The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-09-14
THE WORLD-A VISION.

THE WORLDLY VISION.
Islam eat in the door Of bis cottage
and an unusual weight of dependency
,preyed upon his mind. His circumstanc-
Ies, to be sure, we're not so bad--he was
about as prosperous as his neighbors,
but then, he thought, could he escape
the endless round of care and vexaiion,
TO which life of business exposed him,
could he have time for reposed medita-
ton in short, could he be independent
of thankless and selfish world, how
happy he would be. He unused upon
this thought, until the mysterious agent
who presides over the temporal affairs
Of men, stood by his side. have seen,
said Inc stIange visiter, the current OF
your Thoughts, and that you long for
weaith-ieil me by tomorrow what
amount you desire, and il shall be yours.
The speaker vanished, and a thrill of
lelight ran through the veins OF Islam.
5ut he Immediately bethought himself
IT the answer he should return his new
acquaintance, when be re-appeared.-
1t first no difficulty was apparent-but
is soon as he had taken up his pencil to
make the calculations necessary, he
ound that that question was not 10 be
answered so readily as he imagined. At
lrst he sat down two thousand dollars
S the sum of his wishes--it will buy,
aid he, this little place, enable me to
stock my shop-repair my fences, and
buy me a good yoke of oxen--I shall
hen be independent. He mused on
his awhile.--Still, on the other hand,
ae thought, should have 10 labor
sickness might reduce my business TO
disorder, and bring poverty will have
zen thousand dollars beside, that my in
terest may be amply sufficient for my
support.
This sum was hardly fixed on however,
ere Islam foresaw that il would be Who'll
iy insufficient. II will pinch on all sides
still, said he: | could not keep a car
riage--nor travel into foreign countries,
as | have often thought should like to
do--besldes, | should be confined 10 live
IN mean way--it would allow me to
oe contented, and lead an easy life TO
De sure. if was satisfied, like the brute,
with mere ease, and enough to eat.
will add, let me.see-yes, twice as much
Tor handsome country seat alone--and
ten times the amount in bank stock.
This will be capital fortune--it will
enable me to CRAFTY all my desires.
Just then, a new idea dropt into Islam's
head--then even then should find many
richer men 10 the country than myself
The pondered on this awhile-it reused
up all the jealousy of soul-he did
not care about outshining them all in
the splendor of his establishment and
mode of liVing-but he felt that the a.
6ataty to do so, would be absolutely ne
cessary to his happiness--and he was al
once launched into wide ocean Of calcu-
lations, which carried him finally to ten
millions. With this he was sure, per.
tectly sure. of being satisfed--but new
idea struck him again-he had thought
OF travelling abroad-he would NEE
with men of mammoth fortunes in Eu
rope--he considered moment, ant
added CIPHER to the ten millions. Thi.
said he, would put me above the fear o
meeting rival in point Of wealth.
But he soon found that he was no near
er being satisfied now, than he was will
the first sum he named TO himself. |
appeared absolutely necessary that b,
should not only be richer than any othei
man in the world, but that he shoult
be able 10 fill the world with The SCUM,
of his deeds of charity that he should bt
able to establish millions of free schools
and hospitals, and churches, and so forth
besides laying by some ten, fifteen oil
twenty millions per year. ln the mids
ofthese profound meditations; however
on the subject of fixing the proper sun
of wealth which he should desire of hi.
supernatural visitor, the minister of fate
suddenly re-appeared.
Islam declared that he had not We
been able to fix the precise sum, anC
begged his kind visiter TO give him one
honr more. My errand is finished, was
the reply go to return no more--look
inward and answer myself the question:
would'st thou even be content with the
wealth of India, and the glory OfAlexan.
der.--and the homage of the world, and
title to heaven
The messenger had just pronounced
these words, and was in the act Of van
ishing when Islam awoke--for he had
been dreaming. Emporium.
God, says Cecil, has given us -four
books--the Book Of Grace: the Book
of Nature; the Book Of the World
and the Book Of Providence. Every oc.