The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-10-25

never broken 0y the storm breath OF Om-
Impotence. @l'.s
My readers will un nders,and why shrink
in terror from the thunder. Even the
consciousness Of security is no relief to
me. My fear has assumed the nature
Of an instinct, and seems indeed part
Of my existence.
Ho Contentment.
The man who has riches in profusion,
every want supplied. his desires and wish.
es gratified, and all Of this world . goods
laid At his feet to dispose of a. his pleas
ure, is not contented or happy. He Graves
tor more, never satisfied. Were this very
earth his own. and the inhabitants thereof
at his disposal and service, he would no,
be satisfied. On the CONTRARY, his hunger
would increase instead of diminish, and
with the avidity ofsthe vulture mercilessly
,pounce upon whatever prey he could find.
The miser is one of these; never satisfied
although possessing heaps upon heaps oi
the shining metal, he thirsts TOR more. and
however high his pile may reach. tits new
er quenched, for this love Of gain grows
upon him, and the more he has the more
he wants. M fa
Also, the man of fashion is never con-
tented. He searches arden.ly for tho ..la-
test styles" and thinking at las. tha. he
has found them, he vainly saunters forth
dressed in bis new attire, when, 10! he
meets another who ouishines him. The
gay and beautiful belle. thinking hersell
the centre Of attraction, looks about her,
and SEES one who is more beautiful. The
business man. Notwithstanding that he is
doing well and prospering, observes q
neighbor in a moro profitable business
and is not contented with his own. Tbs
seeker after fame is another example; al.
though he strives diligently, and is occu.
pying high position, he is not consented
with his lot, for there are others in higher
stations than this. sa.s..t f.s 3, f.,.,-',,.
But, notwithstanding that there are ma
ny who are not blessed with contentment
there are some who are. The pious, holy
person, fearing God and eschewing evil
is contented with what he has, be it much
or little, and thanks his Maker that he i.
no worse off. He coyets not the good.
and Possessions Of another, but respect,
the tenth commandment, and 10 far happier
than he who is never satisfied. Strivina
not nor sighing for wealth, he deems j
enough that heaven has sent him the bless
ings Of health and strength, with spiri
buoyant and glad. To him this world i.
tair and beautiful; he listens to tho music
Of the birds and the humming Of the in
sects with delight. He praises the grea
and beneficent Creator Tor the won or.
and beauties which surround him, In,
smiling landscape with its hills. woods ant
plains clad in the variegated hues, and al
the fair creation is to him charm. The
contented man thus sings with the poet
.And when the golden sun goes FORTH.
And all like gold appears.
When bloom o'erspreads the glowing earth
And fields have riPening ears, in Ys
ss think these glpries that seq a0.i S
qti My kind Creator made for me. - ,sass.fs
1t is an old saying that q Contentmenti. j.
better than wealth. > which is true; for be
hold the man OF wealth, surrounded by al
the luxuries and comforts OF this world, /.
miserable and detected being, quarrelin,
with himself and everybody he comes IL
contact with. He knows not how 20 enio,
his money, but living in kind Of splendis
poverty, is perpetually wanting. because
instead Of acquiescing in the solid pleas
ures OF life, he endeavors to outvie othsr
in shadows and appearances. while til,
man Of contentment lives within his cir
cumstances, enjoying life and happily par
taking OF its pleasures. In short, conten
is equivalent to wealth, and luxury to poy
erty; or as Socrates says, Z. Content is al
ural wealth. TO. which Addison adds
Luxury is, artificial poverty" ..
Conteniment produces, in some meas
ure, all those effects which the alchymis
usually ascribes to what he calTsthe philos
opher's stone, and if il does moi brin,
riches. it does the same thing by banishinl
the desire for them. On the soul of maj
| it has indeed kindly influence. extin
gushing all murmur, repining and ingrai
itude towards that Being who has allotted
his portion to act in this world, and ever.
tendency to corruphon-with regard Il
the community wherein he is placed, Civ
ing sweetness to his conversation, and /
serenity to all his thoughts.
OF The first gold mine discovered an,
worked in the United States was the IRE,
mine," in Cabarras county, North Caro-
lima. It was brought TO light by the dis
covery, in brook, Of seventeen poun,
lump Of pure gold, by little son Of Johi
Reid, (the proprietor of the tract. Will
engaged. on Sunday in shooting Ash wit
bow and arrow. This was in the yea
1899. II was not, however. until severe
lyears afterwards that the lump was know
10 be gold, the boys father having kept
meanwhile, on account ol its weight as
good and curious looking stone whic
would keep his cabin door open. Whe
informed at length that it was gold, an
asked his price for it, he concluded to Sc
it for $3.50. He was one Of the Hessia
soldiers. who were sold by their ..nobl
prince" to England, to fight the Amer
cans in the Revolutionary war, and on
would naturally suppose that he ought /