The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-05-24
UNCLE BENJAMlN,s SERMON.

UNCLE BENJAMlN's SERMON.
Not many hours ago heard Uncle Ben.
jamin discussing this matter to his son, who
was complaining of the pressure.
'Kely upon it, sammy said the old man,
rs be leaned on his staff, with his gre,
locks flowing in the breeze OF May morn
ing; 'murmuring pays no bills. have
been an observer ans time these lity years.
and never snw a man helped on, OF a hole
by cursing his horses. be as quic, as you
can, Tor nothing will grow under moving
barrow, aud discomfort harrows the mint.
Matters are bad, ! acknowledge, hut no ul-
Ger Is any better for lingering. The more
you groar, the poorer yon grow.
'KePning at losses is only putting pep
per into sore eye. Crops will fail in all
soils, and We NAV he thankful that we have
not fnmine. Besides, ! always took m
tice that whenever felt the rod pretty
smartIv, II was So much as TO say, .lIerc is
something which YOU have 90, to learn
Sammy, don't iurge, that your schooling is
not over yet, though you have wife aud
two Children
aye, cried Sammy, 'vor NAV say that,
and a mother-in law, and two apprentices
into the bargain, aud should ike TO know
what poor man can learn here when the
greatest scholars md lawyers nre a, logger
hends, and can't Tor their lives tell wha,
has become OF tho hard money.
Softly, Sammy, am older than Won:
have not got these grey hairs mud this
crooked bnck without some burdens.
could tell you stories Of the DAYS Of cont.
mental money, when my grandfather used
to stuff silky-box with bills to pay Tor n
yearling or wheat Ian, and when tho Jer-
sey women used thorns for pins, aud their
teapots away in the garrett You wish 10
know what you can learn! You may learn
these seven things.
First: that you have saved too little, and
spent too much. never taught YOU 10 be
miser, but have seen you giving your
dollar for a notion when you might have
laid one half aside for charity aud one half
Inside for rainy day.
Secondly: that YOU have gone too much
upon credit. always told you credi, wns
shadow there is substance behind, which
casts the shadow; but a small body nav
cast the greater shadow. aud no wise man
vii! follow the shadow; any farther than
be can SEQ the substance. You may now
learn that you have followed, aud been de.
coyed into bog.
Thirdly: that YOU have gone too much
10 haste TO become rich. Slow and easy
wins the race.
'FOurthly: that no course Of life can BIZ
depended upon rs swnys prosperous.
am afraid the younger rnce OF working men
in America have notion that nobody
would 90 to ruin on this side Of the water.
Providence has greatly blessed US, aud we
have become presump,uous.
'Fifihly: that we hive not been thankful
enough 10 God for his benefits in pas. times.
'SIxthIy: that you may he thankful our
lot is not worse. We might have famine,
or pestilence, or war, or tyranny, or 1ll To-
geiher.
And lastly, 70 end nv sermon, You may
learn 10 offer with more UNDERSTANDING the
prayer Of your infancy, "Givc Us this day
our daily bread"
The old man ceased, and Sammy put OH
bis apron and told Dick 10 blow away al
the forge bellows.
is THE Bee THE PIONEER OF ClvILlzA-