Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-02-04
An n. D. on Gold Digging.

A young physician, who, aftor having
received his diploma from one Of our Med
ical Colleges, finding that there was no
chance sf gaining livelihood by the prac-
tice Of his profession in the place Of his
nativity, concluded to pack up his tools,
and chi rate to tie Land Of Gold on the
Pacific. Here be found 10 better eneour-
agemen, in tie practice Of medicine, for
which he had been duly prepared, and L.
ceased. As last resort, Le turned miner,
aad exchanged the scalpel for the pick
axe. In recen; letter to friend at home,
be embodies sort Of valedictory sermon
to his last pursuit, which We copy fox the
edifcation Of our readers.
Why uiA ye dy- Oh, ny friend!
for the iigh. Of whose presence my spirit
yearne'h and my bowels grumblesh, dsss
thou ask me wLys Is it lot written that
fortune smiles upon fools? And for the
sake Of these smiles, hath not thy servant
been making fool, yea an ass Of himself,
il vain? Fer FIVE years and ten days he
has sojoarnei in this place-he has dived
into the water-he has torn sncient rocks
from their resting places, and removed
them afar ott-Le L-s likewise torn his
breeches in parts not to be spoken Of -
he las rooted into the mud ike unto .
swiDe. His beard hath grown lons-.Ls
skin upon his hands and face hath changed
its color until he is now likened INT, .
wild beast. and lis garments are rent and
soilcG, So that '.sackcloth and ashes" would
be =, fine linen aud purple to him He
would fam feed Oh hUsAs, but there are
none. Yea, be who in time. past was wont
TO fare sumptuously, and to grumblr over
greater deEclcies than were piled up
90 the table of Dives, now snufs with
gladncss tie fragrance Of pork and beans,
and guashes his teeth iupa;ieutly over .
frying s!aHjack. He bolte,h q raw onion
with unspeaka5le av.dity. Potato skins
fear bis preeence, beet vanishes from be-
fore him, and dogs lock in vain for the
bones. He signs for the flesh pots VI
Egypt, and mourus over the ba.renness Of
the land. In his sleep, nevertheless, ths
good angel of tie past deigns to visit him,
and delightful visions are opened TO his
recollection, fox delicious % bill Of fare
floats before the mind Of ihe dreamer, and
ne orders - Oysters and terrapin for six"
only 20 awaken to his do!o1ou. siapjacks
aud molasses.
! A.! this hath thy servant endured. Is
he not then fool, an abOmiuation in the
sight of wisdom, And is II not unto such,
aud such only, that fortune dispeuses hsr
fayors? Yet she hath deserted me. / ap-
proach her and she feeth. l double On
her trail,' and she turns,h away. l avail;
her coming and she stands still l secre,s
myself in her path, and seize her unawarcs
But she glideth Of, as though l had caught
pig by his creased tail Sc ;roHsit,
e exelaim, as with sick heart reyile pov
= erty and curse fortune.
I Now, therefore, l renounce these dis
1 gings-I absquatula,e the premises
T "vamose the ranch u take off pu
= out-Igo-I slope-I depart without scri
Z or prsyender, taking no heed fer the mo-
row, for the morrow takes no care Of N,
Ere five days shall have passed, the rsa
u ward nc:Ler garment Of thy servant vi
be waving in the breezes Of the Nevsd
4 remnant Of it will be nailed upon d
Ia highest mountain that be crosses, an e,
n blem Of the extremity to which man m.
be reduced in he land Of Ophir."