MORE PHILOSOPHY.
THE SUSPICIOUS MAN.
Suspicion, a little ov it, iz almost az good az wisdum, but it iz one ov them kind ov disseazes that men aint apt tew hav small. It iz like the meazles—if they have it they hav it aul over.
A suspicious man iz most alwus a cunning man; and a cunning man iz generally a rogue.
What the happiness ov a suspicious man consists in i never could tell. It certainly aint in friendship, for he iz afraid tew trust hiz own brother; it kant be in conversashun, for he beleaves evry man lies; nor in affection, for he looks upon the artlessness, even ov children, as the germs ov fraud.
If a man iz born with this trait, it iz alwus the stoughtest one he haz got, and about the only one; for suspicions iz like sheep sorrell, a vinegary weed, that runs evry generous plant out ov the soil.
If a man learns tew be suspicious, it only proves that he haz been tew bad schools, where not mutch of ennything else waz taught.
Noboddy but a phool would lay aside all kaution and undertake tew go thru this world without enny linch-pin; but noboddy but a rogue would learn enny more suspicion than he was aktually obliged to.
Prudence and kaution are the simple children ov wisdum; but suspicion iz either a bastard, got by Deceit, upon the person of Ignorance, or else it iz the legitimate baby ov parents who hav studdied kaution, not tew protekt themselves, but tew be able tew cheat sumboddy else aul the eazier.
THE WISE MAN.