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A New Zealand Sawyer's Philosophy — We give the result of a conversation with ono of these men, omitting the leading questions we addressed to him : — " I have been knocking about in these colonies for 11 years. I consider myself better off than at home. In the old country your master will turn you of for a sour look, and when you have once got a bad name it will go hard with you to find anotherplace. Here lam as good as my master, and he knows it : I can turn him off when I choose, and find as good a place to-morrow. I can make as much in a day here as I could in a week in England. I have saved no money ; what's the tise ? I once made £250 at ihe diggins in Australia, went down to Melbourne and spent it like a gentleman. Ah ! it is a pleasant thing being a gentleman ; I should like to have nothing else to do. I wore as good coats as any of your officer fellows, and spent your money quite as freely. It lasted me five months ; and it is a comfort to me that I never met a poor pal without standing treat. I met an old chum bound for New Zealand, and came down here with him JFor a lark. When I have made a little money, I go down to Auckland and spend it like a gentleman. It is not worth while going there with 'less than £60; that lasts me abont a fortnight. Being a topsawyer at the top of the profession, yon know, I can make that sum in six weeks. I thus work like a man for nine months of the year, and livo the other three like a gentloman. If I meet my master in town I look at*him fairly in the face ; why shouldn't I? Ain't las good as he ? I owe him nothing, and he owes me nothing ; I have done my work, and he has paid me for it, so there's an end of the matter. What should Idoif I were sick ? Why go to the hospital to be Bure. But I never have been sick, and I don't mean to be, it is not in our line. It wouldn't pay on no account. Oh, yea, I suppose I shall die some day, but then I won't make a long job of it. There will be no occasion to call the doctor or send for the nurse. Til be crushed by a tree, or drowned in the river, the same as other sawyers. Neither my f ther nor my grandfather died in their beds, and I don't expect to either. When I die my comrades will dig a hole and bury me beneath some tall kauri tree, and the world will jog on as before. I don't bother my head about the rest ; I suppose I shall fare as others. I have lots of poor relations in England, but they have no claim on me. They never did any thing for me,- and why should Ido aay thing for them? If they want mtmey, let them work for it as I do ; the world is wide enough for all. If they choose to stay at home and starve that is there look out, not mine. lam not such a fool as to he earning money for them. Besides I have always been a friend of peace, and don't wish to have them quarrelling about my money when I am dead." — ' Frazer's Magazine ' for November. Tub Eleventh Commandment.— " A new> commandment I give nnto you, that ye love one* another." — John xiii. 34. One Saturday evening a beggar appeared at tha parsonage of John Butherford, in the quiet village, of Anworth, Scoctlan,d, and asked for a lodging. The Minister's good wife with Christian hospitality bade him welcome, and invited him to a warm place beside the kitchen fire while she, according to her Saturday evening custom, catechised her servants: Observing the beggar to be very attentive, thekdy thought she would put a question to him also. So askfl^— " My friend can you tell me how many commandments there ate'P' — " Eleven J" replied the stranger unhesitatingly. " Elewn !" exclaimed Mrs Eutherford, ?f shocked at his ignorance. So she gave him his 'supper and dismissed him to his attic bed. On enquiring for the beggar-in the morning Mr. Hutherford was told by a servant that he went away qnite early. Shortly after a man arrived who was introduced at breakfaßt.by 3lr. Rutherford as tlie Minister who was to preach at Antworlh that day. Mrs. Rutherford had forgotten the circumstances of the beggar of the night before 1 ; so, what was her surprise on attending church, to ■ hear tho preacher give out for his text the wflpds — ",A new commandment I give unto you,' that ye love one another ;** and to open his diaconrso by' remarking — "This may be called the eleventh commandment." The beggar of Saturday night was tho preacher of Sunday, and the preacher of Sunday was no lees a man than Archbishop Usher, whose historical, religious, and chronological works have made him so celebrated.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TH18650429.2.17

Bibliographic details

Taranaki Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 665, 29 April 1865, Page 4

Word Count
862

Untitled Taranaki Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 665, 29 April 1865, Page 4

Untitled Taranaki Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 665, 29 April 1865, Page 4