Brookville American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1858-1861, 1858-07-09
The spsckled Axe.

Dr. Franklin In his autobiography,
tells story ofa man who went one day
to buy an TX. and having bought one,
hc expressed wish that IL had boon
bright instead OF black; on which the
smith, who nude the axe, replied:
oh, If you turn the grindstono we'll
soon make II bright. No sooner said
than done, and they went to work, but
presently tho purchaser felt tired, for
the smith pressed so heavily on the
stonc, the labor Of turning made him
sweat, and he wanted to l.ave of. Keep
on, keep on, replied tho smith, ii isn't
bright yet. it's only spccISled.' Well,
never mind, answered tho buyer, Il think
like u speclilcd axe best
| In this Incl lent We havc an example
on d small scale. of which takes place
all over the world on largo scale. And
it struck mo one day, as l was thinking
about it, that tho dcmand for speckled
axes is one that is always active; though
people could no moro grow tired of hav.
ing these useful instruments than thcy
can OF eating bread. 1t was very curl.
Gus, thonght that speckled should be
preferred to perfect brightness.
VIII III was cogi tating th,roupon, IL
came into my mind that perhaps some
good might bo dono by setting down q
few instances of buyers having been
content to take the Inferior article, when,
by proper care and judgment, ,thcy might
have the best, And hero is the list.
When seo a man striving from mere
vanity TO mako y name, and fancying
that he is made Of different material
than his fellow creatures, and that he
does them favor by living among them,
and who does not care by what means
he rises, SO that he does rise; then,
say-hc lillos spcckled axe best
i Whcnever see man in business In.
tent only on making money, as though
that were tho only thing worth living
for, and not carrying what wrongs may
be carried on in MS establishments nor
how his customers may be tricked so he
makes profit, thcn, | say-hc likes u
: speckled axe best.
Whenever l see young man in want
of wife, choosing q partner for life
merely. because she has pretty face,
dances well, or sings II nice song, or
5 plays nimbly upon the piano, and mover
asking whether she can make shirt or
roast II leg of mutton, or whether slIo is
one to make n homo happy, then, say
} --hc likes II speckled axe beat.
: Whenever see man frcquenting
} the tap.room, or the tavern parlor, night
: after night, rs so many are in the habit
) ofdoing, and his wife sits at homo, per.
haps darning the stockings or making a
, frock for the little ones cut of an old
gown; whom | sec this man bent ON bis
selfish qualification, rs though ho had
I any more right 70 be- wasting time ol
: fmJuty ttan his wffs liesy tlscn, saw
. he hkos the sp,sglc lass bsst
! Whonever see q boy at school f6ok.
ing upon learning and knowledes 4.
: something invented for their tormen,
and forgetting that youth is theirs only
seed ;imc, that their parents have to
make great sacrifices to give thom edu
cation and thinking !. fair u dcccirs
their. masies, providel they 10 no,
: found out, although ignorance. or worse
may be the consequence or such con.
duet; then, l say-they like spcskIoi
axu best.
Whenever SEQ man trying to mako
himself believe that ho may indulge IN
certain secret sins and vices, it tho world
does not know OF them, that so long as
no can mako people believe he Is good
and virtuous, he nmy hug private wick.
edncss TO his heart; then, say-holikes
II spcckled axe best. .stes
Whenever 20 into house whore I
sec the servants with kept doUa look.
and hear thom whisper ugly things Of
! their master and mistress, when / 500
them stin;ed of food or recreation. vaen
sec tho children looking timid aud an
happy, never laughing the merry laugh,
OF childhood; whore tho sunshine soolns
less bright than elscwhere; then, say
some one in tho house likes the sbeci<.
led axe best. '9it 4
might cxtond tho list TO many pages
were it necessary, but here is enough ID
show that the speckled axe still cxistsl
It is not pleasing list but it is OF thineJ
ms they arc, and cannot help hopin,5
that / may not have lost my tinlo il
writing il. Lam fully aware that ths l
people alluded 10 may not continuo II
like speckod axes best; bnt il is feai1
that long habit will render II vory III
feult or impossible for them TO cliapke
should tho time como whom they wlsli
to do SO. 81