Pepperidge house
Pepperidge house
Thisis a New England village, and is remarkable for its pleasant, cheerful aspect. Every person who rides through it is delighted; and the place has such a reputation, that the land is worth more, and the houses will sell for more, than in almost any other place of the kind you can name. And this all arises from the good taste, neatness, and order, which characterize the inhabitants. I give you a view of the house belonging to Capt. John Pepperidge; a careful, correct, upright man, who has risen from poverty to ease and competence, by industry, economy, and prudence.
His house stands three or four rods back from the street; the front yard is green and grassy, and decorated with fruit trees. The wood pile is fenced in; the barn yard, pig pen, &c., are also tidily fenced. It is a maxim of Pepperidge’s that thereshould be a place for everything, and that everything should be in its place. This is his great maxim; and he not only observes it himself, but he requires every man, woman, and child, about him, to observe it also. He says it saves him one hundred dollars a year.
He has other rules, such asa stitch in time, saves nine; and so as soon as astone falls off the wall he puts it up; when a rail gets out of the fence, he replaces it; when a gate is broken, it is forthwith repaired; if a clapboard is loose, a nail clenches it. Thus matters are kept tight and tidy. Of a wet day, instead of going to the tavern, he spends the time in making little repairs. At odd moments of leisure, he sets out trees and shrubs—thus, year by year, beautifying his place, and rendering it not only more comfortable, but also worth more money, in case he should ever desire to sell it.
Capt. Pepperidge takes great pleasure, and perhaps a little innocent pride, in his place—though, to say the truth, it is by no means costly. He loves better to spend his time in making it more comfortable and pleasant; in setting out trees, improving the grounds, mending the fences, &c., than in going about to talk politics, or gossip upon other people’s business, or in haunting a tavern bar-room. In short, his home is comfortable, pleasant, delightful. It is neat and orderly, inside and out. And he has made it so; though his wife, having happily felt the influence of his example, contributes her share to the good work. His children are well dressed—well educated—well behaved. Can such a man be a drunkard? Can he be vicious? Can he be wicked? Who has so good a chance of health, and wealth and happiness? Who so likely to be respected by his neighbors? Who so likely to do good by his influence and example? Come, Capt. Wideopen, I pray you, and learn a lesson of farmer Pepperidge!
Let us look at the practical effect of Pepperidge’s example. Formerly the village of Economy was called Uneasy-Swamp, and was inhabited by a set of people becoming the name. They were poor, ignorant, idle, anduneasy. They were jealous of all rich people, and considered the unequal distribution of property a dreadful evil. They were equally jealous of the wise, and considered the unequal distribution of knowledge a nuisance to be abated. They were also jealous of the virtuous, and hated nothing so much as a just and honest man. In short, they were, half a century ago, where some conceited but ignorant and uninformed people are now—willing to level everybody and thing to their own standard. If a candidate for office was up, who addressed their prejudices and coaxed them with promises,—though meaning to cheat them—he was the man for them. The more ignorant a magistrate—the more mean—the more base—the more fellow-feeling rendered them kind, and the more ardently they espoused his cause. Such was Uneasy-Swamp, a place which has its image still in some parts of the country.
But Pepperidge came among the people and set them a good example. They persecuted him—reviled him—hated him—ridiculed him—broke down his fences at night—and played him sundry mischievous tricks. But he was patient, and tough in his patience, as the tree that gave him a name. And he overcame them at last. One by one, the villagers began to imitate him. The small brown houses gradually lost their look of squalidness and disorder. The swamp emerged from its shadow, and became a cultivated valley. The little farmers and the humble mechanics rose from their degraded condition; education spread its light; industry, frugality, showered down their blessings, and Uneasy-Swamp became the flourishing village of Economy.
