Life and Literature Part 139

Let mildness ever attend thy tongue.

1936

It is more necessary to guard the mouth than the chest.

--_From the German._

1937

It is related that a peasant once came to a monk to be taught the Scriptures. The holy man began with the Psalm, 39 chapter, 1st verse: "I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue."

The peasant went his way to practice this and never returned. Lifelong was the lesson, and lifelong the endeavor to master it.

1938

The tongue's not steel, yet it often cuts.

1939

A sharp tongue is the only edged tool that grows keener with constant use.

--_Irving._

1940

There are tourists who so busy themselves in traveling that they see nothing.

1941

He'll seldom need aid Who has a good trade.

1942

A useful trade may be said to be like a mine of gold.

1943

I see that conscience, truth, and honesty are made To rise and fall, like other wares of trade.

--_Moore._

1944

He who has a trade may travel through the world.

--_From the Spanish._

1945

INFLUENCES OF FOREIGN TRAVEL.

One of the remarks which an American is expected to make on returning from a foreign tour, especially his first return, is: "Well I'm a better American for having gone abroad," meaning that foreign travel has increased his love for his own country--in other words, has toned up his patriotism. * * * * * * * *

Foreign travel will make any intelligent American a better citizen, because an increase of knowledge is a betterment. One honored resident of Was.h.i.+ngton, a gentleman past middle life, recently returned from his first European tour, and on being asked if he could make the stereotyped report of having been "made a better American," replied: "Yes; I think I am a better American for having had a deal of conceit knocked out of me." That was a profitable experience.

_From Baltimore Sun, November, 1906._

1946

He that would make his travels delightful, must first make himself delightful.

1947

It will be observed, that when giving me (Boswell) advice as to my travels, Dr. Johnson did not dwell upon cities, and palaces, and pictures, and shows. He was of Lord Ess.e.x's opinion, who advises his kinsman, Roger, Earl of Rutland, "rather to go a hundred miles to speak with one wise man, than five miles to see a fair town."

--_Boswell's Johnson._

1948

_Deuteronomy x.x.xiii, 19_--"They shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of the treasures hid in the sand."

Among the hards.h.i.+ps experienced by the first settlers in North America, they were sometimes greatly distressed for food, which led the women and the children to the sea side to look for a s.h.i.+p which they expected with provisions, but no s.h.i.+p appeared for many weeks; they saw in the sand, however, vast quant.i.ties of sh.e.l.lfish, since called clams, a species of muscle. Hunger impelled them to taste, and at length they fed wholly upon them, and were as cheerful and well as they had been before in England, enjoying the best provision. It is added, that a good man, after they had all dined one day on clams, without bread, returned thanks to G.o.d for causing them to "suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand." This text, which they had never before observed particularly, was ever after endeared to them.

1949

THE BEECH TREE'S PEt.i.tION.

O leave this barren spot to me: Spare, woodman, spare the beechen tree!

Though bush or floweret never grow My dark unwarming shade below; Nor summer bud perfume the dew, Of rosy blush, or yellow hue!

Nor fruits of autumn, blossom-born, My green and glossy leaves adorn; Nor murmuring tribes from me derive Th' ambrosial amber of the hive; Yet leave this barren spot to me: Spare, woodman, spare the beechen tree!

Thrice twenty summers I have seen The sky grow bright, the forest green; And many a wintry wind have stood In bloomless, fruitless solitude, Since childhood in my pleasant bower First spent its sweet and sportive hour, Since youthful lovers in my shade Their vows of truth and rapture made; And on my trunk's surviving frame Carved many a long-forgotten name.

Oh! by the sighs of gentle sound, First breathed upon this sacred ground; By all that Love has whisper'd here, Or Beauty heard with ravished ear; As Love's own altar honor me: Spare, woodman, spare the beechen tree!

--_Thomas Campbell._