Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-12-10

4 PCAAbiNoi vi Nh"h6S7s
Heaven has sent us an illustration than
which better we could not desire. In the
front Of the window whereat we trace these
idle wandering thoughts, (''meanderings" we
should say as better word, but that Dick
ems on the first page of his "David Copper
| field" has consigned it to eternal ridicule),
under our window, we repeat, our illustra-
ton is furnished in two youthful and bellig-
erent cocks who are joined in mortal combat
They are not yet "the crested bird who clap
their wings at dawn" as Mr.. Tennyson SO
prettily paraphrases it, but their youth is
perhaps more courageous than their maturer
years will be when they shall strut in more
dignity in the barn-yard. Itamuses us much
to see them leap up, strike out with their
feet and subside again with depressed heads
into lynx-eyed vigilance on each others
movements.
Why do they fight? 1t is either love
or ambition, or possibly as Themistocles
thought, the love of fighting ITSELF They
have plenty of ground over which to roam,
plenty of boon companions, and place to
take shelter under when the weather is bad
or disagreeable. The country gentleman
has peace, competence, happiness. and serene
pleasure to wait upon his steps, He cares
but little for the false glitter and glory of the
Federal city. He cares but little for those
politicians who harangue the people from
the stump and often is led to ask why these
politicians fight each other But we see a
large fowl approaches with stately tread;
the combat is over in an instant, and the
fledgling fowls ANONYMOUSLY retreat with
ignoble haste So it is with the politicians;
let them fight and quarrel over the spoils,
the people 1.-THE large fowl, will approach
after while, until then we are disposed to let
the matter drop.
A little while from the speculative and
the beautiful to the substantial. 1t is "hog
killing time" in the country. Wehave often
heard it said that sudden transition from
one state to another is apt to be ate nded
with unpleasant if not serious consequences.
We are not q believer in this theory, at
least we think that in this as in other cases,
there are exceptions. We have just dined
on liver, sweet-bread, sparc-ribs, sausage,
hogs feet, souse, pudding, and cracking
bread, and we feel decidedly comforta BILE.
There is no doubt about the truth of the old
adage that "if you keep the stomach well
attended TO, everything will be as beautiful
as the flowers of May
Now we are luxuriating with pipe; it is
a family institution, and an old one, having
been in use since the war. 1t reminds us OF
an old pine knot We used to pick up,when a
boy, around the negro cabins This old pipe
has had a vast deal of service to perform
and is likely destined to see much more
1t is scarcely ever idle, having no less thar
three rounds every day from the dining
room to the kitchen.
The very fastidious of society are severe
in their denunciation of the use of tobacco
They do not hesitate to call it a vile ant
dirty habit We will not for one moment
deny it. We may go further and say tina
il is injurious to health. Still, we never set
an old man seated in his armchair, travel
ing quietly down the hill of life, his voice
cheerful and his heart young as in the long
ago, when his manhood was in its glor,
and prime, smoking his pipe, reading tho
weekly papers, his grandchildren playing
around him, that we do not feel that the old
pipe is an institution that we would not Sc,
banished from the homestead.
Some author we do not remember if i
was Ike Marvel, has said that there is goo,
deal of philosophy in pipe. 1t furnishe
subjects for moralizing, food for reflection
1t gives repose, quiets the nerves and cause
man to think well Of his fellow-man. 1t i
strongly suggestive of the changes and re
verses that overtake us in the great march O
life. We see the smoke curling upward
forming all character of shapes, until it fade
and vanishes, and we are reminded of tn
golden visions of youth-its hopes and am
billions looming up into beautiful and grace
full proportions until at last they disappear
an idle phantom OF u dream. "Such are til,
things of this life, beautiful as they appear
unsubstantial shadows ALL"
Gradually the fire consumes the weed
burning lower and lower until it exhaust
itself because of the want of substance; sucl
is life, the animated form ever changing un
der the pillows OF time until its form an,
! beauty are worn out, and at last il become
but dust and ashes" The pipe eventual,
falls and breaks into pieces, the fragment
J are swept out of the door or thrown out O
} the window, "the type of lite's closing scene,
, the body, broken by disease and death, i
taken and placed away in the earth to b
seen no more.
We called yesterday to see an old an,
= venerable gentleman, one whom we recol
lect from the dim and shadowy twilight G
= our earliest recollections. His hair has beel
|, whitened from age, trouble and care Whe
we entered his room he was occupying hi
; accustomed seat, and seeing us he exclaimed
"lou find me smoking; it will soon be ovel
nor do care; il is winter with the year.
is winter at my heart; my pipe will soon b
broken and its ashes soon be scattered"
e We fear that we have trespassed too Ion
: upon the indulgence of our readers with on
rambling thoughts, and yet here we hate I
c close. The fire is still burning brightly o
e the old hearthstone, the winds that hay
iretted all the day long, like tired chile
= have gone to rest, darkness nantes the cart
It and the rain is beating against the window
+ pples of our room. God grant that III
Il darkness and gloom which now shrouds III
d outward world may never settle upon III
C hearts of our readers, but rather that III
d warm light of domestic joy may ever shin
around their family affairs, and through III
5 clouds CLEAN ever star 10 guide them OF
It ward and upward.
- We linger few days longer in the coul
!" try and then we return to the greedy tho
oughiares of life, where convcntionalti,
:" smother nature, chill the warm springs
u generous affection and mike us the creatur,