Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-12-27

Casualties and misiortunes Of life, and par
ticuIarly in the management Of the farm,
ascribed to bad luck and on the contrary,
of hearing the blessings, comforts and en-
joyments of life, ascribed 10 good luck
as though these thirgs were casual and
did not depend upon the discreet or indis-
Greet conduct Of those whom they befall.
Ii we will but scan this matter, proper.
ly, We shall be convinced that our good
and bad luck most generally comes through
our own agency; and that we are in a
great measure left TO choose our own for
tunes, as far as this matter is concerned.
The faithful practice Of known duties,
with due restraint upon our baser pas
sions, seldom fails to produce good luck
while Incidence, extravaganza, and the
lack of probity and good will 10 our fell
lows, are almost certain precursors OF bad
luck. And even though our crops may
grow from the exuberant bounty Of natures
and although our patrimonal wealth may
extort for us the tickle applause and syc-
ophancy OF the multitude, the pleasures
which they afford are unstable, and are
not to be compared with those that result
from prudent industry and Iectitude Of
conduct-from consciousness Of having
performed, and performing the high duties
imposed upon Us, to our families, TO soci-
ely, and TO Our God. 8
Let us trace some instances of good and
bad luck, in the business of the farm, 10
their papabls causes. a m
The diligent farmer, who personally
superin,ends his own business - who rises
before the sun, sees that his laborers are
at their appointed business and his farm
stock are in good condition, his imple-
ments and fences in good order, and his
work timely and properly done, is pretty
certain of enjoying round of good luck
in all his farming operations. He will
have good cattle, good crops, and good
profits, and if he takes care 10 bring up.
his sons in the way of their father, he will
have good luck with his family.
On the other hand, look at that man who
gossips away portion of his time at pub
lie houses, at political clubs, and among
his neighbors who trusts the man
agement of his affairs entirely to the dis
cretion and fidelity of others, and ten, to
one but you find him an heir 10 i'll luck !;
that his land is annually becoming poorer,
his crops lighter, his cattle diminishing,
his fences and buildings dilapidating, his
children idle and perhaps dissipaied, and
his fortune going to wreck. Who Goes
not see in such man a fountain Of bad
luck !? es.#. u ..as&
Our voting leaders have most Of them,
| perhaps, heard of the bad luck that befel
the man who neglected, in time, 10 get
nail in the horse shoe--the shoe came of,
the horse became lame, ard ultimately died
so the owner lost his horse for want Of
nail. The same bad luck attends him
\ who neglects his fences rail or board
is down, the cattle get in and destroy The
crops, and he is obliged 10 buy bread for
his family. The drone, too, is generally
late with his work-he plants and sows
la,e-and suffers his crops TO waste in the
field, before they are gathered or housed.
The Giligent farmer destroys the weeds
that rob his crops, and the bushes that
uselessly cucumber his grounds he care
fully economises, and applies his manures
destined TO feed his crops, and keep up
the fertility of his soil /; and he brings mp
the best portion of il, though naturally
wet and unproductive, into productive
state, by a system Of judicions draining.
All these are certain precursors Of good
luck Now mark ,he farmer Of almost
inevitable bad luck, upon that farm down
wonder, who, although in harvest time, is
from home, gone to attend petty law
suit in which he is a party. Look at the
fences, the buildings, the bushes, the
weeds, the swamps, the cattle, and the
crops-at every thing. DO not they all
betoken bad luck ?-and speak in lam
guage not TO be mi>under stood, that the
unfortunate master is going down hill?
We have one more suggestion which
may extend TO the farm. Idleness is the
parent Of tattle-of mischief. Now the
man and woman who attend 10 their own
business as they ought, have no time nor
dis position officially to intermeddle with
the domestic concerns of their neighbors
they have no interest in sinking the
reputation Of others-but would raise
them to their own level. Their habits,
therefore, tend 10 diiluse good luck TO all
around them.
HArNAu-Some particulars which
have heard regarding the paren'age OF this
fend are such as TO account in some meas