Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-07-26
'udiiD Argus.



simply be clAssed as AvoidAble and unAvold-
able Under the latter heading srspure
accidents and the great events natural to
our being but under the former heading
how many do we see that owe their chief
poignance to the fact that We ourselves,
Willingly or unwittingly, were TO blame
This last is fine point; for who is uuwit-
ting--i g., ignorant-might have been
wise enough had he so striven. II is with
miseries caused wittingly-with our own
knowledge-thAt We have now to deal, how
ever. We knew when we spent that money
that il was All we certainly had to pay that
bill. To be sure, we expected to receive
more than enough in the interim, from bad
debts and other sources, which we had been
looking up. We could multiply instances
ofspeciOus calculations Of this'oF like n"
ture. We knew when we drank that whisky,
that whisky always had made a fool OF us
before, and most surely would do so again
If We gave it chance. We knew at the time
we married our 9Th wife that our other four
ATTEMPTS had been fsilures that we never
should find woman with q really bad tenn
per much though We longed dor something
to qualify our happiness. We we're well
aware that A. B Il Co. had always cheated
us at high prices, yet we omitted to reap
repentance in their low price list of articles
which we subsequently found turned out
good and cheap The wind whistled through
n crack last winter, yet we may neglect
TO plaster the place until it is so cold that
plaster is unavailable. % Perhaps we suffer
with some severe bodily injury in conse-
quence Of our own neglect. Had we kept
our appointment with G. D., instead of vast
ing half an hour in gossiping with h. f., we
should not have missed, as we did, e really
profitable "Ihiug' Oar culpabls careless
ness in Axeeuting ,rihing ommisaion for
one on whom we are in some degree Deepen
dent, brings black, or it may be only indif-
ferent, looks OF welcome. 1t lie traceable to
nothing but our own dilstory negligence
that that vslusble horse was ''s'Aked;" that
COW mired down, OF thA. hog suHoOsted. In
stead Of changing a pair of boots we have
corns, sore feet, frost nip or other cAlamities
distinctly traceable to onr own shortcoming.
Whydid we not take Mary Ann at her word,
before John Edward tod va TO "quit foolin 2
after his girl ?" Our mother warned Us uol
TO 90 out west, and We knew she had always
been right 10 her advice yet here We
are, hoping to scratch up enough TO &c
back TO the old womsn's wing. What
ever made us build a new house when We
knew we wanted barn so badly, aud oui
old house would have been big enough fol
years TO come? e. E., who we know SIS &C
unerring veterinarian, told us it Was mai
that famed our nigh horse, yet we left the
shoe on, and the animal has now an sbscest
in its foot. II we had only "turned" that
pork once more in the cellar, il would not
now Cthe whole four aides of it , taste musty
and turn our stomach st breakfast, making
US say happy those who don't eat our side
meat Willy complained Of his ''sohings
before we sent him Gus ia the bitter thsw TO
Go the chores, az now We have 10 pay so
doctor bill on his account We knew she
fence was down yesterday, and this morning
We hSys 10 dog seventeen horses and
tWenty-four cows out of the eornfeId That
one particular member OF our family must
soon die, we we're assured by the doctor. vel
wa said harsh word 10 that one; word
which, We know, will cause Us long yesrs
of grief" And oh the words The many,
many, words-we have said IDLY, cAre!sssiy,
or with half Inreai which wounded 80
cruelty, as we saw. What wosl4 we not
give to take them back, and have .hsm, ne
il we're, "a tale untold" And then .hA.
subtler insight into our pre- vel table miseries
to merely name which would be 10 unlock
the closets Of secret chan bers aud wiring
burning secreES from our very hearts our
constant dread lest this or that should be
discovered aud laid bare. or even whispered
about; lest the ''eourtesSn wind, which
kisses al it meets Ebould penetrate our
rscesses Of deed and thought and spread the
tale siAr! To bring our preyensable miser-
les closer TO view would require q hard as
unshrinking as that Of the operating sur
geon. But we can foreses their conse-
queuces in the future Cheeks which now
bloom with the raddy glow of health will,
we must fear one day pale through our mis-
deeds. Frames now sturdy, vigorous and
seemingly healthy will fail and perish pre-
mAlureiy. Regulations now high in esteem
will blight and wItber Hands now firm in
direction will trembe. And the thousand
minor injurious causes of misery will sill |
continue. Is it to be 80 ? Can We not take !
IN one little thought Of the deeds of the day
which should engross our attention dnriuq |
the day; Of the deeds of the hour, IN them. |
selves enough; Of the monetary thoughts
and actions Of the minute which, duly |
considered, wOald prevent many of Our
Miseries?
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