The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-02-02
4 [rOr the Spirit Of Democracy
-. NV Autobiography.

give you brief history of some of the
past events Of my life. have been quite
atraveler in my day. and have seen many
things that might afford pleasure. if not
profit, il related in pleasant manner.
However, of my tact to do this, cannot
boast. But this will say. that will do
the very best that my circumstances and
limited abilities will permit. was raised
in Western Virginia. on the banks Of
beautiful stream that meandered around
my fathers plantation. | often wandered
with my young associates over dense for.
ests, or sat down by gurgling rils. to feed
the fish, TO watch their varied motions in
pursuit Of the food so bountfulIy bestow.
cd, or to mark the admirable skill they dis.
played in rearing gravel beds, in which
they deposited their future progeny in EN-.
bryo. And when saw them rushing and
darling from place to place with the III.
most rapidly, felt the full tide of joyful
emotions and conscious delight. The
birds, too,. we're amusing companions Of
my young days. They we're the choir.
esters that furnished all our music, except
the honest country people. whose vocal
powers gave utterance to the deep feelings
that glowed within. when at our devotions.
watched the changing season, the wan
ing moon. the twinkling stars and rising
sun; and wondered who had made them
all and gave them such fixed laws. that no
perceivable difference ever took place in
their motions or appearances. But was
soon taugh, from very antiquated Book
tha, Cop had made them all in wisdom
and given them for signs and lights, &c.
This ! thought was exactly so; and, as
had not yetlearned the etquet of the polite
world, did not feel at liberty to treat my
parents opinions with entire disregard,
nor was fully aware that knew more at
ten or fifteen years of age, than they did
a, forty or fifty. With all this ignorance,
Ibid not dare to disobey them, as the old
Book referred to, positively said that,
''children must honor and obey their
parents" and as my parents fully endorsed
all il said. they carried it out both in theory
and practice. So do not think that was
much TO blame in this matter, as was
forced TO yield.
;. But what an age Of improvement this isl
Many children now command their parents
three times as often as their parents COM
mand them, and they are more than three
times as we'll obeyed too. But this is moth.
ing to me now. was not one Of these for.
tunates. For my parents did not deem it a
ruinous matter TO make me rise in the
morning with the songsters Of heaven, and
pursue some lawful avocaton until the
shades Of the evening made it, not only
desirable, but necessary TO seek repose, to
restore wasted energies and prepare for
future usefulness. Nor do yet regret this
severe treatment, But to go on with my
history.
My father required me to pay attention
to the formation Of MY mind But as the
country in which was raised afforded but
few facilities for improvement. | spent
most Of my leisure hours in reading at
homo. My father selected the books; bu,
here. too, he was greatly behind the times.
Instead Of putting into my hands, the va.
rious novels and lcve-sick stories of the
day and giving me lie spurious produc.
lions Of crack-brain poets, ,ciis, and wiich-
wriiers, he required me 10 study books
Of truth-plain unvarnished truth-such
as Milton, Wesley, Whitefeld, Fletcher,
Thompson and Hervy wrote. How very
different is the training Of juvenile minds
now. especially among the elite of the land.
The latest romances and most fashion able
novels are now often the books from which |
the young take their Introductory lessons.
and form their FIRST, strongest, and ofcourse
their most enduring impressions. Thus
their mental alment is drawn from the
'vsriest trash and rubbish that was ever
oopjured up in the brains Of some OF those
poor imaginative beings, or sickly senti.
iSsntalists. to whom labor would be q task
10 inlolerabls to be borne, and in truth. a