we'll undertake
TO dig the ''roo, of all evil" Qhe love of
money! from the human heart with the pick
axe of theoretical piety. s
My friends-years ago--after wandering
abont the world, and inspecting its complca
ted machinery-ofien foolishly putting faith
tn professed friendship--nnd often having
discovered the handspring of all human ac-
tions--l sat down upon the stump of con-
sideraiion, and talked TO myself myself
talked TO me and we both talked together
Wo came 10 the conclusion that as the devil
was after every body, every body must look
after HIMSELF 80 buttoned up my coat,
took out my jack-knfe, and cut me stick
of independence, and trudged along--ca-
ring fig for nobody since nobody cared a
pumpkn-seed for me. What is friendship,
my brethren? 1t is bee tha. sucks only
when there is honey to be got, and carries
the treasure TO its own hive; shadow upon
the dial--present when shines the sun of
prosperity, and absent when lower the clouds
of adversely; a useless dog--always about
when not needed, but ou, ofwhistling distance
wheh needed the most. In short, as my friend
Goldsmith says, friendship is but name; a
charm that lullsG one into dangerous sleep;
shade that follows Wealth and Fame and
leaves poor drag-tal Poverty to get out of the
mud and mire the best way he can.
My young friends--I wish TO impress it
upon your minds that others don't care so
much for you as you imagine. They, no
doubt would like 10 see YOU do we'll in the
world, but they are not going five miles out
of the way TO do you turn. SO ifyoli wish
10 attain TO the summit of honor, wealth and
distinction, you must spit upon your hands,
stick in your toe nails and climb away, with
ont waiting for somebody to give you a
boost. You can accomplish great deal il
you only have mind TO try; and the best
way TO make you try is, TO convince you of
the fact. that you can never fatten upon the
friendship Of hollow and deceilful world ;
which is so freely bestowed because it costs
nothing and is worth nothingto nobody. As
soon might you think of getting corpora
ton by inhaling the steam from dinner pc,
or going to bed and dream Of doing homage
to beefsteak. I say unto you my friends,
make an effort to take care of yourselves in
dividually and you'll probably do it; but
should sickness come upon you unawares
and hang on like bulldog, should you sink
deeper and deeper into the miro of misfor-
tune at every attempt to extricate yourselves
whilst patience is perishing ard hope is
dying--then call upon Heaven for fortitude;
upon Charity for a penny, and upon me for
advice--aDd verify ye shall be attended to.
So mote il be! Dow, tr.