Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-04-20
Who was 50 very kind to me?

Who was so very kind to me?
All, no. the thought I cannot bear,
And If God please my life to spare,
| hope | shall reward thy care,
My Mother
My healthy arm shall be thy stay,
And ] will Sooth thy pains away,
My Mothcr.
And when I see thee hang thy head,
Twill he my turn to watch thy bed,
And tears of sweet affection shed,
My Mother.
For Cod who lives above the skies.
Would look with vengeance in his eyes,
If | should ever dare despise
My Mother.
Some fairly rich things are to be found
in the advertising departments of the
newspapers even in these good old days
some of which are reproduced in the
volume in question, but space fOrbids us
to dwell upon them.
OF course Il book of this character
would not he complete without a sermon,
ana this ancient volume certainly con-
tains one that is decidedly out of the
conventional lines. 1t is entitled "A Ser
mon in Praise of Swearing in Conversa-
ton" The text is taken from Dcut. vi
49, And shalt swear by his name" 1t
is evident that the sermon in question
is intended to be satirical The preach
or announces that in treating this sub
icct he shall consider,
|. The many advantages attending the
frequent use Of oaths, curses, and i'm
will Ia, tI,r
proved. the falsencss Of the assertion,
that swearing is attended with neither
pleasure NOT profit.
H. Answer some objections. And,
Ill Make Il suitable application.
\ fair sample of the general style of
this discourse will appear from the open
ing up of the argument under the first
heading. which runs as follows: In the
first place. this gcntccl accomplishment
is Il wonderful help To discourse; as il
supplies the want Of good sense, learning
ana eloqucnce. The illitorate ana stupid
by the help Of olths. become orators; ana
he, whose wretchcd intellect would not
permit him TO utter a coherent sentence,
by this easy practice, eXcites the laugh
ter, ana fixes the attention of 4 brilliant
and joyous circle. He begins a story, he
is lost in a vacuity of thought. and would
instantly, to his eternal dishonor. become
silent did not i series of oaths and i'm
precautions give him time to gather up,
or rather seek the thread Of his dis
course" etc, etc.
"A young man. native Of Il pleasant
part Of New England. having no objcc-
tions to enter upon married life"
makes known through one Of the news
papers Of that day, his intentions to the
young ladies Of Carolina. lie is about
twenty-five years Of age, If decent pro-
LESSONS ana fair prospects-can produce
IN unsupported charactcr-othcr particu-
lars to be expressed on personal inter
view; to approach which. he suggests the
following mode: The lady. whose atten-
ton may be excited by this proposal, is
desired to drop a billet into the box of
the postofiice. addressed to y. Il. in
which she will declare SO much of her
mind, as is necessary to hint the first
avowal of an honorable cOurtship. She
will also prescribe her fictitious address,
together with the time ana place at
which he may deposit a letter Of more
explicit contents. This correspondence
may be continued ut the pleasure of the
parties, until, by reciprocal understands
ing, they may appoint an interview. a
his propositions are rclisiously sincere, ne
expects that hers also will he such. as
far as She thinks proper to proceed" or
course the young man pledges his sacred
honor as Il gentleman to observe the ut
most diplomatic silence, and it is to he
hoped that his efforts to secure bride
were Got unaVailing with the fair maid
ems Of old Carolina.
There are many other interesting and
readable things in this old volume but
lack Of space prevents US from quoting
others The extracts above quoted, how
ever. will serve to give our readers some
idea Of its general character.