Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-07-01
From the ~ Y. Saaday Mercury.
Short Patent Sermon.
This is the text from which shall preach
to-day:

to-day:
saw mouse within trap,
Poor little thng,' sand /, M
'Oh! why so foolish to 20 in9
Pray tell me, mousey--why,'
My hearers mice are foolish little animals;
they sacrifice their souls for a crumb Of
cheese. the same as you do yours for few
Jumps OF gold. lean cohblc up an excuse;
however, for the mice; il is absolute hunger
that drives them 10 destruction; but you;
wretched misers, jump into pit Of misery
for the sake ct something that You rant but
don't needany more than 4 white bear needs
nittens and an oyercoat. Why will you
oh! why viii you, hrethren, Cor the sake OF
a shiny dollar, allow yourselves to be en-
trapped 10y the arch-ensmy Of mankind,
who goes about, according to scripture,
81 seeking whom he might suck somebody
! ~ Verify il has been written Of ODD
" Everyhody for hinlself and the devil for
rs ALL" but, instead of each ones going for
himself, now-a-days, every one seems to go
for the devil---which is giving the old fellow
rather more popularity than his general
character should permit. Now, for my part,
! despise the devil as do boiled cabbage
for dinner; aud il ever | found occasion 10
write his name,I should no more think of
ldignitying il with big ID nj the beginning
than of putting n little & to God, as was the
won't of my departed friend General jack
son, in his epistoary correspondence.
want 10 have nothing to do with a character
sunk so low--down TO the boitomleSs pit;
and yet he seems 10 have some particular
business with me, as well as with YOU all.
My triends---ln every path of life the dew
il sets his traps; and it is curious To see the
funny beasts, birds and reptiles that he
catches Poor penniless creatures are tlriv-
EN- IN by necessity, aud men of wealth aud
apparent responsibility are caught by their
own indiscrelon At last. Many u priest has
he counted Ws' gune; and il is but two or
three years since ho caught n bishop by the
tail, in the State, OF New York. but, as 10
how he escaped, thereby still hangs a tail
l---most probably 4 compromise. What are
Iiraps' you inquire Why, my friends, eve
ry rnm-lnilI, groggery, aud tipping shop,
| (where they don'tse good liquor) is n trap
set by the devil TO catch those who are gull
~ of not having over three cents in their
pocket for the time heiDg. Bur, if the dew
IL he not gentleman, according % the es-
tnblished rules Of etiquette, | must allow
him certain amount of credit for beneyo-
llence; he extends hospitality 10 all those
who have the misfortune to be shut out Of
heaven, and affords warm, il not comforta-
bile apartments 10 every one who wanders
IN despair outside the gates of Paradise. n.
My hcarers-far be it from me 10 advise
lyou 10 go 60 the devil, IN any emergency;
but isnep clear Of him, and avoid his traps:
Keep out of Wall street. Church street, aud
never enter the doors where they retail dis
titled damnntion--liquid helIfirc at three
cents q go; wouldn't ensure your souls,
under n heavy per eentage, were sure YOU
nibibed alcohol ut even shilling a nip
Now, when | see young men led astray hy
the arts aud enicements Of the Old Boy,
and mortuls aud matlired pawning their
souls for single dollar, cannot help toss-
ing 10 them slice Of sympathy, n cold cut
Of censure, n modicum Of forgiveness, all
done up IN the same rag. Young men look
out for the snarcs and traps of the world ,or
you may have n chance 10 squeal when IL il
too late for surcor. Every pleasure hath
/ it, pnison and earh sweet n snare, MS has
heen truly remarked by somebody. II was
ever from chilhood's hour'--yea, il always
has been SO since Nature was n little girl
and wore panihlefies. And you, ye grey
haired w0rshiWiers ut the shrine of NAM
mon It you let your ayaricious propcnsiiies
get and keep the better of that creature cali
ed Conscience, you will worry out the re-
,naindcr Of your days in cage Of misery
and torment--in trap-cnge set by Satan and
bailed with sixpencc. Brerhren--one and
all--don't be caught with chat, saw-dust,
nor gold-dust; pursue the even course Of
prudence aud honesty; aud should you hap
pen 10 get into the mire Of misfortune. Heay-
en-, Hope, Perseverance and Patience will
as surely put you upon solid ground again
as (by the looks Of the weather) it will be-
a fair day Tomorrow. So mote il be
Dow, in.