The Washington herald., 1906-11-18
A LAY SERMON.
by 4 LAYMAN.
Johnny Sprstt, be ate no fat,
His wife she ate no lean,
And so between the loving pair,
They licked the platter clean.

His wife she ate no lcans
And so between the loving pair,
They licked the platter clean.
One of the most eminent Of English au-
thers has written. There is no observa-
ton more frequently made. by such as
employ themselves in surveying the con-
duct OF mankind, than that marriage.
though the dictate Of nature and the insti-
tuition Of Providence, is yet very often the
cause Of misery, and that those who enter
into that state can seldom foTbear to ex-
press their repentance, and their envy Of
those whom either chance or caution hath
withheld from it,
He then refers to the fact that this has
given occasion for many sage and smart
remarks among the gay, and that the
moralist and philosopher and writer of
epigrams have thrown their abilities upon
II, some lamenting and others ridiculing il.
He further mentions that the greater part
Of these smart and cutting sayings come
from men who attribute unhappy mar
rfages to the women-being the result OF
feminine folly, fckleness, ambition, cruel
~, or extravaganza.
Most Of those who have written on mar
riage have insisted that to produce happi,
ness In this relation there should be con-
geniality Of taste. temperament, and
habit, and these, no doubt, were intended
to include appetite.
The instance presented IN the text shows
at least a want Of congeniality Of appe-
tite. but one which. evidently serving the
demands Of economy has produced happi-
Iuf -
Of lean meat, while his wife. no doubt, de
tested IT, and confined her eating entirely
to the fat. The result was that both were
satisfied with their meal, and usually con-
sumed il all. which, leaving no part 70 go
TO waste, was certainly In the interest OF
economy. That this arrangement pro-
duced happiness is evident from the words
OF the text, They were "a loving pair"
II appears that Mr.. and Mrs. Spratt
were childless, as no mention is made Of
children partaking Of the meal: and the
fact that the loving pair consumed it all
leaving none. adds strongly to the pre-
sumption. The word licked" here used
Is not in the sense Of Pope. when ne says,
Pleased 70 the last he crops the fowcry food.
Aud licks the hand Just raised 10 she'd his bood.
Or Of Addison. who speaks Of an anti
quarry licking an old coin, nor quite in the
sense IN which it is used by Walcott in
Peter Pindar. And Oft the gentleman
would lick her. but In an extended use OF
that sense in the cOlloquial vulgar phrase.
usually rendered cleaning him up
No doubt this was an humble pair max
ing 10 noise in the world but pursuing
some avocauon which furnished food. half
Fat and half lean for their daily platter.
and they may have passed through life "A
loving pair happy and cOntented with
their lot and station in life.
II may be that this couple early after
their marriage had agreed to be frugal
knowing how necessary frugality Is to the
happiness Of the world, how beneficial in
its various forms 10 all ranks Of men.
from the highest Of potentates 10 the low
est laborers, and also knowing the mis-
cries which its neglect produces. SO they
may have cultivated their appetitcs. one
for fat and the other for lean, until from
habit they acquired their different tastes
At all events, we are assured that they
were a loving pair.
May not the lines Of Horace be well ap-
piled 10 them2
The man within the golden mean
Who can his b0ldest wish contain
Securely UCWs the ruined cell
Where soriid want aud s0rr0w dwell.
And IN himself securely great
DtCIlnCs guFiff room n state