Sketches New and Old

  HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF

  The following I find in a Sandwich Island paper which some friend hassent me from that tranquil far-off retreat. The coincidence between myown experience and that here set down by the late Mr. Benton is soremarkable that I cannot forbear publishing and commenting upon theparagraph. The Sandwich Island paper says:

  How touching is this tribute of the late Hon. T. H. Benton to hismother's influence:--'My mother asked me never to use tobacco; I havenever touched it from that time to the present day. She asked me not togamble, and I have never gambled. I cannot tell who is losing in gamesthat are being played. She admonished me, too, against liquor-drinking,and whatever capacity for endurance I have at present, and whateverusefulness I may have attained through life, I attribute to havingcomplied with her pious and correct wishes. When I was seven years ofage she asked me not to drink, and then I made a resolution of totalabstinence; and that I have adhered to it through all time I owe to mymother.'

  I never saw anything so curious. It is almost an exact epitome of my ownmoral career--after simply substituting a grandmother for a mother. Howwell I remember my grandmother's asking me not to use tobacco, good oldsoul! She said, "You're at it again, are you, you whelp? Now don't everlet me catch you chewing tobacco before breakfast again, or I lay I'llblacksnake you within an inch of your life!" I have never touched it atthat hour of the morning from that time to the present day.

  She asked me not to gamble. She whispered and said, "Put up those wickedcards this minute!--two pair and a jack, you numskull, and the otherfellow's got a flush!"

  I never have gambled from that day to this--never once--without a "colddeck" in my pocket. I cannot even tell who is going to lose in gamesthat are being played unless I deal myself.

  When I was two years of age she asked me not to drink, and then I made aresolution of total abstinence. That I have adhered to it and enjoyedthe beneficent effects of it through all time, I owe to my grandmother.I have never drunk a drop from that day to this of any kind of water.