Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1866-07-18

Esy~ Our friends Of the pedagogic
persuasion cannot be too we'll versed
in human nature. We therefore, in
vite them 10 a study Of boy nature as
portrayed in the following racy article
from the pen of Henry Ward Beecher /:
Pleasure Riding.
1T is astonishing how much pains
people will take to be not happy Great
sums of money are spent on disconso-
late hearts, empty heads, restless, ner-
vous indolents, to make them happy.
But, unless there is the quality of hap
piness in them, it is as vain as to beat
upon lead in hope Of music. How
much money is lavished upon horses
and splendid equipages; and how many
sunny hours are witnesses of the un
happy creatures who affect happiness
in their ostentatious parade! If the
heart be merry. it bubbles up and over
flows with enjoyment without an effort.
Did you ever take notice that unar
ranged and unexpected rides, uncouth
and even ridiculous, are productive OF
more real enjoyment than the best that
are sought and expected?
Fix up your boys, and get out your
best carriage, and take regular ride,
and ten to one next time you offer the
chance they will say no, But when
did a boy erer refuse ride in an OK
cart? When did boy ever refuse a
ride to mill on creaking cart, but above
all, astride the plump bags Of grain
on horseback? Away with your fine
turn outs for sensible boys. 4 lum-
Der wagon, an old cart, Il stone dray,
are better than any chariot. If Il big
brother or kind 'hircd man will give
the boys a turn in the wheel barrow,
that would be superiative There is
an indiScribable relish, too, in a pair of
wheels, with two boys hitched on be-
fore, and upon the bare axletree, oc-
cupied alternately in tumbling off and
getting on. But who shall tell or inn
agine the satisfaction of riding upon a
jack or jenny? 1t is plain that these
creatures were created with special
reference to boys wants They are
tough, insensitive to the whip, selfopin-
donated, and in no danger whatever of
being abused; having way Of using
their heels and mouth that promotes
humanity among boys. If the boys
do not enjoy the exercise, every spec
tator does. The jenny on our premises
is somewhat larger than rat, and of
the same color. She goes when she
has mind to, stops when she pleases,
throws the boys off when she is
tired of them, turns around when they
forbid, starts when they say whoa p
and stops when they say 60 long ?
a whip seems agreeable to her hide,
rather than otherwise. She is so short
that a moderate sized boy has to hold
up his feet in riding; and of course, in
falling on, has not so far to go as on
his own feet. 1t is AMUSING to see
what an amount Of work can be cot
out OF boy, for nothing, which would
be considered great hardship if ap.
Piled to good uses All the toll of
riding Jenny applied to the garden
would almost make a mans work for
the day!
But we have reserved for the last
the grand triumphal ride! Where thu
cart has been stacked with sheaves, or
loaded with hay, and towers high in
tho air, then let the importunate boy
be lifted to its top, and come home
embosomcd in clover and fragrant hay.
No king has triumphant entrances in
to rejoicing cities as boys have into
barns, upon the broad backs of hay-
carts. 1t makes one quite melancholy
to see how much money is spent upon
unhappy people to make them discon.
tented: Strip off their gentiIity, send
them into the country, give them a
PLAIN cart, an OK sled, or harvest wa
gon, and they will have sensations of
pleasure long strangers to them!'