The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-10
For the Southern Press.
Relies Of Scraps and Musings.
No. 81.
HABIT rs SECOND NATURE.

There is nothing in which mankind so FIRE.
quently err as in the estimate they form of the
happiness of each other. They can only judge
of penetrating into the recesses of the hearts OF
their fellow creatures, which, after all, are the
sources of our greatest happiness and most per
manent sufferngs. All they can do is to place
themselves in the position of those around them,
and Judge of their happiness or misery by fancy
ing what they would feel if thus circumstanced.
Tney forget that "what is one mans meat is
another mans poison and that the frog who
mander that Eliminates in the flames, are equally
comfortable in their respective elements.
Boabdil-surnamed The wise--was ali inha-
bitant of the beautiful city of Damascus, into
which it is said Mahomed refused to enter lest
its delights should wean him from the contem.
platon Of Paradise. Boabd was possessed Of
almost boundess wealth, without ambition or
avarce, and loved ease and contemplation better
than pleasure. Having nothing else to do but
smoke his pipe, drink coffee, and play at chess,
his thoughts were principally occupied 10 pro
jects for the benefit not only of his fellow crea-
lures, but of the various races of domestic ami
mails. He built caravansaries for the entertain
ment of travellers, and hospitals for cats and
dogs that had no owners. But in general his
thoughts for the most part turned towards the
impertections of the world, in which the good
things Of this life were SO unequally distributed
that they seemed to be directed by chance
rather than by Infinite wisdom and justice
When he saw u great portion Of mankind con-
demned to perpetual toll, accom- panied by what
he deemed want aud privation, while others
revelled in luxurious enjoyments which they
by their virtues he sometimes almost arraigued
the justice and benifcence Of Allah, and fancied
how much happier the world would be were i,
framed according to his ideas of psrfectibity.
While seated one day in the cool recesses Of
Mount Hermou, at whose foot Damascus is sit.
uated, smoking his pipe by the side of bub-
bling spring, his thoughts occupied with his
favorite sui ject of improving the world, by a
more equal diffusion of the blessings of Provi.
dence, his attention was attracted by water
carrier, who approached and filling two large
jars placed them across his shoulders and stag
gered down the steep hill side, seemingly op
pressed by his burthen. aWhy should these
inequai,ies prevail?" thought Boabdl. "Why
should this poor slave be condemned to perpet
ual toll to supply the wants of others, while
am revealing in superfuous luxuries that cost
me neither exertion or pain! Well, be this as
it may can at least remedy this one instance
of injustice" So he called back the water car.
rier, and giving him long purse of gold, babe
him 60 and purchase his freedom, that he might
in future live without carrying burthens from
morning till night. The poor man called all the
blessings of Allah On the head of Boabdil, and
went on his way rejoicing.
Some months afterwards, as Boabd was
seated near the same spot by the side of the
cool spring where he had relieved the poor
slave, he beheld man bneily employed in pick
luS uP otouCo WHiSh ITO Pup INV NulicL Ic
carried at his back Boabdil at once recognized
the poor water carrier, and calling to him asked
"What art thou doing there, my friend
sometime ago relieved thee from one burthen
and now thou art voluntarily loading thyself
with another" 81 am grateful for thy kind
ness" answered the water carrier, "but the truth
is had become so accustomed to carrying bur
thens from my youth upwards, that | find my
self unable to get along without them. am
like my old water jars, which can scarcely stand
alone when empty, and feel so light that / can
not walk steadily without being ballasled"
Saying this, he descended the mountain with
his wallet of stones on his back and disap
peared.
"By the beard Of my grandfather" quoth
Boabdil, "but this is strange 1t never before
occurred to me that what a man has been all
his life accustomed TO, though it may seem
painful to others, may be pleasure to himself,
ard that habit is a second nature" God is
great, and understands making worlds much
better than "BoabdiI, the vice."