The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1850-04-25
THE COTTAGE. /.
BIT mrs. L. II. sreocRsEY.

/ III mrs. i II. biGOURNEy.
rFffi fl 'fsffsC .---. q III tf.i.4a .-- Z.
Z There was laboring man, who built a
cottage for himself and wife. A dark grey
rock oyerhung it, and helped TO keep it from
the wind. a.
! When the cottage was finished, he thought
he would paint ii grey, like the rock. And
SO exactly did he get the shade of color, tina,
it looked almost as il. tho little dwelling
sprang from the bosom of tho rock that shell
tered it,
After while the cottager became able to
purchase COW. In summer she picked up
most of her living very well. But in winter
she needed to be fed and kept from the cold
So he built barn for her. TWAS SO small
it looked more like shed than BARR. But
it was quite warm and comfortable.
When it was done neighbor came in aud
said
"What color will you paint your barn 2"
| III have not thought about that yet" said
the eotager.
"Then advise you BY all means to paint
it black; and here is pot of black paint
which have brought on purpose to give
you." .......
Soon another neighbor came in, praised
his neat shed, and expressed wish 10 help
him little about his building. "White is
by far the most genteel color" he added
"and here is pot Of white paint, Of which
make you present"
While he was in debut which of the gifts
to use, the eldest and wises, man of the will.
age came to see him His hair was entirely
white, and every body loved him, for he was
good as well as wise. -.-
When the cottager had told him the story
of the pots of paint, the old man said: ole
who gave you the black paint, is one who
dislikes you, and wishes you to d, a foolish
thing. He who gave you the white paint is
partial friend and desires you 10 make more
show than is wise. Neither of their opinions
should you follow. Ifthe shed is either black
or white it will disagree with the color of
your house. Moreover, the black paint will
draw the sun, and cause the edges of the
boards TO curl and split; and the white will
look we'll but for while, and then become
soiled and need painting anew. Now take
my advice and mix the white and black
paint together" .i. '7s- h 6.
So the cotager poured one pot into the
other and mixed them with his brushes
and it made the very grey color which he
liked, and had used before upon his house
He had in one corner of his small peice of
ground, hop vine. He carefully gathered
the sipeBed hops, and his wife made beer of
them, which refreshed him when he was
warm and weary. si.a
1t had always twined on two poles which
he fastened in the earth to give it support.
But the cottager was fond of building-and
he made a little arbor for il to run upon and
cluster about.
He painted the arbor grey, so the rock and
tho cottage, and the shed and the arbor, were
all the same grey color And everything a.
round looked neat and comfortable, though
small and poor.
When the cottager ard his wife grew old
they were sitting together in the arbor at the
sunset of a summers day.
A stranger who seemed to be looking at
the country, stopped and inquired how every
thing around that small habitation happened
to be the shade of grey.
''It is very well it is so," said the cottager,
"for my wife and I. you see, are getting
grey also And we have lived so long that
the world itself looks grey TO us now" Then
he told him the story Of the black and white
paint, and how the advice of an old man
prevented him from making his estate ridis
culous when young.
''I have thought of this circumstances,
said he, ESQ often, that ii has given me in
struction. He that gave me the black paint,
proved TO be an enemy; and he urged me to
use the white was no friend. The advice of
neither was good.
Those who love US to well, are blind to
our faults and those who dislikes us are un-
willing 10 see our virtues One would make
all white-ihe other all black But neither
of them are right. For we are of mixed
nature, good and evil, like the grey paint,
made of opposite qualities.
eff then neither the counsels Of the foes
nor partial friends is safe to be taken; we
should cultivalea correct judment, which
like the grey paint mixed both together, may
avoid the oy;F8,d exr,,a tba coal "