The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-10-24
Fog The cLARIoS.
Biographical Sketch Of Philoso-
pher.

lFoR BOYS.
curg Preston, yes, that was his name.
/ and whether his ancestry could De traced
to 1 Dueal coronet, to the F. 7. We or
the end Of rope, it mattered nothing
to Carg. He Was chTistened Lyeargus,
but was called Cnrg through all the
stages Of his life. If his parents named
| him after the renowned Spartan Law
yiyer. or the wicked King OF Ihrace,.
who DESTROYED all the vines IN bis coun-
| try. was never known. Il Is certain ne
never made any laws, neither was ne
wicked. but worked diligently small
farm. on which he cultivated a variety
of vines both for ornament and use,
He never enyied a human being, or
coveted another mans goods; he seldom
had : new suit, and his good mother,
Iike the wife of the Shepherd OF Sails
bury Plain.n patched his clothes until
Won could scarce find the original gar
ment. But with his poverty, he was
one Of the most cheerful and innocent
hearted men in the world, and all the
philosophy of life, was contained IN the
saving which he was constantly using,
"What | haven't got is a blessing.
Curg was considered by those who did
not know him, to be 9oa c0Bapoe, and
when asked to explain what ne meant
by such an absurd expression, his reply
was. listen to me. / was born IN old
Virginia in sight of the home of Wash
ington, that is glory and honor enough
for me-" Curg stood straight and erect,
a picture of patched happiness with his
diiapidated old hat in his left hand, and
cutting the air with his right, in the
true Pickwickian style. Ny father said
| had no brains, to speak of, that my
brother had all that should have been
nv share. and he must have Universe
ty education; he was the burning and
shining light in the family. But Curg,
you have stout and strong arms ana legs,
and you can work; brains are good IN
their place, so are arms, so use the
strongest to live by, and always remem
Der what you aint got is blessing. Ny
brother was sent the University, learnt
little Greek and Latin in addition to-
a great many vices, and was killed in al
drinking house, so, "What I.haven't got
Il n blessing" l hayn't got any brains,
ssto speak Of" t'You see / am young,
INV limbs are all stout and strong, my
ewes are good, never had q pain, never
swore an oath, nor took an Intoxicating
drink, or used tobacco; | never owed
man a cent, and never asked for one, and
/ sleep the sleep of the just and hon
est "Now tell me who's that crossing
the street, Just then poor woman,
with a dirty bundle under her arm, and
two dirty children clinging to her skirt,
came over ard stretched out her hand
for a little charity; behind her reeled
her drunken husband. Curg gave her
all the money he had. "You see, now,
he, said, ''What / haven't got is bless
ing" / haven't got any children, and l
haven't got a drunken father. Then
an cid soldier came humping along
vi h wooden leg, and black patch
covering the place where half his nose
had once been, who recounted the many
heroic deeds he had done on the battle
field. but finally, bewailing the loss OF his
nose; il was exceedingly inconvenient
when he wished to smell, and worse
when he had cold But the loss of his
leg was awful-oh the dreadful shooting
pains he still felt; how he couldn't walk
where he wished to walk, and ne
couldn't do what be wished to do, ana
that he would have to go hopping
through life on a wooden leg, which
made him groan in misery. All, says
Curg, g What | haven't got is blessing,
haven't got patched nose, or wooden
Leg" An elegant carriage roils on
drawn by pair of fine blooded bays;
Curg would surely like to be the posses,
sor, with all the wealth OF the owner OF
that splendid equipage. Worse and
worse says Curg, that man is worried
/ nearly out of his life to keep up appear,
ances. and from too much eating and
/ drinking, has got the gout, and cant
/ walk: riches are often greater curse
than poyerty." "What haven't got Il
q blessing; | haven't got any appearances
to keep up, and / haven't got the goHt.
Il There's a scuffie in the street, and two
officers are arresting man who has
robbed his employer. He was poor, ano
wished to live in the style of rich man
J and the officers are conducting him tG
, nrison. "Oh." says Curg, what
haven't got is a blessing; haven't go'
stolen money, and / haven't got to g
] to prison" Curg was an original; de
snite his shabby dress, he was pletur'
) of manly beauty, straight as an arrew
graceful in his movements, ana eye
: ike an eagles. His affection and de
yotion to his widowed mother, was tn
! erowning beauty of his life, denying
! himself almost everything to make ne
< comfortable and happy. The neat lltti
D cottage in which they lived, was pianne'
] and built by him, and all the furnltur
: and ornaments were his handiworf
s much of it showing genuine skill an
It taste, He made her beautiful garde
IS and filled it with rare flowers, and a
d the air around Nas filed with their fri
!; GRANGE. She, his mother, adored hin
: and doubtless was happier, and felt MOI
lel pride and respect for him than ii ne ma
been President of the United States; {
If she the neglected mother of a son, wh
d spent his life in search of public honor
II Yet Curg would never acknowledge tn.
10 he had any 'sbrains to speak OF. Z
1t was a philosopher, but, he was m
10 horn great, nor did he achieve greatnef
N q have it thrust upon him." How tru
t. interesting and touching, are the she
and simple annals of the virtuons al
industrious poor. With too much
diyiduality to ape friyolity and fashlo
many of their acts are Worthier OF CO..
memoration, than those who are ev
in striving for high position and wealt
OF without honesty and virtue. !,
On III. n. j,