The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1858-11-27
Gcls.t Gtorn.
From Mrs Sc lgwicks Mesloir of Joseph Curtis |
John Leake and the Pal. Of Water

John Leakc lived in the ncichborhood
of Mr.. Curtis Connecticut home. Order
was not Lca&c's first law, nor his last.
Though he was IL good-naturcd, easy
tempered, obliging man, there was no
one whom the neighbors 50 much dreaded
seeing approach their homes. There
comes Lcakc TO borrow Something" they
would say, and hoe, hammer, or rake
were grudgingly lent, for they were GER
tain that Leake would lose or forget the
article, or, at best, return it minus a
handle. a story went the rounds that
l.cako's next neighbor, out of patience,
said to Kim, {: yes, take the hoe, but you
anust use it i'll my corn field"
Time went on, and Lcakc's affairs ran
down, as slack men S will, and he decided
TO pull! up stakes and move to Vermont,
then tract OF unsettled and productive
land, and called the " New State. -
Lcakc's Connecticut friends gathered
about the great wagon in which his bat
tered houschold goods and his wife and
children were packed, and sorry they
were, ut the last, to part with him, they
now forgot his teasing faults, and felt
only that he Was Il cheerful, kiLd-hcar,..
cd fellow.
Rustic tokens Of goodwill we're offered
at parting. The best of these was a
bright new axe, with strong hcyc, on
which the givcr's name and Johns were
both carved and painted, and tied togcth-
er with true lover knot-an odd
flourish for IN axe helyc. "Takc care
OF this, John" said Uncle Ben, the
giyer, s. and it will be better than gold
to YOU in the new State" ] he axe ful-
filled its mission; il did prove Of more
value to Lcal;c than world full Of gold.
{" 10 oIicnsc, John,'' said another
ncighbor, taking Il card from lis poclSet
{. here is something ,hat, if YOU will tack
it up in your Fireplace and take heed to
it, will be sure 10 make YOU iyrchandcd
man iii the new Stalc." Lcake looked
at the writing on the card. Ii wa, the
good old household rule {: e. time for
everything, and everything in its time
Il place for everything and everything in
its place" Leako read it aloud, and
then the good naturcd fellow said, chuck
ling, GO thank C neigh Dor: it's a pretty
smart rod, but it shan't fall ON q fools
back. I'll take care of it - and he
deposited it in the cr1wn Of his hat. his
usual place Of sate-keeping. "Therc it
goes said the giver to one of the by
ISLANDERS +; &C that's the last Of it. Poor
Icalse You can't teach an old doc new
tricks"
When the movers halted that dav for
Their nooning, the ycYv first time John
took his hat off he dropped out Uncle
Bcn's card without perceiyiDp if. His
son, Lyman Lcakc, did see it, Lyman.
lad Of ten or eleven, was the very on
posite to his father, made so, probably,
by the same influence that makes the
ight-hceled DAUGHTER of the heavy
hcclcd mother.n Some parents are
examples some, alas are beucons.-
Lyman picked up the card, and probably
thinking g. Father will never miss it
and never take care Of it," he slippod 1t
into his own little leathcrn purse, which
had also been given him for rartino
token, Lyman was to learn, by hard
experience, the worth Of the words writ
ten on that card. "A due observance Of
them through a Lifetime would give a
large figure in money results, beside
world of comfort.
The little family arrived. aftor so,,o
mishaps Ito be expccted), such as loosino
their whip, leaving their hal,ers and thcir
water-pail at a nook, etc at their lodrc
in 4 vast wilderness. But in two wears
they got we'll ahead, in spite of Lcale,s
destructive and obstructive habits. for
lie was hard working fellow. Fields
were cleared and titled around him: he
had built a small frame house adjoining
the log hut, neighbors had come il, at no
great distance, and village was CROW
ing up not far from him.
In spite of good advice he had con-
nectcd wood house and a stable with
his house "Takc care. Leakc.o said =
friend to him i. it needs a careful man
to build So A fire in winter nm in this
cold country is something dreadful: it's
like gunpowdcr-a fash. and all is cone y
"Oh, never fear,' said I.eake have
had my portion of ill-fortune in this
word; my luck has turned" CNr.
Curtis often impressed On the children