The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-12-28

chronic ncart-slcknCss, fhe tue plnlUp VI
teething child, but she never knew exactly
what il was she wanted. If she ever was
sick, no man could be kinder than the Dea-
con. He has been known to harness in
haste and rush to the neishbOring town at
four o'clock in the morning, that he might
bring her some dclicacy she had fancy to
that he could see the use of but he could
not sympathizc in her craving desire to see
Powers Greek Slave, which was exhibiting
in q neighbOring town. What did Chris
tian people want with stun images p he
wanted to know. lie thought the Scripture
put that thing down. Eyes have they hut
the see not-ears have they, but they hear
not-neithcr speak they through their
throat. They that make them are like unto
them" There was the Dcacon's opinion
of the arts and Mrs. Deacon only sighed,
and wished she could see it, that was all.
But il came to pass that the Deacon's cld-
est son went to live in New York, and from
that time strange changes began to appear
in the family that the Deacon didn't like {;
but as Jethro was smart, driving lad, and
making money ut q great pace, he at first
said nothing. Bu: on his mothers birth
day, down he came and brought box for
his mother, which being unpackcd, con-
tanned ParIan statucttc OF Paul and Vir-
ginia--a lovely, simple little group as ever
told its story in clay.
Everybody was soon standing round it in
Open-mOuthed admiration, and poor Mrs
Tildcn wiped her eyes more than once rs she
looked on it. Ii seemed vision of bcanty
in the dcsolatc neatncss of the best room.
" Very pretty. s'posc," said the Deacon
dOubttully-iOr like most fathers of spirited
twcnty-thrce year olders. he began TO feel a
little in awe of his SOIL" but dear me,
what sight OF money to give for u thing
that after all is oil no use !"
" think" said Jcthro, looking at his
mothers suIluscd eyes, " il is one of the
most usctm things that has been brought in
to the house this many day."
" don I see how you're going to make
that out,' said the Deacon, looking apprc-
hcnsiyely at the young wisdom that had
risen in his household.
=" What will you wager me, father, that
| will not prove out of your own mouth that
this statucttc is as useful as your cart and
oxen"
" know you've got great way OF COM
Ing round people, and twitching them up
before they fairly know where they are but
Ill stan you on this question, any way"
And the old Deacon put on his yellow silk
bandanna over his bald head, and took up
his position in the window seat.
"Woll now, father, what is the use of your
cart and oxen ~
Why, could not work tho farm with
out them, and you'd all have nothing to eat,
drink. or wear"
Well, and what is tho use of our eating,
drinking, and wearing ?"
4" Use? Why, wc could not keep alive
without it,"
" Aud what is the use of keeping alive ?"
"The use of keeping alive ~
Yes, to be SURE, why do we try and
strive and twist and turn to KEEP alive, and
what's the use of living?'
Living why, We want to live we on
JOY living-all creatures do-dogs and cats
and every kind of byast. Life IL sweet"
The use of living, then, is that we en-.
joy it,"
:" Yes"
" Well, we all enjoy this statucttc, 50
that there is the same value to that that |
tlcTt IL VI HNlHp Nllu u Nbai uANh eH'
carts and food and clothes, and all that you |
call necessary things, have no value except to
keep in life, and life has no value except en-
joymcnt, then this statuettc is Il short cut TO
the great thing for which your farm and
everything else is designed. You do not en-
Joy your cart for what ii is, but because of
its use to get food and clOthcs-and food and
clothes we value for the enjoyment they give.
But statuettc or II picture, or any beauti-
ful thing gives enjoyment at once. We cn.
iOy it the moment we see it-lOr itself, and
not for any use we mean to make of it. 81
that strikes the great end Of life quicker
than anything else, don't il? Hey, father
haven't | got my casc?"
al believe the pigs are getting into the
garden" said the Deacon, rushing out of
the front door.
But to his wife he said, before going to
bed, "lsn't it amazing how Jcthro can talk?
couldn't do it myself, but I'D had it in me
though, if I'd had his advantages. Jethro
is chip of the old block,-lirs. Harriet
Beccher &o,re in The independent.