, 1872-11-06
NEW DUTIES FOR PATRIOTS

which have been blazing so fur1oualy cdn now
be extinguished. The watchmen on the Walls
Of Liberty can put ont their beacons and come
down and look after their horses. There is no
longer any necessity for keeping the eagle
screaming. He can now be left at liberty to steal
chickens from barn yards, and carry them away
to his mountain eyrie to feed the youthful birds
Of freedom. Those patriotic Sons Of liberty who
have tramped through the mud, and yelled them-
selves hoarse since Inst Ju1y, can now apply their
legs and lungs to better purpose. Demosthenes
and Cicero have no further occasion to tell The
threadbare story Of the War ct the Rebellion
Or cut up patriotic antics on the rural stump.
The si2-and-thirty red, white and blue young
ladies' can now return to their milking and but
ter-making with the proud consciousness that
they have helped to save their country. Smith,
who is elected, it il to be hoped will not steal
anything more than be can help, and Brown,
who is defeated, can console himself with the
fact that, il he were elected, he would probably
be denoralized and go to the bad. Let those
who are out reflect that at least they ara not ex-
p19EAA w +lo tCA44es&tApi4a u tAOaQ Hk4O dAo
that they can be good men and faithful citizens
and take care of their families and horses in the
good old Christian way. They cannot be too
thankful that they are not to be burdened with
the cares OF State just now, when the Epihippic
demands mans whole mind, not to mention
the cholera, which is due next May-day, contem-
porary with May-howers and song-hirds. Office
holding is poor business at the best, and dread
fully wearing on the conscience.
As the election is over and the world still
moves its axis. it ia evident that the duties OF
the world are still incumbent On us. They have
been neglected too long. Patriotism is undoubt-
ed1y nice thing, and the safety OF the country
ought always to be looked after, and every one
ought to hurrah for somebody. But it is possi~
BILE to have too much OF a good thing, and, if re
keep at this particular thing all winter, We shall
get the colored man and brother so eyerlaatingly
safe, and the War OF the Rebellion so completely
suppressed, that when We need them in 1876 We
can't get 80 much as the shadow Of black ghost
or rusty old Arkansas tooth-pick with which
to appeal to the SONS OF freedom once more to
rise in their might and BaYe their beloved coun-
try from the ruin which always impends when-
ever we have to elect President or Constable.
There are certain claims Of spiritual nature
from which no man is free, which have suffered
during this patriotic interregnun. The attend
anca at church has been OF desultory nature
Pew-rents hare run in nrrears, and thereby tho
III.
cal artists at the other, have suffered somewhat
in their salaries. There has not been that fixed
attention which is due to the minister, nor that
radical improvement Of the various means OF
grace, which might have obtained Il the safety
Of the country had not been made paramount to
the safety Of the sou1. There is much, there
fore, to be done in this direction. Those who
are elected will need more than the usual fervor
Of prayer to keep them from temptation, and
those who are not elected need more than ever
to cultivate the Christian graces, and to express
their degout thankfu1ness that by the inscrnta-
bic DEGREES Of Providence they are not exposed
to temptation which might have induced them
to forget all their early teachings. There are
AA<SA
attention, nov that the ward meetings
no longer demand the absence OF the head Of
the family from the roof~tree which shelters
spouse and olive branches. The great army Of
the defeated will find sweet consolation and heal
ing ba1m in settling up the bills Of the butcher
and baker and candlestick~maker, which have
largely accu1nulated; in restraining the children
| who have run wild; in bestoTing aud receiving
| those little home comforts which do so much to
soften the asperities of the rude world; and in
repairing the various rents and breaches which
the household gods hare received for want OF
that daily care which it is the duty OF husband
and father to bestow upon them. The husband
and father himself also needs repairs which only
the wife and the mother can make. He has
taken cold, Of course He has drunk too much
beer. His raiment has become dilapidated, and
he is altogether aeedy. soggy, and sad He is
domestic wreck which needs to go home for
repairs. And while there is necessity for the
| sons OF freedom to look after their churches
! and their houses, it is equally i'm
! portant that they should look after
| their stables. That noble animal and dear
friend OF man, the horse, has also suffered in
this epidemic of patriotism. While BluHkins
has been trying to elect himself Alderman, the
Epllippic, Hippohinorhea, Ferrohippo
| Epizootic, Febrequobronchiatis, and Le Ca
tarrhe Cheva1in have been coursing the air,
swifter than Faust's witches and have seized his
horse, and Rlunkins' dear friend ia now cough
! ing and aneezing in his stall, With dropping
ears lack-lustre eyes, and cold legs. Now, let
Bludkins forget lis defeat, and, laying in lavish
supplies Of hot mashes, turpentino, and arnica,
apply himself to the Christian task Of saving his
| dear friend, and in that humane deed he may
| find consolation in tie fact that he could not
save his country, and had to lea7o that patriotic
| feat TO Tompkins.
II none of these occupations suggest the
| requisite consultations for the late defeated,
there are other and important dpties to which 3
good citizen and patriot may apply himself and
J ind remedy for his broken apirit. Let him