He that has never known adversity, is but half acquainted with others, or with himself. Constant success shows us but one side of the world; for, as it surrounds us with 110 LIABILITY OF LABORERS TO INTEMPERANCE. similar temptation; and, if so, surely we shall at least be kind in our endeavors to reform them. Again, while endeavoring to reclaim persons of this strong propensity for intoxicating drink, attempts should be made to provide, especially among our laborers, substitutes that will appease thirst. If one thing will not answer, try another and another, till successful. The object to be attained is worthy of persevering effort. In periods of severe toil, when every physical energy is required in work, provide substitutes that will not only appease thirst, but will be palatable, and nutritious, and invigorating. The effort may not in every case be effective; but, if such endeavors were generally made by those employing laborers, and especially farmers, it is believed much, very much, would be accomplished in promoting temperance; and at the same time the best feelings will be induced between the reformers and those reformed. The latter will consider the former as their best friends and benefactors. which A few words in this chapter will be added on a kindred subject-a subject not much thought of, but surely one of no small magnitude-intemperance of eating. Laboring men, especially, are liable to eat too freely. Fatigue, and, occasionally, long abstinence, naturally create excessive appetite. The consequence is, they eat without reflection, till the stomach is actually overcrowded and overburdened with food. It is a fact every person ought to know, that the stomach will digest only a given quantity of food. What is called digestion is the conversion of the food received by the stomach into a fluid called chyle, which is immediately carried by vessels for that purpose to the blood, and to the different parts of the system, for nourishment. That portion of the food not converted into chyle, for a period, remains in the stomach, giving peculiar painful sensations, as if a stone had been swallowed, and then passes away with other waste matter, doing no more good than though it had at first been cast into the fire. The food of the stomach is digested or dissolved by the agency of another fluid, called gastric juice, analogous in its character and office to lye in making common soap. In the latter, it is known, that grease is dissolved by the lye; and that if the quantity of grease is too great for the quantity of e, a portion of it will remain in its solid state. Precisely so is it in the process of digestion. Hence, care should always be taken not to eat more than will be dissolved or digested by the gastric juice. If one does eat more than this, speedily this heavy weight is felt, longer or shorter as the case may be, in the stomach. In addition to the pain, usually a heaviness or dullness of feeling is experienced, From hearing comes wisdom; and from speaking, repentance. friends, who tell us only our merits, so it silences those enemies from whom alone we can learn our defects. That which we acquire with the most difficulty, we retain the longest, as those who have earned a fortune, are usually more careful of it, than those who have inherited one. disqualifying for labor, and especially for mental action. Nor is this all; frequent habits of thus overloading the stomach, derange and enfeeble all its organs. Disease of some sort or other is the ordinary result. In the end, therefore, excessive eating may be as prejudicial to health, and as capable of shortening life, as excessive drinking. True, one does not make a person appear so much like a fool or a brute as the other; but it involves evils, against which every wise and good man should cautiously guard. Nor should it be forgotten, that moderate eating satisfies the sensation of hunger as well as excessive eating. The same as a small draught will appease the sensation of thirst as well as swallowing a gallon. Listen, young farmer, to the moral muse, Will give thee competence; thy gains are small, THE RAINBOW.-BY CONRAD. "What does the Rainbow's beauteous arch declare? A wise man will not tell such a truth as every one will take for a lie. It is recorded of Professor Porson, that he talked Greek fluently when he could no longer articulate in English. Anguish of mind has driven thousands to the commission of suicide; anguish of body, none. This proves, 112 that the health of the mind is of far greater consequence THE RAINBOW. The heavens rolled sternly on in its frowning forms, The sea, roused up, and lashed with whitening foam The lightning's vivid flash; while here and there The thunder's roar. The heavens poured streaming down, The storm had passed. All nature shone In bright, redoubled splendor. Earth, air and ocean, But above all, Surpassing all in splendor and in grace, Which none but God can tell, none but God give. I lived, and moved, and had my being, too. The world makes men drunk as much as wine doth. than the health of the body, though both are deserving of much more attention than either of them receive: |