And thus, though none of the people are what is called rich, none are poor. The small houses are neat, and the fruit trees, the blossoming shrubs, the green grass, around them, declare that the people are happy. They are not madin the foolish chase for riches, which is destroying more peace in this country, than all the bodily diseases our flesh is heir to. They are now, from better knowledge, satisfied that the rich man shall possess his wealth, both because they perceive that generally speaking the laboring classes are the happiest, and that the security of property is the only steady impulse to economy, industry, providence, and the other important village virtues. They are more fond of knowledge, for they perceive that it increases their power of being happy. They respect talent and wisdom, for they know that these are gifts sent by Heaven, for the guidance of man to happiness. In politics they are staunch republicans, but always give their votes for men of sterling integrity. A man who has the general character of being an artful, intriguing office-seeker, has no chance with them. They are perhaps a little prejudiced against cities and city people. If they ever have anything to do with a lawyer, they go to one who has been bred in the country, and one who was in early life a farmer. They think, and think justly, that while this rustic breeding gives a man an habitually honest and plain turn of mind, it also renders him more knowing, sagacious, and favorable in his feelings in respect to country people.
I cannot better close this sketch than by introducing some lines which are much esteemed in the village of Economy; every man, woman and child knows them by heart.
“Let order o’er your time preside,And method all your business guide.Early begin, and end, your toil;Nor let great tasks your hands embroil.One thing at once be still begun,Contrived, resolved, pursued, and done.Hire not, for what yourselves can do;And send not, when yourselves can go;Nor till to-morrow’s light delayWhat might as well be done to-day.By steady efforts all men thrive,And long by moderate labor live;While eager toil and anxious care,Health, strength, and peace, and life impair.“Nor think a life of toil severe;No life has blessings so sincere.Its meals are luscious, sleep so sweet,Such vigorous limbs, such health complete;No mind so active, brisk, and gay,As his who toils the livelong day.A life of sloth drags hardly on;Suns set too late, and rise too soon;Youth, manhood, age, all linger slow,To him who nothing has to do.The drone, a nuisance to the hive,Stays, but can scarce be said to live;And well the bees, those judges wise,Plague, chase, and sting him till he dies.“With punctual hand your taxes pay,Nor put far off the evil day.How soon to an enormous sizeTaxes succeeding taxes rise!How easy one by one discharged!How hardly in the mass enlarged!How humbling the intrusive dun!How fast, how far, the expenses run!Fees, advertisements, travel, cost,And that sad end of all, the post!This gulf of swift perdition fleeAnd live from duns and bailiffs free.“In merchants’ books, from year to year,Be cautious how your names appear.How fast their little items count!How great, beyond your hopes, the amount!When shelves o’er shelves inviting stand,And wares allure, on either hand;While round you turn enchanted eyes,And feel a thousand wants arise,(Ye young, ye fair, these counsels trueAre penn’d for all, but most for you,)Ere fancy lead your hearts astray,Think of the means you have to pay.”
“Let order o’er your time preside,And method all your business guide.Early begin, and end, your toil;Nor let great tasks your hands embroil.One thing at once be still begun,Contrived, resolved, pursued, and done.Hire not, for what yourselves can do;And send not, when yourselves can go;Nor till to-morrow’s light delayWhat might as well be done to-day.By steady efforts all men thrive,And long by moderate labor live;While eager toil and anxious care,Health, strength, and peace, and life impair.“Nor think a life of toil severe;No life has blessings so sincere.Its meals are luscious, sleep so sweet,Such vigorous limbs, such health complete;No mind so active, brisk, and gay,As his who toils the livelong day.A life of sloth drags hardly on;Suns set too late, and rise too soon;Youth, manhood, age, all linger slow,To him who nothing has to do.The drone, a nuisance to the hive,Stays, but can scarce be said to live;And well the bees, those judges wise,Plague, chase, and sting him till he dies.“With punctual hand your taxes pay,Nor put far off the evil day.How soon to an enormous sizeTaxes succeeding taxes rise!How easy one by one discharged!How hardly in the mass enlarged!How humbling the intrusive dun!How fast, how far, the expenses run!Fees, advertisements, travel, cost,And that sad end of all, the post!This gulf of swift perdition fleeAnd live from duns and bailiffs free.“In merchants’ books, from year to year,Be cautious how your names appear.How fast their little items count!How great, beyond your hopes, the amount!When shelves o’er shelves inviting stand,And wares allure, on either hand;While round you turn enchanted eyes,And feel a thousand wants arise,(Ye young, ye fair, these counsels trueAre penn’d for all, but most for you,)Ere fancy lead your hearts astray,Think of the means you have to pay.”
