Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-03-23

.no ioPSc vi 20 years, 10 letter written rom
the quiet OF sick room, and intended to inn
part lessons Of wisdom which can never cease
to apply to the youth ofevery age.
j. Il. BRYAN.
EAGLE PoIYr, March 6, 1854.
Letter Of John Randolph, Of Roanoke.
LONDON, December %, 1880.
Ny DEAR GoDsoN: Although ! have so
lately written to your better half, and at such
tedious length, too, yet cannot refrain from
the attemptto engraft an old head upon young
shoulders, Notwithstanding my belief that no
man was ever the wiser for another's expe.
rience. There are too many who are unable
to profit BY their own witness the sot, the
gamester, and the spendthrift. not to mention
another class Of victims Of licentious propensi-
ties matured into habitual indulgence. Each
of these wretched vo.aries of his darling vice
is more sensible Of the ruinous effects Of his
folly than any preacher who exhorts him
against the consequences. He that wears the
chains best knows how and where the fetter
gals. They who decaim against the fixed
and rooted i-habits Of their neighbor, under
the expectation of reforming him, only show
that they themselves are coxcombs. Rather
contentious and fat this, you will say, and you
will tell the truth.
Having established yourself in Gloucester
let me remind you mot to- put off until to NOR
row what may be done today and, "a for
tori" not to leave until next year what can be
and boy knew John Lewis for some forty
years or so, although / never was in his house.
1t is probable that he may have saved you the
trouble of rearing orchards. But, be that as it
may, fail not to have good apple orchard, es-
pecially, and Danish ardent spirits as a beve-
rage from your table. / have serious fears
on this head for certain <. If at the
beginning you are obliged to resort to spir-
its, let your wife make the punch or toddy by
measure, of a certain strength never to be in.
creased, according to the good old Virginia
fashion.
2. Have no dealings, that can possibly be
avoided, with your neighbors. The disregard
of this caution will certainly lead to squabbles
and strife.
3. Take no receipts on loose pieces of paper.
Carry receipt-book in your pocket, and take
all receipts in it or if you are afraid of losing
it, keep it in your desk. Always have the re-
ceipts witnessed, where practicable.
4. Copy or have copied all your bills in n
book, so that you may at glance see the cost
of any article or branch of expense. Without
accurate accounts you must fall behind-hand
What voyage would a ship make without OBJ
servation or reckoning? You are now en-
barked on the voyage of life; without good
look out you must be cast away.
5. Form no intimacies with your neighbors
under q seven years acquaintance-"qui ruu
decipi decipiatur." The rigid observance ofmy
own maxims did not 'prevent i'll blood between
some Of my neighbors and myself My maxims
preserved me from strife, and from loss by
those. With the rest was on the best Of
terms.
6. Economy: the adapting your supplies
judiciously to their intended end This is q
gift of God. 1t cannot be taught, at least !
have tried to learn it all my life, without sue
cess. My mother had it in perfection.
I. Frugality: "Non intelligau,thomincs guam
naagnum rectigal sat parsimonia. 1T is in the
power of every honest man, who means to re-
tain his honesty, to refrain from indulging in
expense which he cannot afford. A disregard
of this maxim, the result of their indolent gno-
rance of their own affairs, has ruined all my
name and race they did not know what they
could afford, and some, fear, did not,care.
shall send you some acorns of an oak from
Turkey, and also a few English. Plant them
in beds, keep clean, and transplant at eighteen
inches or two feet high. l hope that you will
black walnuts too fberts, hazle-nuts, and
chestnuts, / will bring or send you. saw
| trees Of this sort planted about century ago
at Houghton Hall, by the great Sir R. Wal
pole, from two to three feet in diameter. This
was in August, 1926. They afford noble shade
as well as valuable fruit.
Get Cobbett's American Gardener 1t can
be had at Pishey Thompson's, in Washington.
Spare no expense or labor for good enclosures
and tight, warm house. The parsimony that
l preach up does not extend to the exclusion
OF comforts. | hope never to see fireplace
in your house without shovel and tongues and
FENDER, nor with broken windows. When |
was on visit to poor r., he had eight or ten
sponging visitors and their horses, and it was
with difficulty that l could get basin or
towel; even the most necessary article in. a
bed.chamber was missing. l do not mean the
bed, for there was one, although most uncom.
Portable. No; furnish your rooms well, how
ever plainly. 1t is first expense for your
whole life. Plate and china, and glass, you
will have no occasion to buy.
/ shall probably never See how you and my
darling niece succeed as housekeepers. Daily
and every day find that ] am sinking. To
be laid by the side of my honored parents at
old Matoax, is now the only wish that have
personally to myself No tombstone, no mon.
ument for me. Let "spring, with dewy fingers
cold" dress the turf that shall cover my no
longer feverish head or throbbing heart. Ii
there be any memorial Of me, let it be plain
maidstone, with this inscription: John Ran.
dolph, of Roanoke, son of John Randolph, of
Roanoke, the elder, and Francis Bland, his
wife, and step-son Of Virginia, born June 2,
1878, died -- -, 1884, Beyond this
last period feel that it is impossible, short Of a
miracle, for my existence to be prolonged.
Thy will be done.
am now closely confined to my apartment,
with faithful Johns aid. l have oil the com.
forts that / am now capable Of enjoying; my
life hangs upon his
| had liked to have omitted one special
caution against going to the watering. places
in autumn in search Of health. 1t is an idle
dissipated, and expensive practice. If you are
to live in the lower country, you must accus-
tom yourselfto the cmate which / have no