Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1858-02-25

prosperity is a more stern test of charac-
ter than adversely. a popular maxim,
sufficiently true. is, that Prosperity
gains friends, adversely tries them.'-
But the trial Of ones own soul is more Sc
we're in the bright days of golden sun
shine, than in the dark days when our
sun is under q cloud. So the great dis
poser of events, finding that the trial of
character TO which we were subjected in
the recent I" flush" times, was proving.
with some Of US, too much for our intep-
rly, in mercy eascd up the rigor OF his
ordeal, and gives us now, for a time, the
milder and less dangerous discipline of
adversely. All how hard il is to view
the dispensation in this light, and to ac-
cept twin ihankfulness How difficult
to u~,er, in full sincerity, more than half
the prayer of Agur, "Giye me neither
poverty nor riches" Where is the dis
ciple of Agur who is not willing to be
tried with hundred thousand or SO >
And yet who does not know that many a
! time, = sum less than that by many thou
sands has been sufficient to wreck and
ruin, for time and eternity, its unfor,u-
nate possessor ? Indeed, we are all more
than willing TO venture all the perils that
attend it, for worldly wealth, though we
know very well that the +" straight and
narrow way is also an uphill road, and
that those who travel it, for the most par,
bear light loads . Fast horses and splen-
did establishments have an uncomfortable
preference for descending grades; and
they that ride to the devil in the style of
the Fifth Avenue, especially if lhey car
ry weight, go faster and get TO the bot
tom sooner, than they lhat pursue the
same goal on bare feet and in rags!
But adversely is not without its disad-
vantages even in moral point of view.
| The enforced or quasi-eniorced idleness,
consequent upon the general stagnation
of business, and the diminished call and
inducement for labor, is great evil Not
to him who is thereby deprived of por-
ton of his means of support, only. 1t
is an evil to society.
The apostle enjoins that 90 if any will
not work, neither should he cat" Those
only who " live tie gospel of work
who produce some valuable or beneficial
result by labor, either of hand or brain
repay to civilization the advantages
which they derive from it, Society has
claim on all its members for work. 1t
should do by its drones what the bees do
by thers-exterminate them. For its
own prote ction, it should decree loaferism
Il capital offence, and visit it with the
death pcnalty-:hat is, death TO the of
fence. We pity, or despise, either one or
the other, according TO his position and
pretentions, the man who can regard with
complacency his own intolerable mean
ness in conserving 10 subsist upon the
gratuities of friends. Pray, how much
better is he, who, because his "circum-
stances, "a legacy, perhaps, or an in
heritance, or wealth however obtained
make labor unnecessary for the mere pur-
pose of support, therefore spends his
time in killing time, and labors only to
devise ana carry GU. new and etfectual
methods of perpetual suicide lie, if
he live in civilized community, and en-
joys lis benefits, is every day accumula-
ting debt TO society for the peace and
projection secured TO him, which no dis
oursements, however generous or ample,
ever pay. The only proper and sufficient
return is the production OK some real and
substantial addition to the common veal.
Besides its bearing on public and pri-
vate economy, idleness reacts most iniu-
riously on the character of the indivdu-
al. 1t speedily engenders a disrelish for
useful m ploymcnts, and an appetite for
exceptionable substitutes, both Of which
continually derive strength from indul-
gence. There is no reader way to create
an irresistible craving for uahealthy ex-
element, such as cards and wine, and
their concomitanls, than by exemption
from constant and regular occupation.
The mind, if not the body, is always EN-
ployed upon something. 1t is never va
cant. Unless controlled by The will, and
directed by principle, it spontaneously
fastens upon that which is most prom-
nenny and frequently presented to it. Ill
empty of good, it is sure to be filled with
evil, because the "evil is always present.
with us The recruiting sergeants of
the devil always find tic idle man, and
they generally succeed in enlisting him