Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-02-19
she Gssfx County 9trald.
ISLAND POND, FEBauARyia, 1850.
MIND YOUR own BUSINESS.

aking for his subject the expression
Mind your own business" and as
it contains so much that is sound,
practical and instructive, We pub
fish below a synopsis of it. Is
land Pond can boast of a number of
people who make it their chief oc-
to mind other peoples
business, and if these will make a
proper application of the moral the
lecture is intended to convey, its
publication may accomplish great
of good. We hope it Will.
This expression often heard, he
said, assumes that every one has
business of some kind or other in
this world. The word implies a
calling--a duty-an object in life.
There are not few proverbs, good
and bad, about business: Cuisines
and action strengthen the brain, but
too much study weakens 1t" "Busi
ness is the salt of life" Business
makes a man as we'll as tries him.
The old Hebrew never allowed a
child to grow up without putting a
business into his fingers. Every
Prince must be a tradeSman in the
olden times. The dignity and ne
cessity Of labor were thus illustrat-
ed. In all people everywhere idle
ness is pemicious. 1t is the parent
of an ugly offspring. If you say of
n man, "he's idle" you have said
enough to condemn him without any
addition. People with no settled
reputable business are apt TO be-
come of that order known as "busy
bodies" As the proverb has it,
"'busy bodies never want bad
day" How many folks spend their
time in meddling and muddling.
Their presence means foul weather.
Their business is to mind other peo-
pies business, They WHO cannot
manage their own children are the
most prolific in good advice to
others. a woman who cannot cook
Il potato writes a book on economi-
cal cookery.
Busy Lodics are not all Of one
class. Their number is legion. They
are the moral scavengers of the
cities and towns-or rather the i'm
moral scavcngers, for nothing de-
lights them so much as scandal.
Society is kept in a state of perpet-
ual visitation by these people, who
avcnge themselves On nature for de.
priving them of any amplitude of
brain and heart by an incessant use
of the tongue. They turn all bee
hives into waspnests. Whatever is
your business mind it. Any bust
ness is far better than none. Often
man fails in life through being in
a business for which he has no natu-
raj fitness, but oftencr from neglect
ing to make the most aud the best
of the business he is in. When a
farmer was asked what he fortified
his fields with to get so grand a crop
he answered, "wIth brains, sir. "
The man who has no ability of
downright determination cannot ex-
pect to be prosperous. Many men
give the best of their attention to
amusements and the worst to their
business; if such persons do not fail
they have to thank someone other
than self for success. There must
in these cases be internal failure
whatever outward appearance may
be. A merchant who converts his
business into an instrument of honor,
benevolcnce and patriotism, is a
man to whose example the commun-
lty owes more than it knows. How
to be good man Of business does
not mean simply how to make
money, but how to make character.
Character is the mans reputation, is
what the man is said to be. Society
is full of Mr.. Micawbers waiting for
something to turn up. Many be-
llevc in what they call "good luck, .
but good luck" never believes in
them.
There has never been a political
or social constitution in the world
that can make fool into wise
man. The man who puts "mind'
into any legitimate business will get
something out of it worth while
But if he uses his hands only in his
business and employs his mind in
something else he dishonors himself
and his business. How many of us
there are who find everything wrong
except our individual selves. The
constitution of the United States Is