The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-10-14
WOODSFIELD, OHIO, SATURDAY, OCTOBER IA, 1s4s
The Happy Man. /.

: y
in my boot, and recollecting the old
adage---"a stitch in time snves nine" !"
| popped into the first cobbler's shopI
found, to get it mended. Unlocked for
pleasures are generally most relished.
| had no expectation Of meeting with
philosophical cobbler. 1 n5a8 sye
Pulling off my bootl looked at the
man. What an expansive forehead |!
What an expressive eye! Truth in
physiognomy, exclaimed 4 to my self.
That fellows brains are not made Of
green peas! As he asa6xing the boot,
| thought Ola man born with capaci.
ties for intellectual pleasure and i'm,
provement, 'loftily, lordly,' wasting
his whole, existence, pent up in a small
room, knocking away with his ham,
mer, and bending from morning tonight
over lap-stone and piece.of leather.
| took another look at the man, and.
while the glorious sun was rolling in
his golden course, all nature smiling 10
her most gorgeous and superb scenery,
moving the gaze, and filing the behold
er with sublime feelings, here, said ] to
myself sits a man perpetually straining
his eyes TO poke hogs bris.Ie through
a hole. What an employment for a
man capable, if properly instructed, 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, !
spoke TO him., and said: sqofg eGa
"Your room is very small; are you
happy here'' t.'.a3 'a.ts3ffg- lions
He answered with some energy: a
"Happy! Yes, as happy as the day
is long, and would not exchange situa-
tions with the President. don't in
serfere with politics: but know all
abou: them" Fo'" ~ '''t ti3fe '2iAa
"But are you happy in your employ.
ment, confined all day in this small
room?' ''st<" o. ''shI 'h1t'l
"Yes, certainly. The fact is, half Of
the W world don't know how to be hap.
py. ! was for while humbuaGed
about happiness; but sitting on my
stool, and, rejecting seriously, me day,
| got the secret. thought that to pa
happy you must be rich and great, and
have an inconvenient'y large house,
and more furniture, by far, than neces-
sary, and a table groaning with every
thing. But soon found out all that
was stuff. i am happier here with my
las, and hammer, than thousands with
their fine houses and splendid equip.
age, and have great deal Of enjoy.
ment, in looking out Of my little cabin,
and laughing at the folIes ofthe world.
They don't see me, and it does them
no harm. Between you and me, the
world are busy pursuing mere shad-
ows; one wants to be rich, another TO
get office--never satisfied. But here
am |, mending old shoes, contented
with my lot and situation, and happier,
by far, than King. Indeed, am thank
ful that Heaven in its wrath, never
made me a King, forit is poor bus.
iness." ''z a@aii@ lG + iifioil 1iGg VI
By this time my boot was ready,
and wishing 10 proiong- the conversa-
ton with a man who displayed so
much real practical philosophy, l said;
aHave you no distfessIng cares to
vex you, no anxieties, no sleepless
nights, no bills TO meet, no pangs for
yesterday, no fears for to.morrowG"0'
He stared at me a moment, and said:
aNo, none. The only cares which !
have are comforts. 4 have wife, the
best in the world, and two children,
which are comforts for any man 10 en-.
Joy. As TO bills / have none to meet.
| never buy on credit, and never buy
what,l do not really need. AS for the
tears efyto.morrow, have no fears, out
trust in a kind and over,ruling provi-
dence, believing that sufficient unto the
day is the evil thereof,. and resignation
to Providence 10 be the trnest Philos-
ophy.",a ss .gi ri lau ..n.tlo 3 ss
What noble fellow, said /, 70 mend
a crack in boat! Himself a piece Of
noble Workmanship! u felt inwardIy
the truth of the saying-"contentment
is kingdoms" and after lef. my phil
osophical cobbler, ! thought much
about him, and am satisfied, that his phi,
q e a
Iosophy was sound, and that mankind
10 general have yet tolearn the secret
to be happy. His situation in life is
obscure, but,
"a Honor and fame from no condition rise;s
Act well your part, there all the honor lies,
"Contentment Is a kingdom" Would
that the whole homanl family realized
This sentiment more fully; and practised
many oi the maxims of the cobbler--
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