Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-11-03

of knowledge here and there, and
somehow has contrived to amass
fund Of information for which few
would give him credit from mis- com
mon looks; and he joins to that stock
|offacts a na.ural shrewdness TO use
his knowledge wisely. Though with
little Of what is called sentiment, or
poc..y. or fancy in his mind for harsh
was the teaching Of hischildhood, AID
meagre the occasions Of self-culture
ever since, Il 6 beauty Of creaiol is
by no means lost upon >hi.n, anu he
notices a. times its wisdom too.-
With a fixed habit ofmanly piety ever
on his lips and ever in his heart, he
recognizes Providence in all things,
Just, and wise, and good. More than
so; simple as little child who en-
dures the school hour for the prospect
of his playtime. Roger Acton bears up
with noble meekness against present
suffering, knowing that his work and
trials and troubles are only for little
while, but his rest and his reward re-
main a long hereafter. He never
questioned this; he knew right well
Who had earned it for him; and he
lived grateful and obedient, filling up
the duties Of his humble station. This
was his faith, and his works followed
it. He believed that God had placed
him in his lot, to be laborer and till
Gods earth, and, when his work is
done, to be sent on better service in
some happier sphere; the where. or
the how, did not puzzle him, any more
than divers other enigmatical why's and
wherefores of his spresent state; he only
knew this, that il would all come right
at last; anu, barring sin (which he
didn't comprehend, somehow all was
righs at p esent. What if poverty
pinched him? he was great heir still
what if oppression bruised him? it
would soon be over. He trusted to his
Pilot. like the landsmanEin storm; to
his Father, as An infant in the dark.
For guilt he had Saviour, and he
thought of him in penitence; for troub-
le Guardian, and he looked to him
in peace; and as for toll, back breaking
toll, there was another Master whom
he served with spade and mattock and
thankful heart, whilehe seemed only
TO be working for the landlord or his
bailiff.
Such man then had been Roger
Acton from his youth up till now, or,
if sadness must be told, neaily until
now; for, to speak truth, his heart at
times would fail him, aud of late he
had been bitter in repinings and COM
plant. For day or two, in particu-
lar, he had murmered loudly. Ii was
hard, very hard, that an honest indus
trious man, as he was, should so scan
tily pick living out Of this rich earth;
after all said, let the parson preach as
he will, it's a fine thing to have mon
ey, and that his reverence knows right
well, or he wouldn't look SO closely for
his dues. IN. B. Poor Mr.. Evans
was struggling as we'll as he could to
bring up six children, on a hundred
and twenty pounds per annum. =
Roger, too, was getting on in years.
with blacker prospect for the future
than when he first stood behind a
plough-tail. Then there were many
wants unsatiifed, which bit Of gold
might buy; and his wife teased him to
be doing something better. Thus was
it come at length to pass, that. al
though he had endured SO many years,
he now got discontented at his penury
what human heart can blame him?
-and with murmuring came doubt;
with doubt of providence, desire of
lucre; so the sunshine of religion fad
ed from his path;-what mortal mind
can wonder?