Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-06-26
Fre-ExiStence.

A queer old gentleman Of our acauaiu-
lance fell into speculation one dayshbou,
he d tie.clIi crecds and shades OF belief
uhich have existed al various stages ol ,ht
worlds progress, and after mature dclbe-
ration. came 10 the conclusion that the
P,,hagorian doctrine is not an irrational
one after all. He argued in this wise.
The follow ers of Pylhagoras believed that
the souls Of all sorts OF animals, while they
lake upon them new bodies at their dcaI',
many OF The CHARACTERISTICS werewlih they
were distinguished in their former shape.
Thus: the rat, which is caught gnaw:ng
Mo your premises. must probably, in his
human shane, have been louse-oIeaber :
the cat, that spi,s, ,cG,e:wauls and scratches,
mas, have been i icrmagant woman aud
the ass. ihat submits to the lash, and car
s-s burdens, one of the subjects of 1t des-
po'ic government. So, again a dandy,
who smells Of musk, gives pretty good ev-
.dtace CT ha7ing formerly been a pole
cat a great talkcr, of having once been a
parrot !; and keen money broker, Of
having prowled about, seeking whom and
what he may deYour, in The shape Of a
shark.
This notion ofPylhagoras might be car
ried o1i, and applied TO the characters OF
The beings around us, whether brute or
human. Besides, 10 do so. would afford
work for the fancy, and exercise for the
imagination. We could never, lo- instance.
stumble over tat porkes. in the course Of
our rambles, but we should forthwith think
nf an alderman. Every fly we beheld.
roaming from one thing 10 another, AMI
defiins whatever it touches, would remind
US OF lber,ine. In every poor old horse,
;nrned out on the highway TO die. We
shouId imagine we saw faithful public
servant, who has spent The prime OF his
I,ie in The service Of his country, and is
thrus, out, at last, to perish with poverty
and neglect.
We see sru,ting along, a magnificent
rooster, looking as if he could crow as
Justify as Chapman over political victory
His feathers are sleek and fine, presenting,
as he moves. various changeable lin's.
Near him are sundry feminine specimens
Of the same genus, 10 whom h. ;s showing
his proud coat, and paying assiduous a.
lenlion. 1t requires no grea: stretch OF
imagination TO fancy that he was some ia
nous gallant, perhaps the Ear! Of Roches-
Ter or King George the Fourth. when u
biped without feathers"
Just opposite, is a squad Of The canine
species. Among the rest is a lill!e dog.
with his ears p:icaed up,and his tai! cooked
TO the highest point. lie is bris,ling about.
snaring at, and endeavo,ing TO pick a
quarrel with larger animal. who seems
% take no notice of him. Is i, no. ex.
:remely probable that this troublesome
~hifet was once little peppery assembly.
man or Congressman, who was fond Of al
tracing notice by assaiIug his betters ;
and !ha, the noble dog beside him wus a
member Of The same body, but with Too
much sense and character TO take notice OF
him! There, too. is a smart, active little
terrier, and one who is death on rats, and
such sort of vermin. He IS keen fellow
on The scent. and woe 70 them If they come
within reach Of his paw. When clad in
human flesh, may re not have belonged TO
race almost extinct, vi. an honest and
.igilant ,hief.taker.
Did you ever see peacock in farm
yerd, Bless our stars how he spreads
himself. What pains he takes 10 exhibit
his gay feathers. He is particularly fond
Of exhibiting himself TO the people and
will strut, for half day a, time, just in
front Of the house, where the inmates car
not well help seeing him. In his former
state Of existence, he must have been a
beau Of the first water-nothing less. per
haps, than an ancestor Of =, or o.
Again dear reader. did you ever see ar
old hen :ha, had bu. one chick-,hat wa.
constantly ioiling. and clucsing. an
scratching, and ma king IS much ado as
che had a large brot tI-and all for tn
sake Of this single fledg, g,sliags This ma
tronly old hen must have b, cen some Ion
mother, Who iabored and bus. I'D. day an
rAaht, 10 cps tooeshs.< tbe whe- >HtthlI I