Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-04-26
For the JournI
Uncle 2sb's History.

S@SA1 -SS -
The history Of my uncle Zeb, is
somewhat analogous to the condition
of Uncle Sam, therefore l will write
a sketch Of Uncle Zeb's life and trials
and triumphs. He was of the Down
ing family and owned the largest
farm, snd had more boys than an
other farmer and father in all Down
ingville. Uncle Zeb allowed his boys
to chose. each for himself, calling
whereby to make living and en-
couraged hem, and assisted then
with money or means to startin their
callings. Bob went into the lumber
business at first, afterwards forming,
and was 4 good citizen and a deacon.
VIII tanned and made shoes, and ne
oct rich. Tom went to sea aad
finally became Captain, then half
owner. then owner of q good ship.
and now is 4 merchant. Ike wanted
to see tie country, and make me-,
acGuaintinces, so he went pedllng
for a While. and then to cattle buying
and buchering. David was a great
lover 0f books and newspapers SO ne
studied Law, and became a politician
and went to the Legislature. Thuss
far down in his family Uncle Aeb'
was satisfied with the choices bis
sons had made, and said to them
"Aet we'll your part, there all the honor lies =
But young Zeb, on coming to bis
big boyhood resolved to be a gen.l
tleman at fathers expense, to i've
without calling and be waited on
by those in the family he deemed ais
interiors. He was always at cross pur-
poses with his father, foreges ~
nanding TO hass his rightsrep -
ed, and when plan, OF bis wsi
making, was put In executicz, hSi
was sure to raise s quarrel, because
some one else enjoyed eqral benefit
with him. With his teacher aud
he assumed naughty
demeanor and presumed to dictate
all the methods of instruction, and to
the boys the plans for amusement.
His failures, in Improvement in his
studies, he charged on his instruc-
tors, andinsisted that they were ac-
for all his lack of knowl-
edge, let his industry be ever so lit
tie, for they were paid for teaching
him, and his mother held to the same
opinion, that Zebee must be the great
man in the family, exertion, or no
exerhon. Although aunt Amy be-
gan to look after Zebee, and enquire
how he got on, and how he spent his
time when away at his studies, and
from ali she could learn she came to
the conclusion, that Zebee was be-
a dissipated youth, and vet
aunt Amy had kept her own council,
and had even secretly helped Zebee
to spending money, that he might
his compeers. Mean while I
Uncle Zeb had spoken freely to Zebee
of the results his disslpated course |
would bring and warned him to shun
the slippery paths of vice and folly,
and 10 follow the direct firm course
of honest usefulness and truth. But
Zebee gave no thought to any thing
that father or mother would say, and
applied all the propelling force he
could muster, to hurry over the
rapids he had resolved to navigate. ,
Aunt Amy became quite restless
and for n while appeared to have
trouble on her mind, that she chose
not to disclose to any one, but Uncle
Zeb was too close q watcher not to
guess the source from which her
grief came, and so he reasoned and
coaxed until she told him all her
heart in Zebee's case. owning up that
she had given him more money to
spend while at school, than all the
other boys had spent during their
and at. that time he was
away from his studies because he had
been expelled from the college, and
not because it was time of vacation,
and that he was then gone to the
races in place of visiting aunt Geru-
sha, and that she gave him a new sup
ply of spending money, when he
started, wishing to have Zebee ap-
pear quite above the vulgar; but that
she had learned, since he left home,
where he went, and that he was in
close connection with a set of gam
blers. who always contrive to fleece
him whenever he went in their COM
pany, and what was worse, Zebee
went to the desk before starting and
helped himself. "Bad, bad, bad
enough said Uncle Zeb. We must
MAKE he best we can of bad thing;
we must do our duty without finch
ing, our indulgence has brought an
evil to our door, and now we have
disagreeable duties to perform, Zebee
must be had at home again and he
must ledrn and practice the duties OF
child or son, for we allowed him to
substitute his csprices in place of
sound reasons counsel, an indulgence
sweet at the time, but bitter now in
the belly, we must now swallow the
bitter herb of chastisenent, or re-
straint, on a loysd son to bring
health and Sweetness to our yesrn-
ing bowels. We must aird on reso,l