Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-11-08
Misrellaneons.
HDad has Struck IIe,,,

| lne 1OlowlDg story OF tne coal OIL eX-
element in Allegheny county, Penn, is
as like 10 nature as it is true, rs it proba-
| bly is, for that natter:-
ain neighborhood on the creek lived
and abored son of Vulcan, who with
his limited means, had barely enough to
secure small Ipiece of land and TO obtain
a scanty living for his rising family. The
ideas of bis children had been taught to
shoot but little in any direction towards
knowledge or refinement, and he little ex-
pected to be anything more than than the
village blacksmith. But when the oil fe-
yer broke out, learning of the success of his
ueighbors in finding oil, be thought that
he might while away his spare hours in
drilling hole upon his own homestead
lot and having tools convenient, he went
to work and after few weeks of patent
industry, was successful in obtaining good
show of oil. 1t was soon noised about
the village, and the blacksmith was some
body at once. He had daughter, also,
who had blosomed into maidenhood almost
unnoticed and unknown, but now became
more an object of interest to the few young
men in that small community. 1t become
a question how to break the ice of former
indifference, and to secure favorable ac-
quaintance with the heiress of the oil well.
For while the natural timidity of the
boys kept them aloof; but at last one of the
boldest and best favored among them de-
termined to try his luck, and on Sunday
evening attired in his best, resolutely march
ed forward and offered to escort the damsel
home. Imagine his shagrin when she,
turning upon him a look of lofty indepen
dence that would have done honor to
Broadway belle, replied in language more
severe than chsste Nonsense; you can't
come that Dad has struck iler"
How completely does the above anec-
dote exemplify American human nature =
We have no aristocracy of rank and birth.
Those who are at the bottom of the pile of
society in one generation. may become the
top sticks of the heap in the next. Wealth
makes all the difference with US, which
birth and rank do in Europe. "Dad has
struck ile," has wonderful effect on the es-
timation of others, or on the value we at.
tach to ourselves.
When we see the daughter of q couple
that have worked hard through life and
eaten the bread Of carefulness, thrumm-
ing on the piano or sweeping the sidewalk
with their expensive silks, we think at once
they are showing the public that dad has
struck ile"
When we see young woman flirting in
the streets with all the idle young men,
while her mother sits at home mending
her stockings for her, it is quite evident that
she thinks dad has struck ile!"
When man has ''slruck ile' himself,
by bis own perseverance and industry, we
like to see him use it well, and, if necessa-
ry, even for his own enjoyment. But we
want to see him bring up his children, as he
was brought up himself, to work. Let
them be taught to use their own persever-
ance and industry and "strike ile'' for them
selves. 1t will be of more use to their
characters and future destiny that if"Dad"
had "struck" it for them. Every one who
treads Gods earth, and brealhes Gods air,
should feel it to be duty to work
Ito make the world better for their
having lieved in ito be of some use in
his day and generation. Let every one
labor with his mind, if he does not with
his hands. 1t is a sin and a shame for
stalwart men and women to fold up their
hands and sit idle, merely because "Dad
has struck ile." There is work TO be done
in the world. 1t has not yet been redeem
ed from sin, sorrow and suffering. There
are wants to be supplied, tears to dry up,
affections to be smo:hed, advice to be CIV
en-, the erring to be reclaimed from their
wanderings, the vicious to be controlled,
the world to be improved. 1t is most
admirable spectacle to see those upon
whom God has showered the riches of this
world in earnest in their endeavors to do
good-perseveringly industrious in their
efforts foe the ameloration of all the classes
of want and ignorence within their reach.
But nothing can be meaner and more de.
graded spectacle than to see sons and
daughters living in pride, luxury and idle
ness, because dad has struk Ie!" Hart |
ford Con-. Curans. |