The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-12-16
FOR rte JEFFERsoNIAN.
Fire Side Musings.

1
Die feast of fat things, such as Buck
DleSs age; reports of big guns at Wash
ington, speeches., lovetales, &c. Now
you are fully aware that such food may
be considered perfectly digestible to
strong minds; but scores there are Il am
happy to say who can relish the common
sense spice of life much better. Now
draw up your seat aged sire, adjust your
spectacles and let US exchange thoughts
for few moments. I wish each of my
readers to bear in mind that they are OF
some consequence, being each units or in
tegral parts Of this great nation. What
pleasing refec;ion-A sovereign owing
20 allegiance to earthly power Il. e. provi-
ded we are not in debt as | fear most OF
US are these hard times.) There is truly
one thing, of which We may justly be
proud Of; We do, or may possess free and
independent minds, yea more intelligent
minds. Young man, if you turn out non
cOnlpuS, it viii be your own fault or that
of your parents or perhaps both. There
is no plea for ignorance in this elightened
ago in which we live; act and think and
that for yourSclUeS. 1t is fact, that there
are drones in the national hive, and as long
as this is the case designing men and dem
agogues will rule the nation. You should
act morally and politically for yourselves.
Young man, look at your aged sire, he
has deprived himself of mental worth and
perhaps some comforts, to add to your
intelligence; you have perhaps gone thro'
the elementary principles of the English
language, and you really think perhaps
that you are some pnmkins. Why bless
your soul you have not learned how
much there is yet for you to learn. Per-
haps you look down with disdain on the
humble life the honest farmer owns; you
look forward to profession, or to trade
as the ultimate end of Jour earthly hap
piness and veal. The farm and aged
parents are neglected, and you follow a
phantom, nine tenths of whose votaries
are deceived, and do not rise to distins-
ton. Mind is the only wealth you now
or ever will possess of durable kind
And if you wish to increase and strength
en- it use it, tbink-I repeat it, hink.--
The men of the past, it is our duty to out.
strip; We have (or may have) their expe-
rience, to which We must add our own
genius, our own originality. So you see
that if each generation lives up fully to
its privilege it must of necessity be wiser
than the one that preceded it. Some
foolish young men think that they are SO
smart that they can get living by their
wits only. This is an error. a sore evil.
Nature, requires physical as well as men
tai exercise to make great an, as much
as God requires morality to make good
one. Some young men get the chime of
rhyme, and before you know it, they call
themselves poet, and then they 60 it
| will here give you specimen which
difident young man sent me, wishing my
advice, whether be bad better contribute
his mite to the muse of his yernacular-
here it is:
I've often thought were poet,
Id ink my pen then | would 90 it,
I'd coin some thoughts, | rather guess
So large they could not 90 to press.
Or,if they should they'd have to lie her,
Or running by steam 'twould bust 6iler.
! would astonish vast creation
By showing up our Yankee nation.
If fashion leads, we're bound to .folIer
And worship the Almighty Dollar.
Where e'er you look It's plainly said
Our motto is TO 60 ahead.
We mount a hobby halt or sound
And often run it in the ground.
Our moral questions we oft mix,
And run them into politickS.
We sell our gold for foreign trash,
Which leaves us ought but rags for cash.
Our Politics, are systematic
And always right if democratic.
Our ladies, lately think they must
Wear hoops for fear that they will bust.
Our Rail Roads, and our enterprise,
Cannot be beat beneath the skies,
Our Telegraphs Gust common wires)
Takes news along with lightning fires.
Old Ocean floats a cable too
q think for one it will not do.)
But then we'll try and try again,
To try with us is not sin.
AS run these lines through l must
confess that they forced from me smile,
"a thing which [ very seldom indulge in)
unless | am pleased.
l.