Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-09


be kinder than the Deacon. He had been
known TO harness in all haste and rush to the
neighboring town at four o'clock IN the morn
ing, that he might bring her some delicacy she
had a fancy for-for that he could see the use
of; but could not sympathize in her craving
desires to see Powers Greek Slave, which
was exhibiting in neighboring town. "What
did Christian people want of stun images!'
he would like to know. He thought the
Scripture put that thing down-"Eyes they
have, but they see not-ears they have, but
they hear not-neither speak they through
their throat. They that make them are ike
unto them so is every one that trusteth in
them" There was the Deacon's opinion of
the arts; and Mrs. Deacon only sighed, and
wished she could see it, that was all.
But it came to pass that the Deacon's eldest
son went to live in New York, and from that
time strange changes began to appear in the
family, which the Deacon didn't like but as
Jethro was smart, driving lad, and making
money at a great pace, he at first said nothing.
But on his mothers birthday, down he came
and brought box for his mother, which, be-
ing unpacked, contained Parian statuette of
Paul and Virginia. lovely. simple little
group as ever told its story in clay.
Everybody was soon standing around 1t in
open-mouthed admiration, and poor Mrs Til
den wiped her eyes more than once as she
looked on it. 1t seemed vision of beauty in
the desoate neatness of the best room.
"Very pretty, / s'pose," said the Deacon
doubtfuly-for like most fathers Of spirited
twenty-three olders, he began to feel little
in awe of his son-"bu dear me, what
sight of money to give for thing that after
all is of no usep'
al think" said Jethro, looking at his moth
er's suffused eyes, "it is one of the most useful
things that has been brought into the house
this many day."
IL don't see how you're going to make that
that out" said the Deacon, looking apprehen-
sively at the young Wisdom that had risen in
his household.
"What will you wager me, father, that
will prove out of your own mouth that this
statuette is as useful as your cart and oxen%
81 know you've got great way Of coming
round folks and twitching them up before
they fairly know where they are; but I'll stan
you on this question, any way" And the
Deacon put his yellow silk bandanna over bis
bald head, and took up his position in the win
dow seat.
"Well, now, father, what is the use of your
cart and oxenW
w ny, COulu nOb NOIk lHe NiluOuI
them and you'll all have nothing to eat, drink
or wear"
"Well, what is the use of our eating, drink
ing and weanng?"
"Usc? Why, we could not keep alive with
out it."
"And what is the use of our keeping alve?"
The use of our keeping alive"
"Yes, to be sure, why do we try and strive
ap1 tu;st and t,,rn 10 Eaa,. aliva ap1 xrbats
the use of living?"
Living why, we want to live; we enjoy
living-all creatures do-dogs and cats and
every kind of beast. Life is sweet"
1.-The use of living, then, is that enjoy
it?"
"Yes."
"Well, we all enjoy this statuette, so that
there Is the same value to that that there is in
living; and if your oxen and 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 enjoyment, then
this statuette is short cut to the great thing
for which your farm and everything else Is
designed. You do not enjoy your cart for
what 1t is, but because of its use to get food
and clothes-and food and clothes we value
for the enjoyment they give But a statuette
or a picture or any beautiful thing, gives en-
joyment at once. We enjoy it the moment
we see it-for itself, and not for any use we
mean to make of it. So that strikes the great
end of life quicker than anything else, don't
it? Hey, father-haven't l got the case ?"
81 believe the pigs are getting into the gar
den," said the Deacon, rushing out of the
front door.
But to his wife he said before going to bed
isn't it amazing the way Jethro can talk?
though, if I'd had his advantages. Jethro is a
chip OF the old block"