The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-09-20
Going on a Fools Errand.

That is, going after something, forgetting what it
is, and returning without it.
There are multitudes who go on fools errands.
That boy was one, who engaged to work in a print
ing office. His errand was to learn the art of print
ing and he had the best of opportunities to learn
all the mysteries of the art. With his means of
learning, and his capacities he might soon have
gained the place Of foreman, and after a little, he
might have become partner in the establishment.
But unlike Franklin and Horace Greeley, he under
valued his privileges, wasted his spare hours, be-
came a companion of the low and vicious, and never
gained a higher place than that of journeyman
printer.
That young man forgot his errand, who left his
fathers farm, and went to the city to better his con-
dition. Through the influence of a friend of his
father he obtained a good situation in a dry goods
store and had he only made himself necessary to
his employer by being faithful to every trust, he
might have won a valuable reputation, and risen TO
opulence. But after a little, it was found that he
was not to be trusted and this discovery rendered
his employer suspicious. Perceiving that he was
watched, he grew more and more Indifferent to the
interests of his employer, and to his own good name,
became dissipated, and in about three years returned
to his home broken down in health and with q blast
ed reputation.
People come into this world with capacities for ac-
quiring every moral and spiritual excellence and if
they make a right use Of their opportunities, they
assimilate themselves to the Heavenly Father, and
gain for themselves everlasting happiness. But how
many forget this all-important errand, and spend
their lives in the pursuit of pleasure, or riches, or
honor And in this selfish seeking, they do nothing
to make the world wiser, or better, or happier.
Such are like q fruit tree that bears no fruit. 1t
may be of comely proportions, and beautiful with
abundance of foliage but it answers not the expec-
tations of its owner. 1t cumbers the ground. 1t is
nigh unto cursing. The unfruitfulness of the lives
Of such testifes that they came into this world on a
FOOLS errand.
And there are some whose lives are positively hos
tile to the welfare of society. l refer to the manu-
~facturers of intoxicating drinks. liquor dealers, and
opium sellers. Time was when slave trading and
slave holding was deemed reputable but good men
like Wilberforce and Clarkson began to question its
morality, and to make known the miseries which it
entailed, and there was q gradual waking up Of
Christian nations TO its ormiti until 1t came to
be classed with piracy and highway robbery.
And like the slave trade the dealing in intoxicat-
ing drinks is in antagonism to the great principle
''The greatest good 10 the greatest number" Liquor
selling is q curse to any people. Where grog shops
have been excluded from Il village, or city, prosper
ity and quiet prevail.
Thus are those connected with the manufacture
and sale of Intoxicating drinks unmindful of their
appropriate errand into this world and they engage
in the work of making drunkards, and bringing
wretchedness and ruin into families, which is the
lewis business. ALIoUIS.