The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1853-02-08

A young physician, who. after having 70.
ceived his diploma from one of our Medical
Colleges, finding that there was no chance of
gaining livelyhood by the practice Of hiS
profession in tho place Of his nativity, cohclu-
ded 10 pack up his tools, and emigrate to tho
Land of Gold on the Pacific Here be found
no better encouragement in tho practice Of
medicine, for which ho had been duly prepared
and licensed. AS last resort. he turned mj-
ner,and exchanged the scalpe for the pick-axe.
In n recent letter to friend at home, he en-
bodies a sort of valedictory sermon to his last
persuii which is well worth perusaL We copy
il for tho edifcation of our readers.
"Why soiH ye dig?"-Son of man! for tho
light of whose presence my spirit yearneth and
my bowels grumbleth, dost thou ask me whyf
Is it not written that fortune smiles upon fools7
And for the sake Of these smiles, hath not thy
servent been making fool. yea an ass of him
self, in vainf For fve years and ten days he
has sojourncd in this place--he has dived into
the water--he has torn ancient rocks from
their resting places, and removed them afar off
-he has likewise torn his breeches in parts
not to be spoken of The has rooted into the
mud like unto the swine. Ills beard hath
grown long-the skin upon his hands and face
hath changed its color until he is now likened
unto wild beast, and his garments are rent
and soiled, SO that "sackcloth and ashes would
be as fine as linen and purple to him. He
would fain feed on bushes, but there are none.
YEA who in times past wont to fare sump-
tuously, and TO grumble over greater deleca-
cies than were piled upon the table Of Dawes,
now snuff with gladnes tho fragrance of pork
and beens, and gnashes his teeth impatiently
over frying slapiack. He boltelh raw on
ion with unspcakable avidity. Potatoe skins
fear his presence, beef vanish before him, and
dogs look in vain for the bones. He sings for
the flesh pots Of Egypt, and mourns over the
barrenness of the land In his sleep, never
the less tho good angel of the past dcigns
to visit him, and delightful visions are opened
to his recollection, for delicious "bill of fair"
floats before the mind of tho dreamer. and he
orders "Oysters and tarrapin for six" only to
awaken to his internal slapacks ard molasses.
All this hath thy servent endured. Is he
not then fool. an abomnation in the sight Of
wisdom? And is it not unto such and such on.
ly that fortune dispenses her favorsl Yet she
hath deserted mo. / approach her and she
feoth! double on her trail" and she tnrn-
eth away I await her coming and she stands
still! secrete myself in her path, and seize
her unawares! But she glideth off, as though
l had caught hog by his creased tail! Sic
transit, exclaim, as with sick heart rovile
poverty and curse fortune.
Lo! are not these evils? And wherefore
sHouiu they 10 Vlslteu upon tny serVeut! SURF
ly he hath not sinned as other men sinneth.-
He has not coveted his neighbor's OK. nor bis
ass, nor his man servent, nor his maid servent
for be il known unto thee that there are no
maid servents here. He has abidcd by tho
"Law and tho prophets" but the profits havo
not abided by him!
Now therefore, I renounce these digging
absquatulato tho primiscs-I 'vamose the
ranch-I take off put out-I go-I slope
aepart withot scrip or provender, taking no
heed for the morrow, for the morrow takes no
care Of me- Ere five days should have passed
tho shirt tail Of thy servent will be waving in
the breezes of the Navada. A remnant of it
will be nailed upon tho highest mountain that
he crosses an emblem of the extremity to
which man may be reduced in the land of
Ophir. Yet think not. Oh! Elisha, that would
rend my garment for this alone. Verify, Isay
unto thee, an evil genius hath long pursued
me. She hath followed so c'ose upon nv foot
steps that every thread and fbrc ofmy sbirt'tail
are familiar to her eve. And if in her persuit
of me, sho should gaze upon this relic in tho
solitary Businesses of the mountain, she will at
once recognize il, and believe me TO have been
torn and destroyed bv wild beasts, she will re-
trace her steps. and thus will escape her.
go hence. Elisha unto the town Of Sonora,
whereit has been prophesied that thy servant
will heal the sick. and prosper with amazing
prosperity. As Moses reared the serpent in
the wilderness, for the children Of Israel to'look
upon and be cured of their infrmitcs, so will
/ elevate my tin among the Gentiles. that they
may gsze upon il and be made whole. Their
offerings Of gold and silver will be acceptable
unto me, and if they live not afterwards, per-
adventure they may find tr asure in Heaven!