“’I am very sorry, indeed, for you have got a much better wife than most men!’ ‘That’s a true word, my lady, only she’s fidgety-like sometimes, and says I don’t hit the nail on the head quick enough; and she takes a dale more trouble than she need about mony a thing.’
“’I do not think I ever saw Ellen’s wheel without flax before, Shane?’ ’Bad ’cess to the wheel!—I got it this morning about that too. I depinded on John Williams to bring the flax from O’Flaharty’s this day week, and he forgot it; and she says I ought to have brought it myself, and I close to the spot. But where’s the good? says I; sure, he’ll bring it next time.’
“‘I suppose, Shane, you will soon move into the new cottage at Churn Hill? I passed it to-day, and it looked so cheerful; and when you get there, you must take Ellen’s advice, and depind solely on yourself.’ ‘Och! ma’am dear, don’t mention it; sure it’s that makes me so down in the mouth this very minit. Sure I saw that born blackguard, Jack Waddy, and he comes in here, quite innocent-like—‘Shane, you’ve an eye to squire’s new lodge,’ says he. ‘Maybe I have,’ says I. ‘I’m yer man,’ says he. ‘How so,’ says I. ‘Sure I’m as good as married to my lady’s maid,’ said he; ‘and I’ll spake to the squire for you my own self.’ ‘The blessing be about you,’ says I, quite grateful—and we took a strong cup on the strength of it—and depinding on him, I thought all safe; and what d’ye think, my lady? Why, himself stalks into the place—talked the squire over, to be sure—and without so much as “by your lave,” sates himself and his new wife on the lase in the house; and I may go whistle.’ ‘It was a great pity, Shane, that you did not go yourself to Mr. Churn.’ ‘That’s a true word for you, ma’am dear; but it’s hard if a poor man can’t have a frind to depind on.’”
If you want any thing well done, you must see to it yourself. If you want it half done, leave it to servants. If you want it neglected, impose it upon your friend, to save yourself the trouble.
Section III.—Contentment.
THE true secret of happiness lies in a contented mind. If we would be happy, we must be satisfied with our lot as it is. There is no condition in which there is not something unpleasant. If we seek for perfection, we may roam the wide world over, and never find it; but, if we learn to bear patiently what we cannot help, almost any situation in life will be tolerable. Every one, however, is disposed to think his troubles the worst of all. The following story shows that no situation is exempt from trouble.
The old black sheep.
A gentleman in England was passing by where a large flock of sheep were feeding; and seeing the shepherd sitting by the road-side, preparing to eat his dinner, he stopped his horse, and began to converse with him. “Well, shepherd,” he said, “you look cheerful and contented, and I dare say, have very few cares to vex you. I, who am a man of large property, cannot but look at such men as you with a kind of envy.” “Why, sir,” replied the shepherd, “’tis true, I have not trouble like yours; and I could do well enough, was it not for that black ewe that you see yonder among my flock. I have often begged my master to kill or sell her; but he won’t, though she is the plague of my life; for no sooner do I sit down at my book or take up my wallet to get my dinner, but away she sets off over the down, and the rest follow her; so that I have many a weary step after them. There! you see she’s off, and they are all after her!” “Ah, my friend,” said the gentleman, “I see every man has a black ewe in his flock, to plague him, as well as I.”