Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-11-30
COUNTING THE cosT.n

1ss.s Common sense dictates that in whatever
men undertake, they ought first carefully to
count the cost. The strand of life is strewn
thick with the wrecks of thousands, who, if
they had but counted the cost, might have
reached prosperous haven in safety.
Is young man about to choose a profes
sionf Let him examine his capabilities thor
eughly, so as to ascertain exactly what he can
do and what he cannot, before he commits
himself irrevocably to any particular pursuit.
Many person has been kept struggling his
whole life through, simply because he chose a
trade, business or profession unsuited to him.
sEyerybody has. natural qualification for some
one thing. This man is born mechanic, that
$ q born orator, this a merchant that fa rmer,
zthfs an engineer that sailor, this physician,
that an author. Besides all this, there are
some pursuits which require capital, as manu-
featuring, shipping and importing; and to
embark in these, without adequate means, is
to invite insolvency. Or to enter on an in
teliectual career without sufficient brains or
study, is to ensure failure. In word, in all
conditions and phases of life, wise men, be-
fore they make ventures, rigidly count the
cost"
us, before we act, count the cost. Have we
friends Before We ALLEVIATE them by our dis
regard of their feelings, it would be prudent
to calculate the cost. 1t is easy to be unjust
to a father, a mother, brother, sister,
q wife, or even child, but it is less
easy to recover the love we have outraged, OF
stili the voice Of remorse, especially if the
grave has since closed over them. Even the
conventionalisms of life, trifling they are in
one point of view, cannot be set at defiance
with impunity, SO that wise man who has
counted the cost, never violates them unless
duty imperatively requires it. To win the
.ssesteem of our fellows is the surest road to
selfrespect, to- happiness, and in the long
run, even to honor while to practice rude
ness meanness, hard -heartedness and other
selfish vices, is to create disgust towards. US
first, end finally hatred or contempt.
, Before beginning a career of extravaganza,
tenslIal indulgence, vice or crime, it would be
80 well to count the cost. 70 buy fine furniture,
sport fast horses, or give elegant entertain
ments, is all very pleasant /; but when it leads
to ruin. as it often does, the victim bitterly
regrets that be had not counted the cost. Tc
give ourselves up to the sway of the appetites
is to brutalize our natures, and not only this
but to SOW harvest Of pain and sickness fol
81 old age, if not to cut short our lives and
when death comes prematurely, or we writhe
zs on q bed Of agony, be sure we will lament
that we had not counted the cost. Vice of
ten comes in an alluring garb, but the adder
d is coiled under her Paphian garments, and il
we yield to her seeuctions the day vii
come when we will wish that we had counted
the cost If, by unbridled passion, or, wors'
still, deliberate calculation, we rush int
crime, there will a time of retribution CONF
when we will cry aloud, but no one will hear
and when our burden will be "Oh had
but counted the cost T' Count the cost, coun
the cost, now while it is time Philadelphia
Ledger.