The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-01-27

| pass my youth like a %grandee, and be a beggar IN my
old age? Past pleasures pave the way 'r 'o'oie -
pentance.
There is nothing more unaccountaole tnan Tue ire
quent practice among that part OF the people VINO ought
to be the example of ~frugality as we'll as OF industry
I mean the usual way of setting out IN i1fe' regaru'esS
of expense, as if the public had so little discernmen' as
to infer that peoples circumstances were always accord
ing to the show they make. How easy it would be for
one to increase his expense if he found his income IN
crease thereby. In some countries insolvency, where a
good account of the causes which brought it on cannot
be given, is severely punished. You will therefore bear
it in mind that riches, though hard to be gained, are
still harder to be kept.
There are also many errors in the conduct OF the IN.
dustriou. part Of mankind, whose effects frequently
prove fatal to their fortunes, which can only be avoided
by observation and experience. There is therefore no
subject which men of business ought to keep steadler
in view than the precariousness of human affairs. In
order to the success of any scheme, it is necessary that
every material circumstance take place as in the correct
going of a watch or clock it is necessary that every one
Of the wheels be in order. It must surely take a very
great degree of that %sanguine temperament, to make a
man persuade himself there is no manner of hazard OF
becoming deceived or disappointed till at length some
one or other of his last shifts having failed him, down
he sinks with his own weight and brings hundreds to
ruin with him. Therefore, after having exercised every
the only true guard against calamity IS to
keep strict integrity in view when all other sources
have failed that will serve as the foundation Tor the
erection of other hopes and prospects ; and ii. there ~
any virtue which will alleviate the inhumanity OF the
general mass of mankind, it is the character of being,
although poor and unfortunate, an honest man. But
as there is infinite craft and knavery among mankind,
we ought to beware of credulity-the most open hearted
are the most liable to be imposed upon by the designing.
We are all liable to change; l mean the change that
is witnessed every day. Because a man is in jail it Is
no sure sign that be is or has been a criminal; there
fore we should not infer it. If a drunkard is seen in
the mire, it is not positive proof that he was always
what he seems; he may have been a man of intellect,
and have led a virtuous life before this. If an indi
vidual, or a whole people, be now degraded, it does not
prove they were always so, by any philosophy of infer
ence,-we should keep change in our minds.
In conclusion, | would say never give up in a good
cause Never say die is a motto which, however
hard to live up to, is nevertheless necessary to the pros
ecution, successfully, of any business involved in diff
eulties. A determination not to give up is half the
battle in all cases.
Whatever may be our opinion Of the policy Of the
great Napoleon and the present Emperor Of France, We
must allow them both to have afforded in their history
the most remarkable vicissitudes incident to human
nature, and we cannot but admire their spirit and deter
mination to overcome difficulties almost insurmountable
and which, in many instances, saved them from utter
ruin. However, confined on St. Helena, Napoleon
might have mourned the %inhumanity of his enemies.
We like the spirit of the man who, when his physician
told him there was but one chance in ten for his recovery,
theoretically asked him why, in the name of common
sense, he did not work on that chance, and recovered.
Perseverance under almost insurmountable Difficult
ties, has saved many from ruin, and will save thousands
of others if they will only bring themselves to practice
it. Now is the time for its exercise. Ye men in bust
ness, do not sit down and fold up your hands, saying it
is 40 use trying. These hard times will not last for
ever, ana he who holds on to the turn Of the tide, though
grounded now, will be sure to rise all the sooner for
having held out to the very last. Never say de- and
if you must 90 down, be sure to do it man-fashion, and
you will certainly rise again