Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1825-05-11

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elor, sent Mary one summer an elegant
gold chain, with diamond clasp, of
exquisite workmanship and great val
ue. lido not know precisely the amount
in dollars, but it was some hundreds,
and these were speedily magniied into
thousands by the astonished natives,
whose eyes had never beheld so rich
spectacle.
Mary Merton was accordingly the
toast in all the country round-the gol-
den chain evidently added wonderfully
to her charms she was courted by eve
~ body, and had fairly her pick and
choice among the beaux. She mar
ried. The chain adorned her neck at
the wedding; and the bridegroom look
ed most lovingly on her and on the
bright folds Of that gay ornament alter
nately, A." and smiled and looked, and
smiled and looked again" For time
she wore it in every party, and was the
envy of her less fortunate companions,
and although when the first wonder
wore away, they ridiculed it little, and
remarked that Mary's wedding and out
fit Was only ten times more costly TO her
father than it would have been had she
never seen the chain; that it made fine
clothes necessary to correspond with
it, &c. yet it was easily seen that the
young married couple bore themselves
more stately, and with greater self COM
placency than was usual, on its account,
and the young bride even showed some
symptoms of superior Importance to-
wards her husband, and these proved
that she at least did not regard what
others might say or think.
Time passed away; the young PEG.
pie began the world genteelly, but things
did not prosper we'll. The mistress of
such golden chain could not descend
to the entire level of usefulness and
industry in family matters. The hus-
band became infected with sundry no.
tons of gentility, not altogether COM
patible with his circumstances. The
chain became sinking fund 1t drought
one expense after another, and yielded
no profit-for it was present and could
not be sold-and it turned out in the
end ruinous affair." One of the last re-
collections associated with Mary and her
partner, is the sale of the golden chain,
by a constable for store debt, contain
ing many an item of silk and satin, and
all the ct ceteras of extravaganza
They left the country soon after, in
poverty and modification.
The story is short, and leaves
the greater room for Improvement.
Whenever | see poor person wrap
ped up in family pride, and holding his
head, full Of notions Of quality, in lofty
idleness. above the common class,
cannot help thinking of the golden
chain. and the consequences that grew
out of its possession.
When | see young lady remarkably
handsome, or accomplished, and priding
herself on the one or the other, | fear
the lad who catches her will catch a
golden chain into the bargain.
| 1t is somewhat questionable, whether,
under any circumstances, lie of idle
ness is an innocent life. He who is not
engaged in some useful employment,
cannot certainly fulfil the duty every
one owes to society and his Maker. No
elevation, no wealth, no rank, can be
disgraced by labor. So the great Gin
cinnatus thought a mistake has in our
days crept into very high company, viz
Industry is considered disgraceiul; and
idteness, bonorable--the reverse is the
motto of wisdom.