Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-04-16
Nn1uuruns department.
A MORAL LECTURE.
BY THE REV. EBENEzER KNUcKLEDowN.


FELLow-SINNERs Our first parents
who, as you are aware, owned the whole
earth all to one stick of timber, dickeree
off the happiness of unborn millions for
few apples, and awful sour at that.
Nothing they ought to have desired wal
wanting, but they couldn't live without
dicker, and so when Satan, disguised as {
Yankee peddler, came along with his infer
nal apple cart, they were green enough tt
patronize him. It wasn't the fair thing OF
either side; for if it was mean in Satan tt
try to circumvent the young people, it was
equally dishonorable in them to swap away
your happiness and mine for their own sen
sual qualification.
That was the first sell, and ever since
bargain and sale have been the order of the
day. From that time to this matters have
been getting worse and worse, until at last
there's nothing that some folks won't sell
if they have the opportunity, from theil
souls and consciences and their country's
interests, down to blank in a burst W
lottery.
Fellow-transgressors, I'm going to bring
this home to your business and bosoms.-
You must not think to excuse your sins by
fathering them on the early settlers'in par
adise. It may be said in their favor that
they did not know what sin was, and were
curious to find out. But you are too init
mately acquainted with every kind of devil
ment to have any curiosity on the subject
Again: after Adam and Eve had lost
their pre-emption rights in Eden, and had
squatted in the wilderness, they repented
and tried to set good example to their
family. Can you say as much? Guess
not, as general thing. And yet an un'
known number of ministers are continually
employed-regardless of expense-in at,
tempting, but I regret to say without sue
cess, to preach the devil out of you.
Cast your eyes about you and observe
what your fellow sinners are driving at.
Look towards Washington, and you'll see
members of the assembled wisdom laying
their heads in the lap of Delilah, and sell
ing their influence for the same kind of fa-
vors that Samson received from his hair.
Squint down Wall street, through reaec-
ting telescope, from the spire of Trinity
Church, andif you happen to see a perfect
ly honest man there, pass the word to Bar
mum, and he'll engage the prodigy at once.
Look at the daily papers and notice what a
devils hash of swindling, thieving, seduc-
ton, murder, perjury, and other ungodly
ingredients are served up at breakfast every
morning. Find out the saints that own
rum-holes and temples dedicated to de-
bauchery, and let list of them be read in
the churches, and if it doesn't make the
rich members squirm on their damask cush-
ions, brass is entirely too soft a metal to be
compared to some protesting Christians.
I don't know that it's of much use to ap-
peal to the hearts of old wolves in sleeps
clothing, that try to hide their true nature
under the false peltry. Habit is second ma
ture; and I guess it would be as easy to
whistle wood chuck out of his hole with
q psalm-tune, as to make pious man out
of knotty-headed old hypocrite; but
would say to young sinners who have forsa-
ken innocent and wholesome exercise for
keno, faro, poker, and other diabolical pas
times, that they are going express to that
hot region where the temperature never
1noderates, and that they will find it greatly
to their advantage to break up Immediately
and take the upward train.
Finally, would remark that the saying,
"Riches have WINGS" is perfectly true,
and that they are very apt to fly away
with their owners to the Devils nest.