Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 March 1889 — An Ancient Acrostic. [ARTICLE]

An Ancient Acrostic.

v Mr. James V. Dutton, an elderly and much esteemed citizen of Jordan tp., has handed us the original copy of an acrostic made on Mr. Dutton’s name, ip 1830 by his Quaker mother, Martha Dutton. A number of lines, full of good instruction, are appended to the acrostic, both of which are here given: 1 Join not the idle sportsman in cruelty And never let so] odious a name belon g to thee. May thy mind now In youth take .a serious turn, Even now and ever, all thoughts] ofl gaming spurn. So'let thy conduct a good example be to younger brothers. Virtue is an ornament far above all others. Don’t spend] thy precious time with Idle boys, Until thy thoughts and actions are naught but toys That so no relish for substantial. things he 5 left, Then of all true and solid comfort thou'll . he bereft, . Oh! take a serious] thought now in thy youth ,r r *, .. i Now Is the surest time to buy the truth. A man of kindness to his beast Is kind But brutal action* show a brutal mind, Remember, He who made thee, mode the brute Who gave thee speech and reason, formed him mute, He can’t complain; bnt God's omniscient eye Beholds thy cruelty, he hears his cry. He was designed thy servant and thy drudge But kpow ms Creator, Is thy judge.