The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1859-10-26
Lctter E-on John Randolph.

The following interesting letter Is from
John Randolph, of Roanoke, written to
John Randolph Bryant, who married his
favoritc niece. 1t was written twenty
nine years ago, from England. ard short
time before Randolph's death:
LONDON, December 2S- 1850
My DEAR GoDsoN: Although ! have so
lately written to your better-half, and at
such tedious length, too, yet | ,'annot
refrain from the attempt to engratta old
head upon young shoulders, nOtwths. and
ing my belief that no man is the wiser Tor
another's experience. There are 100
many who are unable to profit by th,'lr
own. Witncssthe gambler and the spen1-
thrift, not to mention another class of vic
tins of licentious propensities matured
into habitual indulgence. Each Of these
wretchcd votaries Of his darling vice is
more sensible to the ruinous effects OF his
folly than any preacher who exhorts him
against the consequence. He that wears
the chain best knows how and where the
fetter gals. They that dsclaim against
the fixed and reotcd i'll habits Of their
neighbor, under the expectation of reform
ins him, only show that they themselves
are coxcombs. Rather sententious and
Hat this, you will say, and you will say She
truth. ttt.
Having established yourself in Glou-
cestcr, let me remind you mot to put OH
until tomorrow what may be done to-day" !"
and to leave until next year what could
be done this QS30) Plant all sorts of
trees. Man and boy knew John Lewis
some forty years or SO, although never
was in his house. 1t may be probable he
has saved you the trouble Of rearing
orchards. But, be chat as it may, fail
not to have good apple orchard, cspe-
cially, and Danish ardent spirits as a
beverage from your table.
< If, at the beginning, you are
obliged to resort to spirits, let your wife
make punch or toddy by measure, of a
certain strength, never to be Increased,
according to the goodold Virginia fashion
,. Have no dealing that can possibly
be avoided with your neighbors. The
disregard of this caution will certainly
lead to squabbles and strife. a
;. Take no receipt on loose pieces ol
paper. Carry receipt book in youl
pocket, and take all receipts in it; if yon
are afraid of losing it, keep it in your
desk. Always have the receipts witnessed
when practicable
4. Copy, Or have copied, all your bills
in book, 50 that you must at o glance
zee the cost of any article or branch O
expense Without accurate accounts yor
may first fall behind hand. What voyage
would ship make without observation
or reckoning? You are now embarked
on voyage of life without a good look
out you may be cast away.
j. Form no intimacies with your neigh
bors under seven years acquaintance
The rigid observance of my own maxim
did not prevent ill.blood between some c
my neig ghbors and myself Ny maxim
preserved me from strife and from los
by those. With the rest was on tn
best of terms. -.-.
6 Economy, the adapting Of your SUI
plies judiciously to the intended enc
This is u gift of God. 1t cannot b
taught, at least. have tried to learn i
all my life, without success. NJ
mother had in perfection.
7. Frugality-lt is in the power {
every honest man, who means to retail
his honesty, to refrain from indulging j
expenses which he cannet afford A di
regard Of this maxim, the result of thei
ignorant Incidence sof their own affair
has ruined all my name and race; the
did not know what they could afford, an
some, fear, did not care.
shall send you some acorns Of an oa
from Turkey, and also a few Englisf
Plant them in beds, keep clean and tran
plant at eighteen inches Or two feet higl
hope that you will not forget bros
nuts, English walnuts, ilberts, hazel nu
and chestnuts
shall probably never see you and II
darling neice succeed as housekeeper
Daily and every day find that | a
sinking. TO bo laid by the side of II
honored parents at Old Matoax, is no
the only wish that have personally
myself No tombstone, no monument e
me. Let "spring with her dewy fnge
cold" dress the turf that shall cover n
no longer feverish head or throbbil
heart. If there be any memorial of N
let lit be plain head-stone, with this
scription: "John Randolph, Of Roanol
son of John Randolph, of Roanoke, Il
elder, and Frances Bland, his wife,
Virginia, born June 2, 1913, died -
1891" Beyond this last period | ft
that it is impossible, almost a mirac
for my existence to be prolonged. "Tl
will be DONE"
| an now closely confined to my apal
ment. With faithful Johns aid, ha
all the comforts that am now capable
enjoying; my life hangs upon his.
/ had like to have omitted one spec
caution against going to the watori
places in autumn in search of health.
is an idle, dissipated and expensive pr,
ticc. If you are to live in the low
country you must accustom yourself
the climate, which | have no hesitation
saying is in every way more healthy tn
that Of the upper country short OF t
Allegheny. When | was a boy agu
and feyers were hardly known twer
miles west of the falls of the great rive