The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-09-14

ther, who could no longer work, in
the highest and most pernicious way
one day saw his little son scooping a
trough out of block of wood:
what are you making there ?'
inquired he.
9sPm whiting trough" replied
the boy, f'for You to eat out of when
you get Old.
The father was about to give him a
smart box on the ear, but some invis-
ible Influence restrained his hand. He
saw how just a rctributiou that would
be for his conduct. toward his own
father, and he became gentle and.
considerate, thereby securing bless
ing upon his own heart, and thatisilso
Of his father and his child. 81 -... e.
Yes the manner in which those
peasants live, who have given up
their property to their children, and
are too old to abor, is often of the
most revolving description. However
exactly everything may be set down
in the documents drawn up when the
property is handed over, no stamped
paper can furnish any compensation
for the absence of love and kind at
tentionsyl and there is no helpful
remedy to be found by going to law.
Where the heart is wanting all is
wanting, The great poet Shakespeare
has depicted in the most pathetic
manner the life andamournfdl end of
one who had thus turned himself out
of house and lands. The man whom
he brings before US in his drama can
not make his complaints to the legal
authorities, for he is king who has
divided his kingdom among his daugh
tiers, who treat him harshly and want
to change his habits and mode of life.
1t is King Lear. And what is here
representing in regard to king is
no less true in more humble positions
and presents an equally pitiable spec
tacle. No law of the State can be of
any help here; it is the heart that
is in question 5'''a 80 Lois q
In my journeyings 1 have often sat
down by the side Of such lonely old
peasants. / have tried to cheer them
up and direct their attention to vari-
Gus matters, but I have generally
found that they cannot fix their minds
upon any particular subject, and have
lost the power of hearing, even if
they are not deprived of the external
senses they have but one single
thought, one. ever-recurring theme,
which they involuntarily mutter to
themselves, frequently, interspersing
prayer. Then they stare vacantly
before them, with mouth wide open,
or become sunk in dreamy vacuity,
looking only to death for deliverance.
If the pastors cannot be of any as
sistance here then it is the bounden
duty of each neighbor to do what he
can to encourage and cheer. But
most people live only for themselves
and think they have done enough as
long as they keep themselves from
positive wrong. Few feel it incum-
bent upon them to prevent mlsdoing
and TO be ,unwearied in persistent at,
tempts to ameliorate. the unhappy con
dition of others. Therefore SO much
the moro agreeable is it That I can
now relate pleasant experience
which occurred to me in, one of my
recent excursions.
1t was q beautiful warm summer
afternoon among the Haz mountains.
L was going to the Broeken, and loi-
tered through alittle valley, along a
narrow patch which fed to the. noun
tain side, "A door old man with thin
snow white bair was sitting by the
wayside; he had long, brown staff
cut from black thorn, between his
knees. I sat down by him asking his
nsme and way of life, and the old man
told me that he had formerly been a
forest keeper; there was no rock
which could be climbed, and no ra-