Daily national Democrat., 1858-12-12
COMMUNICATED
Last Advice of n dying old Pennsylva-
nIan.
[Reported by an eye and ear witness.l
lCoMMUNICATED

REPORTED by an eye and ear witnessl
Fritz, my son, come near my bed the hour
of separation is very near, and l will not
leave without giving you, with my blessing,
some final and good advice You know
was born and brought up in Switzerland and
you and your sister, my dear Eliza, were not
born before came with your mother to this
country. You and Eliza are now native
Americans.
My father was a minister of the Gospel, an
intelligent honest man, and his wife a virtu-
GUS good mother was brought up in the
fear Of God, and under the guidance of such
honest parents, l could not fail to become my
self an honest man, of good common sense.
My father often told us that in order to be
worthy of the republican institutions under
which we lived in old Switzerland we must
chiefly, if we wished to do what was in our
power to preserve them, continue to be an
honest people-that it appeared even to be
the wish of heaven to preserve these glorious
and free institutions amidst so many despotic
realms and Empires, and had consequently
been so ordered that our rulers, magistrates.
and Legislators had always been disinterested,
virtuous men, loving their country and work
ing for their country's sake. My parents
died and came with your mother to this
| country. As we were accustomed to do in
Switzerland, had always confidence in every
body, and very naturally soon lost about all
had in this country. l was therefore COM
PEELED to change my mind and my views
about the honesty of my new friends and
neighGors; did so and got along very com.
fortably, but not without regretting our
good, happy and honest people of old Swift
zerland.
Now, my son, in order to be always happy,
be and remain an honest man, true to your
self, to your friends and your country; pay
all debts, fulfill all your engagements, written
or not written, and try to acquire the esteem
Of yourself, your friends, and your country
Men who do not regard their engagements as
holy and sacred, cannot be happy, whatever
their exterior appearance may be. Oh how
unhappy. on the contrary, must such men al
ways be! They have nota happy home and
they cannot have the slightest idea ofit-for,
where selfrespect is not, there the smile of
loving wife and ofinnocent children must be
a scourging reproach. In the choice of your
wife, my son.. riches and beauty should not
guide and influence you she should be a
good-hearted, yirtuous person, of the best
moral and religious principles. If you find
one of this description, protect her, love her
and make her happy; make her as happy as
you wish your own sister to become when
she chooses a partner in life. l know how
dearly you love your sister, and we'll know
that today you would, if necessary. sacrifice
your own life for her sake.
1t will cost you very little trouble to make
your wife happy, and to become happy by it
yourself Women are better than we are
If your wife perceives the slightest intentions
at your hands to make her happy, she will
meet you half way, and her gratitude will
give you happiness. A virtuous wife and
good mother cannot be compared in value
with the most precious stones; she only can
be appreciated by those who really are in
possession of such a heavenly gift ! Oh how
holy is the influence of good mother upon
a dear home md upon family life where
love and honesty enhances the happiness of
parents and children
l even consider good mother chiefly in
a country blessed with free republican insti-
tutions, vitaI necessity. There should be
established kind of Female Legion of Honor
and medals, surrounded with precious stones.
given every year to tie best Of our mothers,
the medal bearing this little inscription, 'The
country to the best of mothers"
10 be continued