Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1862-02-14
The Type Setter.

Do you know that type setter is a
wonderful architect ? Do you see those
bits of lead and zinc lying over, across
and against each other, like the tangled
braids of mermaid's hair? What light
or life can there be in THESE fragments -
And yet they form an army more power
ful than ever fought upon tented field.
Yesterday they stood up proudly, pro-
fessionally speaking, in one 'form''-truly
in a thousand forms. You may look up
on the little bits with a smile on your lip,
but you little dream they are stronger
aud wiser than you-that they will speak
when you are dead and forgotten. They
have sometimes made you smile. and
shudder. Don't you remember little Lu-
cy--shc you loved ?-shc with the blue
eyes and auburn curs? You little tho't
the other day when you took up the
morning paper, that the word " DIED of
only four letters-which you laughed at
as they lay, dusty and dirty, IN their
square homcs-you did not think it would
make you weep. And SrocKs, is not
there something in that word? llayn't
yoI been head and heels in them for
years. and don't your feelings rise and
fall with them alternately? \ little fur
ther on and you come to the word MAR
EIED.' All | thought that would make
you smile. | saw you kiss baby just
then, and that good word unrayes 1t all.
You haynt forgot the day you went court
ing. have you : Then there was a magic
IN the uttcrancc. You stood at the altar
on the strength of the happiness you felt;
and if you have not always loved the
girl as you ought, there is no one you
love 50 we'll You secretly bless the day
when that single word marriage y was
wreathed like sacred afchway over the
JOYS Of E." thee and thine
If you will come to his workshop to-
morrow, the printer will show you how to
distribute knowledge, he will pull to pieces
those tough and wiry arguments that yes
terlay defcl the world. These pretty
palaces which the poet wrought, will have
to come, and their golden fancies become
tomorrow the nteguments of the poll
tieians prose In they go--thoSe metal
lie dwarts, scattered broadcast like good
seed which shall bring forth sixty-aye,
hundred fold Sixty lives lost and
"Prentiees last joke, march in line to-
eether, and the printer whistles " Yankee
Doodle" as carelcssl y over the deSoIatlon
as il human lie was at discount, the
Prentice Joke below par; aud so 1t IS
This is the printers life and business.
\ printing office is a great bowling al
ley. Tue printer sets up the pins-the
worll keeps tally-tha editor sets the
ball in motion and away it goes, carrying
death and destruction in its route-send-
ing a pin here and pin there, while
noisy rabblc always stand by to cheer and
hiss down the players Some play for
money, some for honors, and few--a
precious fev-lo it to patronize the boss.
and bless mankinl. No matter Of what
the balls are made, or how they 90 il
they only hit the mark. The crowd peck
ct the Sp5jls, aud the 'Aonors' excuses
are left to the proprietor, who goes be-
mind the scenes and staryes in his SKIRT
sleeves. And such i, life.
When i printer die, the worIl just
: d, a glimpse Of his value a, his coat
tails vanish into glory; and then it looks
very bad, rub, his hand, a little, calls him
a clever feIluw. says HI, only fault va, III
bein- poor, and then the world >hoye- IL
sympathy out Of SIGHT iato that il,m the
human heart, and on rolls Ju1!ernaut as
i 1 l. 1