Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-06-20
BuRDETTE's ADVICE.

8uRDETTE'S ADVICE.
3he Kind of Philosophy which Makes
Men Happy. Loving and Contented.
I turn over the leaves of an old note
book, tho pages of which I filed half
! score of years ago. On ono page !
ind this note: "
my books are all wrinkled and
illed with crumbs Of maple and
sumach leaves, with here and there a
forgotten forest leaf clinging to the
printed one. All. we'll! some time l
may kiss tho wrinkled pages of my
choicest book. while ! think of the dear.
white hands that laid the maple leaves
in history or lexicon. and thank God
that the page is wrinkled and the on
craving discolored.
And now, whenever I turn to that
page in the notebook, do you know,
my boy. how glad I am that l wrote
about the leaves as I didP There was
no shadow of fear or dread over my
little home then. There was no rea-
son why should feel so tenderly
toward tho leaves and stems that
stained and wrinkled my books. and
ever kept me from using them for u
week at time, was there? All! in
deed there was Indeed there was.
Because love is better than books. my
boy. Because your books, my son.
though you crowd the literary treas
ures of the world upon your shelves,
can never creep into your heart as
your wife will. some day, when you
find the girl whom the gods have de.
creed shall crown your home. Be-
cause we should always hold the
hearts that love us nearer to us than
the petty annoyances and little ills of
this life. Because tho quick, hasty
word you speak in ill-tomper or un'
gontleness to-day. my boy, leaves a
sting in your heart to rankle half a
! century away. Because to-day, if
could, l would burn up every book
there is in all this world just u feel
the little hands that laid those leaves
in tho pages where l said they must
not 60, clasp themselves about my
neck for one hour Hold your tongue
and your pen. my boy. Every time
you are tempted to say an ungentle
word, or write an unkind line. or say
4 mean, ungracious thing about any
body, just stop; look ahead twenty-five
years. and think how it may como
back to you then.
Let me tell you how I write mean
letters and bitter editorials. my boy.
Some time. when a man has pitche ed
| into me and ''cut me up rough" and
want to pulverize him, and wear his
CORY scalp at my girdle and hang his
hide on my fence, I write the letter OF
editorial that is 10 do the business.
write something that will drive SLEEP
from his eyes and peace from his soul
for six weeks. Oh, lido hold him owe,
a slow fire and roast him. Gall and
aquafortis drip from my blisterine
pen. Then. don't mail the letter
and I don't print the editorial:
There's always plenty of time to
cruelty man. The vilest crimina al is
entitled to little reprieve. Iput the
manuscript away in q drawer. Mex
day 1 look at it. The ink is cold;
read it over and say: Il don't know
about this. There's a good deal oil
bludgeon and bowie-knife journalism
in that I'll hold it over a day
longer" Tho next day read j,
again. l laugh. and say "Pshaw!"
and l can feel my cheeks getting
little hot. The fact is, am
ashamed that I ever wrote it. and
1 hope that nobody has seen it,
and I have half forgotten the
article or letter that filled my soul with
rage. haven't been hurt l haven
hurt any body. and the world goes
right along, making twenty-four hours
day as usual. and am all the hap.
pier Try it. my boy: Put off your
bitter remarks until tomorrow: Then,
when you try to say them deliberate
ly, you'll find that you have forgottM
them, and ten years later. ah! how
glad you will be that you did! Be
good my boy. Believing and
gentle with the world, and you'll be
amazed to see how dearly and tender
ly the worried. tired, vexed, harrassed
old world loves you.-Burdette. in
Chicago Journal.
Helpful Household Hints.