“Let order o’er your time preside,
And method all your business guide.
Early begin, and end, your toil;
Nor let great tasks your hands embroil.
One thing at once be still begun,
Contrived, resolved, pursued, and done.
Hire not, for what yourselves can do;
And send not, when yourselves can go;
Nor till to-morrow’s light delay
What might as well be done to-day.
By steady efforts all men thrive,
And long by moderate labor live;
While eager toil and anxious care,
Health, strength, and peace, and life impair.
“Nor think a life of toil severe;No life has blessings so sincere.Its meals are luscious, sleep so sweet,Such vigorous limbs, such health complete;No mind so active, brisk, and gay,As his who toils the livelong day.A life of sloth drags hardly on;Suns set too late, and rise too soon;Youth, manhood, age, all linger slow,To him who nothing has to do.The drone, a nuisance to the hive,Stays, but can scarce be said to live;And well the bees, those judges wise,Plague, chase, and sting him till he dies.
“Nor think a life of toil severe;
No life has blessings so sincere.
Its meals are luscious, sleep so sweet,
Such vigorous limbs, such health complete;
No mind so active, brisk, and gay,
As his who toils the livelong day.
A life of sloth drags hardly on;
Suns set too late, and rise too soon;
Youth, manhood, age, all linger slow,
To him who nothing has to do.
The drone, a nuisance to the hive,
Stays, but can scarce be said to live;
And well the bees, those judges wise,
Plague, chase, and sting him till he dies.
“With punctual hand your taxes pay,Nor put far off the evil day.How soon to an enormous sizeTaxes succeeding taxes rise!How easy one by one discharged!How hardly in the mass enlarged!How humbling the intrusive dun!How fast, how far, the expenses run!Fees, advertisements, travel, cost,And that sad end of all, the post!This gulf of swift perdition fleeAnd live from duns and bailiffs free.
“With punctual hand your taxes pay,
Nor put far off the evil day.
How soon to an enormous size
Taxes succeeding taxes rise!
How easy one by one discharged!
How hardly in the mass enlarged!
How humbling the intrusive dun!
How fast, how far, the expenses run!
Fees, advertisements, travel, cost,
And that sad end of all, the post!
This gulf of swift perdition flee
And live from duns and bailiffs free.
“In merchants’ books, from year to year,Be cautious how your names appear.How fast their little items count!How great, beyond your hopes, the amount!When shelves o’er shelves inviting stand,And wares allure, on either hand;While round you turn enchanted eyes,And feel a thousand wants arise,(Ye young, ye fair, these counsels trueAre penn’d for all, but most for you,)Ere fancy lead your hearts astray,Think of the means you have to pay.”
“In merchants’ books, from year to year,
Be cautious how your names appear.
How fast their little items count!
How great, beyond your hopes, the amount!
When shelves o’er shelves inviting stand,
And wares allure, on either hand;
While round you turn enchanted eyes,
And feel a thousand wants arise,
(Ye young, ye fair, these counsels true
Are penn’d for all, but most for you,)
Ere fancy lead your hearts astray,
Think of the means you have to pay.”
GOD SEES EVERYWHERE.
A fatheronce said to his son, “Carry this parcel to your aunt’s.” “It is the Sabbath, father,” said the boy. “Well, put it in your pocket,” replied the father. “God can see into my pocket,” answered the child.