Litchfield enquirer., 1864-03-10
Hard Times for Honesty.
BY JOHN BLACKBEIDGE.

| su ting the archives of the Marine Court have not always been 30 degraded . being, I have sesu better days. l wss once respectable. People have bowed to me in the street l have taken of my hat to the President of the Board of Couacilnen. and have been honored with Good norningl' fir m the Mayor. My origin was high-I was born in the third ,'svy. Ny 7aEAn,s. 'xast ~shh-known in the place where they resided, for their strict hon esty ; for. during the latter part of their lives. they were never allowed to go out the alms- house yard. well remember the ealogy which was pronounced upon my father when he WAS taken to his long home, in pine box, in a one horse wagon. was a mere lad at the time, bound out by the town to grocer, who on this occasion, gave me half holiday to see the procession. It was tae undertaken who pronounced the eulvgy on my departed aDc-gtor.
 He was not pious but honest said he--' a good man. He never took anything that WAS out of Lis reach.'
 Yes added the minister, .. l can subscribe to lhis snd before hs came upon the town, he was also good mul.'
 Indeed 2 baid the undertaken.
 Yes Said the minister ere of our very best Mei.--at srrs !
 Qualities are hereditary. and ziy aucestor 5 honss;y descended upon ule like mantle en veioiing many of my otEer characteristics NcIe Il rot th;, my hauesiy ie 50 remarkable 0 t-a; ure ut my character, people would net b. bliud to mauY of my other traits and accom- kaud.ou;s. st least my losk,ug glass tells me B.. yet no o,,e ever ca!ied me hanheome B.li Grsb!,ett it'. ni"ay4 Eon.st Bill Grshbsit Furts.rlnorv, a1l a pout, aud have Guhe iil- file. $. lLn"s ia tue literary way for one Lorse EostuL i.eriu<!,ca.s, but no uns speaks vf me as ,Ls poet tsr%LI'-,i.' Nay, since have tevn iu!c.l no the bar. as the last refuge !r,,:; tie prosecutions of my enemies, am rot me:ilIvhrc as ;!is great lun.in~ry. GrabLeit, cousrQu+lve is. that g.; yeiY little business a"a al t:aes il q, very il4rd Milh re Now crs ou... not to be rAsixl in ,uis WAY. I don't know wby s!lau'i have bean si:-ied oA. for !Ais sp.: sf drt:u-.as ,lstit.ctinu There is unl J ous ot!isr rlxa p ,i.1 country wao hes been similarly sbn.ed. s,l,. he hAs S23 VV1 year tu:nlkr smands for it.. Ir..r to A. Lincoln, !.oq aud ca;. ...H:a lis Ex cri'ency that De lsat over paid. conscr S.3, ,soO a yes.r ca'y Il fair ,quivalrLt for what l suffer, tecausr ;;rovie Niil lersls. iu ca! n me honest.
 My father retired tsem public iise ii]svins been for many years eminent as the Lurts., drisker in the town Of Hau,sinlwich,iieJ ia,o the alnshnuss of the town waem VII, fifteen years of age. Previous to liis re,jrement, be had hcen lu the hubi; of ufteu correcting me for my Souls gooi-nut iu,erd strictly Ut times when was in ,Le very act ot offending against divue UT human regulations, but on miscellaneous occasions thy pateut. doub.!ess trusting that lessons thus inculcu,ed would bring themselves to bear upon my behavior at pruper tiMes RIterward. 1t was thus that certain tender portions of my frame wers made intimately sceuainted with tE':s proaertiss of Sole leather when in state of motion and when now read. in those delicious repor,s of priz-Gghts which osc ,sionally occupy the morning journals, to the exclusion of the re- liable war-correspondence. how the Pernicious Boy or the Staeybridge Infant came up grog- gy,' after the nine hunaredth round. or there abouts--l sec in my minds eye my late la nented parent as he was wont 10 come up when about to apply Gushing touch to my education. An. we'll those dear old days ar~ gone. But my fathers last wor 's before the doors of the almshonse closed finally upon him were |: Bill, my boy, mind what l told yer 80 muchly. and don't be co,ched priggn' what Lisn youru.' Memorable words
 was then ut once bound out to grocer who has ne end of big shop on Main street and sold more sugar and coffee than any other two men in town.
 Hardly had I entered his store. aud received my frst box on the ar for forgetting to shut oft the molasses gate after drawing d pint of Porto Rico. whereby not less than two gallons ran off into the corner where house brooms were kept. before begun to ponder over the last words of my ancestor. And the more pondersd them the more their exceeding fit. ness commended them to my attention {: | Don't be cotched priggin' what hisn't your'n
 Now my father was man of few words. He never wasted language no more than liquor. Now, why didn't he say: Don't prig what lisn't yourn.' This would have been shorter, but would it have conveyed his idea :? No. He used his words advisedly. always there fore took his command us he delivered it : Don't be cotched prijsszin' what hisnt your'n. And O" the second day of my apprenticeship at 'ne srocers. cbeyed the paternal injune, .'a oy not being caught in the act ofabs,ract-