Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-12-07


of the context 2 This kind come not but
by prayer and fasting
1t is equally plain replied the doctor,
and means that extraordinary difficulties
can only be overcome by extraordinary ef-
forts, including mental labor and physical
privations.'
You may be right said Il; Il
know that faith and perseverance are neces-
sary, in order to accomplish any thing; but
time is also necessary, and am now too
old-it is now too late
Better late than never, sir. True, you
have spent half the promised term of life in
folly and madness, chasing shadows and
dreamy nothings. But your age, so far
from being an excuse, is strong reason
why you should double your diligence, if
your object is right. If your desires are
merely after the riches Of present world,
about which the mass are every day becom"
ing more and more insane,-I say insane,
for if any thing stamps lunatic' upon the
brow of humanity, it is the untring devo-
ton Of soul, body and spirit, to those things
that perish beneath their hands, and which
at best they can only look upon, and then
leave forever-if your ambition has no high
err object than dollars and cents, | have no
advice to give. You must go to the muck
worm, to the miser in his den of filth and
misery, or the fool that spends his strength
for nought. But should you feel within de-
sires of higher order-the indwelng of
noble nature-a craving after mental
wealth and moral rches-then say neth-
er age nor circumstance ought to deter you.
Every onward step secures an unending
good, something that cannot be lost aud
were your spirit ready topass from its house
of clay, would still say, struggle to gain
yet another idea, in advance of the store al
ready acquired. Still achieving, still pur-
suing is the true motto for man. Let me
tell you story:
When | was lad of some fourteen or
fifteen years of age, there lived about half
mile from my fathers a man by the name
OF Sanders lie was poor man, very poor
had been so all his life. At the age of
eighteen he could neither read nor write,
and | think have heard it said that there
was not a book of any description in his fa-
theirs house. Saunders was remarkable for
nothing but his ignorance and personal APP
pearanee-large boned, and over six feet
high; but it could hardly be said that his
thing of Il Calvin Edson with head that
appeared dsproportlonatey large. He was
looked upon as a very unsocal boor from
the fact that he seldom mingled in the spir-
it of young men of his age. He seemed to
love and seek retirement Between the age
of eighteen and twenty, he had, by himself,
without a particle of assistance, learned to
read well and write some. An event that
| happened about this time, proved that San
ders was not very unsocia in his nature as
was generally supposed. This nothing less
than his union in marriage to youhg wo-
man equally poor aud homely as himself
The good neighbors began to prophesy that
the county would soon have children to
maintain; not that Sanders was an idler, or
Incorporate, but the business to which he
had been brought up was overdone, and the
very best workmen could earn but bare
| subsistence However there was no law to
prevent poor young men from getting mar
ried the neighbors must therefore content
themselves by hoping that Sanders children
might be few and far between. In this mat.
ter they were sorely disappointed Mrs
Sanders proved to be a very fruitful vine
aud year by year presented her worthy hus.
band with an additional pledge of her con,
jugal love- For ten long years Sanders toll.
ed on with praiseworthy perseverance and
although in that time eight mouths had
been added to his family, yet strange to say
he had managed to keep the day and the
way alike. We cannot say that he and hi:
children were as well fed and clothed a.
were those around them, but we can say
that complaint was never heard from thu
lips ofSanders or any Of his family. hav,
seen them often sit down with faces of cheer
fulncss, to meal composed Of few pota
toes and salt. Let it not be supposed, how
ever, that Sanders was satisfied, with eithe
himself or the circumstances in which III
was bringing up, for the stage of action ant
the business of life, a numerous family Ht
was not satisfied Thirsting after ment.
E improvement himself-desrous ofpreparin.
, his children by suitable education for tn
duties and responsibilities of life, yet crush
, ed down in state of Hopeless poverty, no,
could he be satisfied !-doomed to nces
SAINT toll without the means of procuring
, books or helps of any description. Man
2 men in similar circumstances, would hav
become discouraged, careless or intemper
, ate, suffering the prediction of neighbors t.
4 be fulfilled by their families becoming
county charge. But it was not SO with San
, ders he was not discouraged, nor faint
hearted, although his iron frame began /
bend before he had reached his thlrtiet
year. About this age he seemed TO retir
!, more within himself than ever he did nc
: become gloomy misanthrope, or sule
. recluse; he was still the kind and careful
!. father-the obliging neighbor; but he 10,
ed more than ever to be alone, and it wa
q evident, from the occasional cleaning {
. his fine expressive eye, that the commur
: ings of the inner man were of high an
q lofty nature-big with high resolves.
:. Zone morning, on his way to the wor
- shop, Sanders was overtaken by little ari
;, tocratic master, 1.-THE son of wealthy neigl
a Dor, on his way TO school with his Lexico
"a under his arm; he wished Sanders to do
/. small job for him, in the way of his bus
ness.
ID Let me look at your book said Sal
. ders.
;e The lad complied, and after a short e