II. This difference exists, a. In the motives by which those who practice one or the other are actuated. 1. The miser cherishing an insatiate love of money, and being unwilling to part with it. 2. While the frugal man only practices a proper económy: Frugality may therefore be termed the daughter of Prudence. 3. The miser shuns no means, however bad, for the sake of winning lucre: deceit, lying, fraud, &c., are his familiar practices. 4. The frugal man detests such base means of acquiring wealth. b. In the application which is made of wealth, 1. The miser does not enjoy life; the thought of accumulating absorbs his whole attention, and prevents those enjoyments which delight the majority of men. His desire is still to heap up; but he enjoys nothing, for he denies himself and his family the ordinary comforts of life. 2. The frugal man avoids unnecessary expenses, wastes nothing that may be turned to some good use; but considers himself only as God's steward, from whom he receives all that he has. He is therefore ever ready to distribute his wealth for charitable purposes, to churches, schools, orphan asylums, &c., c. In their lives, as men and citizens. 1. The appearance of the miser, as well as his surroundings, houses, furniture, clothing,-is, as a general thing, quite peculiar. In the dwelling of the frugal man, every thing looks contented, cheerful, and inviting. 2. The miser has a wicked heart. For the sake of money he is always ready to sacrifice whatever is dear to humanity. The frugal man delights to help those in need, particularly the modestly deserving, whom delicate feeling prevents from making known their wants. d. The miser is distrustful of his wife, children, and servants. Their life is a gloom in which no star glistens; unhappy family! Quite the contrary is the state of the frugal man's household. He imparts his inward peace and joy to those around him. Life passes pleasantly and smoothly. 41. THE USE OF ARDENT SPIRITS. I. Spirituous liquors in many cases may become an effective medicine. But their immoderate, or even habitual, use is ruinous to mind, body, and soul. As for adulterated liquors, they should be used in no case whatever. II. Evil consequences of their use. A. With regard to the body. a. Directly. 1. Intoxication, dullness, tottering walk. (The Lace dæmonians taught their children to abhor drunkenness by inhumanly making poor slaves drunk in their presence.) b. Indirectly. 1. Weakening of the body, corruption of the blood, relaxation of the muscles, trembling of the nerves. 2. Disfigured countenance, red, bloated; drunken quarrels, wounds, disease, death. B. With regard to the mind. a. Directly. 1. Self-command ceases, rudeness begins: often ends in shame. b. Indirectly. 1. Decline of the intellectual powers, delirium. 2. Disgust with life, despair, too often further debasement in crime; even suicide. III. Temporal affairs. A. Business or occupation. a. Neglect of daily pursuits; or, even, b. Entire unfitness for them.. B. Property. a. Lack of improvement, gradual decline of value. "To how many temptations are all, especially the young and gay, exposed to squander their whole time and property amid the circles of debauchées!" &c. C. Reputation. a. Good men will avoid his company. "The purest treasure mortal times afford D. Family relations. a. Discord, bad education of children. E. In relation to other persons. a. Disturbance of their happiness. b. Bad example. IV. What features do the United States present in regard to this subject? Has King Alcohol his worshipers amongst us? His victims? If so, what means are best adapted to counteract his influence? Stringent laws? or rather moral suasion and sound education? What lighter drinks could be introduced as substitutes? Light native wines, as in France and Italy? 42. SLEEP: I. Sleep is a temporary or periodical repose of the organs of sense, the intellectual faculties (altogether, or in part), and a cessation of voluntary motion. II. Causes. ர். a. Exhaustion; all the powers of body and mind being more or less actively engaged in time of wakefulness (natüral sleep). b. Sloth, or a torpid state of body and mind, often induced by disease, by over eating or drinking, or by a superabundance of flesh (unnatural sleep). III. Utility. a. Strengthens mind and body. b. Prevents weariness of life. Every morning life begins as it were anew. c. Consoles those suffering from trouble and affliction. d. Brings to the unfortunate, at least for a short time, forget- sleep," as Sancho covers for a while IV. Kinds of sleep. a. Ordinary repose, for which Nature has appointed the veil of darkness and silence. b. Slumber; light, happy sleep. c. Nap; short, taken by day rather than night. d. Winter sleep (torpidity). Some animals remain in a torpid state (without apparent animation) during the excessive cold of winter. V. Against too much sleep. a. Sleeping too long enfeebles the body, b. Stupefies the mind, c. Causes loss of time; especially late morning sleep, which wastes the most delightful and invigorating part of the day. VI. How to obtain refreshing sleep. a. Devote the day to active employment, not to idling or sleeping. b. Sleep in wholesome and airy rooms into which the sun shines at some part of the day. c. In clean, but not very warm beds. d. Do not eat and drink, even moderately, just before retir- a. Man is inclined to be active: activity needs strength; but, b. The measure of strength is limited, and we must have relaxation. A bow too long bent at last loses its elasticity. c. Necessity of recuperation; difference between recreation and idleness; beneficent effects of sleep; necessity to the industrious. II. Sleep, a picture of our weakness and dependence. a. Can the weary one resist sleep? No more than he can resist the course of his own blood, or change the paths of the planets. b. Helplessness of the sleeper. The strong and the weak, the wise and the simple, are on an equality. c. God watches over us: we depend upon him. With what disposition should we therefore retire? |