Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1872-07-03
Uncle zeke's Mote Book.

Uncle Geke's Notebook.
Notmany hours ago, heard Uncle Zeke
discussing matters with his son, who was
complaining pressure.
"Rcly upon it, Reuben" said the old
man, as he leaned on his staff, with his
gray locks flowing i'll the breeze OF q May
morning "murmuring pays no bills.
L have been an observer many times
these fifty years, and l never saw n man
helped out of Il hole by cursing his horses.
bc as quiet as you can, for nothing will
grow under q harrow, and discomfort
harrows the mind. Matters are bad, i
acknowledge, but no ulcer is any better
for lingering. The more you sroan the
poorer you grow.
"Rcpining at losses is only putting
pepper in sore eye. Crops will fail in
all sois--we may be thankful that we
have not - famine. Besides, 1 always
took notice that whenever / felt the rod
pretty smartIy, it was us much as to say
-sllere is something which yo;. have got
to learn Reuby, don't you forget That
Your schooling is not over yet, though
you have n wife and two children"
AYE" replied Reuben, "you may say
that, and Il mother-in-law, and two ap-
prenticcs into the bargain and I should
like to know what I. poor man can earn
here, where the greatest scholars and
lawyers are at loggcrhcads, and can't for
their lives tell what has become of the
hard money"
Softly, Rcuby, 1 am older than you
have not got these gray hairs and this
crooked back without some burdens. /
could tell you stories Of the days Of con
t'nontal money, when my grandfather
used to stuff sulky-box with bills to
pay fora ycarling or whcat-fan, and
when the Jersey women used thorns for
pms, and laid their teapots away in the
garrct. You wish to know what YOU can
learn? You may learn these seven things
First, That YOU have saved too little
and spent too much. / never thought
you to be miser, but have seen YOU
giving your dollar for notion when yoa
might have laid onc-half aside for chari-
ty and one-halfas for rainy day.
Secondly, That you have gone too
much upon credit. l always told you
that credit was n shadow: there is sub
stance behind that which cast tie shad-
ow, and no wise man will follow the shad-
ow any further than he can sec the sub
stance. You may learn that you have
followed, and been dccoycd into a bog.
Thirdly, That you have gone, in too
much haste, to become rich. Slow and
easy wins the race.
"Fourthly, That no course of life can
be depended upon rs always prosperous
| am afraid the younger race Of working
men in America havca notion that no
body would 90 to ruin ON this side of the
water. Providence has greatly blessed
us, and we have become pcrsumptrous.
Filthy, That YOU have not been
thankful enough to God for His benefits
in past times.
"Sixthly, That you may be thankful
our lot is not worse. We might have
famine, or pcst'lcncc, or war, or tyranny
or all together.
And lastly, to the end of my notes,
you may learn TO offer with more under
standing, the prayer Of your infancy,
Give us this day our daily bread"
The old man ceased, and Rcuby put
On his apron, and told Dick to blow away
the forge bellows.
General J. y. kcrshaw and Captain
". l.. dc Pass addressed The people OF
Ilucaslnr c, LII ~ Ir.unnra.u.. -.