The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-02-21
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"If | could only live my life over
again, said tho old man as he plung
ed his hands into his deep coat pock.
etc, and looked up at the office CELL
ing with sigh; "it should be very
different Lille IRON what it has been
| wouldn't give all the joy of my
youth, all the strength of my IN n
hood, to getting rich catch mel
Id have some good out of lite and
do some, too, instead Of toiling early
and late, taxing my brain, and wear.
ing my nerves over railroad divi.
dends, and bank stock, over invest
ments in lead and coal mines, over
real estate that is to come down
here and get up there. No, /. is not
the three score years that are on my
head which has blcacbed my hair.
and wrinkled my forehead 20; it's
the wear and tear of watching the
market and forestslling changes: and
looking out for the right Moment
to come down with bargain. |
overheard one man say to another,
as ! got into the omnibus last night
"There goes old Grainer-go, d
for million and a balf-lucky
dog" and said to myself, "Are ou
a lucky dog, Tom Grliner? No, OF
all men you are the most unlucky
one. You've paid down your mouth
your manhood, your health, yonr
reice OF mind, every faculty God
gave yon to live, and TO enioy--
you've paid it all down for this mil.
lion aud hall OF dollars. and it is II
poor bargain. after alp. 1T don't
do any good to tame an ii lrct now,
but il could live my life over again,
Id never stand where do tl.i4 day,
Id lay mp some better treasures for
my oil age than Il million AMI "a hal
o! money. I'D lay up treasu o. If
blessGd memories--Oi some good
done TO others--of human hearts
made happier-of human suuls com.
fOrted, and r,ioiced because Of me! !
II ! could on,v live my l,fo over
again. and tha old man settled
tarthe! back in his chair and groan.
ed heavily as hu looked back ov +
the yeurs Of Lis past-barren, and
cold, and unclothld, as ii ey rose up
before him.
And Yet he clutched his million
aud half and carried it with him
70 the last hour If his lite. lie
didn't rise up that day end 20 out.
and find the widow an the father
less, and gladden. their hearts with
n part OF the wealth which he d ID
not need. 1t was no: too lac lh,n
TO set about doing good. Ia the tcu
wears more ol his iilc which God az.
pointed him, he might have scatter.
I'd blessings, many and lonntiiul
as the summer showers, ani the
cold and barren day IN ght have
been crowned with a sunset SO ra
diant and glorious that it would
have hall redeemed the faded morn,
.ing-the wasted moou!
But the old fashion and the old
habits held him in iron bondage still, &,
and the rich oil man went doWnto
lis grave with his aimitss, uuiruit.
lul, querr:lous III"
"lI | d never begun this sort oi
liie Id never live it for day" mur
murs the, fashionable wife and moth.
er, So she walks up and down her ele
giant parlols, swinging the tasscls OF
her morning robes, bstwlxt her Jew.
eled fingers; and the weary, dlssat.
i-tied expr, ssion of her lace tells its
own story OF the tried, restless hearI
beneath it. Il know well t's d
miserable, wasted life we're all lead
ing-thst this dressing and going to
parties, and giving them that this
constant striving to be"stylish, ,"and
l. eep ones position, ia foolish ant
sinful thing. I'm sick and ashamed
OF it. It's running our Children
1t will make spendthril,s OF oul
boys, and silly fashionable dolls o
our girls. II We had never begun thi,
foolish plan Of keeepiug up with on
neighbors, or il | could only 60 bacl
ten years in my life! But there
no way OF getting out oi it now.--
/, All our acquaintances would star
at US, and the only way to eifec
any change is TO 90 oti and bur,
ourselves in the country, away iron
, all influences and stimultnts Il ou
present lii and that can't be though
= ot. wish knew what to do, c
where to turn. If | had only cou
menced differently"
And the vile and mother wrun
her hands, and the charges, and til
! chill .ren committed to her, for 200
or Tor evil, went an in tue ways
Jolly and vanity. Tor good impulse
never bring forth good fruits, unle,
: they harden into fixed principles
/. actioI; and what ruIder to the hl
man soul adrlit on the wild an
= stormy waters OF life is ali aiml eI
!. and purposeiess if.
1T" says the young mau full
n dreams and ardor. Il could on
have some grand heroic career!
:, &C. could only do something to ben
IN tit my race anc send my namo spl
uiDg down to future ages, great al