Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-23
!. otal ano personal.
The old Net-maker.-Persons who ",

The Old Neutrality-suspicious. who walk OF
/ Pennsylvania avenue have not failed 10 notice al
old man, seated in The shade, between Seventh
and Eighth streets, engaged in the occupation o
| net making; the articles of his manufacture dis
| played on the ironrafence enclosing The gar
den.spot in that vicinity. Near by him, collec
ilon of songs of the sea, and on good morals, in
Guiding the subject OF temperance which he re
tails 10 his few customers, al three cents apiece
They Of his own composing, fact which he
readily makes known; but apart from this, no
reader Of poetry would mistake them for the pro-
auctions of Dbdin or of Montgomery,
"A good example you're setting" said gentle
man 10 him, ION the public thoroughfare while
throngs of idlers, spinning street yarn, pass in
review"
He paused and, looking the stranger in the face,
and suspendng his manual operation, replied, in
a tone, halfindignanl, sand what good does il do !?
In city like this, where is located the great ma
tiona treasury people are ashamed 10 work, and
look down upon me with pity or contempt; but
must get an honest living; and, beside, ! reside
eight hundred miles from here, and want 10 make
money enough TO pay the expenses of my jour
ney."
He resumed his work, remarking "there are
some songs, but they don't sell fast, because they
are on good subjects. Nor do dispose of many
of my nets. | almost give them away--for little
more than the raw material costs me. People
won't patronize honest, humble toll but let a
band of negroes, or Ethiopian performers come
here with their rude, vulgar dancing, and their
buiIo songs and gmcranks, and crowds rush to
see and listen 10 them, freely contributing their
money 10 such exhibitions. It's shame. But SO
ltls in this great city, where there's the great
treasury of the nation
The cd gentleman waxed warm, and continued
his Grafton, saying, in the course of it, many
things iucontrovertlbly true.
Where did you learn to knit ~ asked the gen.
tleman ain Holland" he replied; 81 followed
The sea in my younger days, and, being pent up
there, learned this business, which, though the
returns of il are Of small account, serve TO keep
soul and body together Better work than beg
or starve the man makes the business, SIR; not
the occupation the man; act well your part in
every thing there all the honor lies"
Five little schoolgirls, al this time, approached
when the philosopher remarked, My children
virtue is better than gold, and the good alone are
pretty. sometimes give away my songs 10 those
who cannot bny them"
Give me one sir" Immediately asked one o
those children.
All you heard that, did you? You want {
song But what did ! say about being pret,y?
I" know that, too," replied the intelligent miss
smiling, you said that goodness makes people
pretty
''Im glad you remember that and hope you
will never forget it. A handsome exterior il
nothing when the conduct and the heart are
wrong"
The auditory of the old gentleman separated
leaving him engaged in his humble and honest
toll There is much good sense about him; and
his example of industry is truly worthy the i'm
itatlon of those who regard him with indifference
or scorn