Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1848-08-31
The Happy Man.

In walking down Second Street, on my way TO
the Arsenal, found crack in my boot, and re-
collecting the old adage, a stitch in time saves
nne," popped into the first cobbler's shop l
found TO get il mended. Unlocked for pleasures
ale generally most relished. had no expecta-
,ion of meeting with philosophical cobler. Pull
ing off my boot, looked at the man. What an
expsnsite forehead! What an expressive eye!-
There is truth in Pyhsiognomy, exclaimed to
myself. That fellows brains are not made of
green peas As he was fixing my boot, thought
of man born with capacities 70. intellectual
pleasure and Improvement, lofty, lordly." vast
ing his whole existence, pent up in small room,
knocking away with his hammer, and bending
from morning I'LL nigh over lap-stone and piece
of leather took another look at the man, and,
while the glorious sun was rolling in his golden
course, and all nature smiling in her most gorgeous
and superb scenery, moving the gaze, and filling
the behoder with sublime feelings, here. said TO
myself, sits man perpetualy straining his eyes
TO poke hogs brisile through little hole. What
an employment for man capable. if properly in
structed, of measuring the distance to Mercury
1t is impossible that he can be happy-he is out
of his sphere. Just as he got The thread through
the third hole, i spoke TO him, and said.
Your room is very small are you happy
here %
He answered with some energy:
Happy! Yes, as happy as the day is long,
and would not exchange situations with the Pres
ident don't interfere with politics; but know
all about them"
But are you happy in your employment, con-
fined all day in this small room 7"
Yes, certainly. The fact is, half of the world
don't know how to be happy. 4 was, for while,
humbugged about happiness; but, sitting on my
stool and rejecting seriously one day, got the
secret. / thought that to be happy, you must be
rich and great, and have an inconvenentiy large
house, and more furniture, by far. than necessary,
and altable groaning with every thing. But
soon found out all that was stuff. / am happier
here with my last and hammer, than thousands
with their fine houses and splendid equippage, and
have great deal of enjoyment, in looking out OF
my little cabin, and laughing at the follies of the
world They don't see me. and it does them no
harm. Between you and me, the whole world are
busy pursuing mere shadows; one wants to be
rich, another to let into ofice-never satisfied !;
but here am mending old shoes, contented with
my lot and situation, and happier by far than
Hing. Indeed am thankful that Heaven, in lis
wrath, newer made me King, for il is poor busIl
ness.
BY tfis tine my boot was ready, and wishing
80 prosen tlle conversation with man who dis
PEaYeo~so much real practical philosophy said :
l1are you no distressing cares to vex you, no
anxieties, no sleepess nights. no bills to meet no
hangs for yesterday. no fears for tomorrow z"
He stared al me moment, and then said
NJ none. The only cares which ] have are
comforts | have wife, the best in the world,
and two children. which are comforts for any man
70 ENJOY, As 70 bills, ] have none to meet.
never png on Credit, and never buy what do not
iesliy "eec- As for the fears ofio-morrow, have
no ieafs' out trust in kind and overriding Provi-
dence. believing that suficen, unto the day is the
evil thereof, and resignation to Providence to be
the truest Philosophy.p
What noble fellow. said |, to mend a crack in
: boot. Himself piece Of noble workmansbin
4 felt inwardy the truth ofthe saying. content.
Inent is Kingdom" and after left nv nbiloso.
,phicai cobbler thought much about him and am u
satisfied that his philosophy was sound, and that
ananSlnd Ia general have yet to learn the secret 10