The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-02-16
TEIE WHyTE HAIRED ECHO.
From the Emporium.


In the pursuit after happiness-a pursuit
in which al are earnestly engaged--though
none ever arrive at its perfect attainment, it
is most certain that some approximate near
er to 1t at far less expense of toll and sacra-
flee than others. The means made use of
to obtain this object are as various as the
minds Of men, or as the diversi6caton of
countenances. Some seek it in wealth. in
honour, in fame; some in the qualification
of the various senses and appetites; and
these reap something in anticipation, but vc-
ry little in reality they live in the shadow
of substance they are never to arrive. at.
Others, grasping after nothing future, make
business, or literature. or social intercourse
their means of happiness--but few bear
witness of the success of their plans. They
used to tell strange story in Alesbury-
which is still sometimes cited as authority
for the doctrine that all men are equally
mad the unhappy for being so--and the
happy for being so--as no reasonable cause
existed for either emotion.
AS you travel from Alesbury to Burlins-
ford, just on the top of the hill you will see
an old sign bedaubed with various Lolourss
the figure in the midst of which was intend
ed to represent a spread eagle, but which
really bears but little similitude to any thing
on the earth or under the earth. The house
is an ancient tenement, and is fitted up as a
kind of an apology for an Inn, with bar and
bed room, and little stable ten feet by
twelve, adjoining. 1t was the venerable res
idence of my friend Merryman, who is noted
as much for singularity of genius, as the bird
upon his sign is for singularity of shape
Nearly opposite is farm house, one of those
old-fashioned low stone buildings, which
mark the dwelling places of the pence cal
culating sons of Amsterdam, quietly moored
in the over-spreading shadow of ponder
ous barn, large enough almost to house away
village of such tenements;it was the home
stead of Garrabrant Kersey, lineal de-
scendant Of the Van Houten's of Undertook
memory.
The dispositions of the two neighbours
were as opposite as their pursuits. Cara
brant had been engaged all his life long in
gathering money--while as Merryman reli-
giously scattered abroad all that came into
his hands-yet even he went just $50 far
and no farthcr"-the bottom of his purse
was his limitation--he was careful not to en-
cumber his old tavern house he would not
kill the goose that laid the golden egg, he
said, though he profcssed openly and above
board, his utter hostility to the plan of hoard
ing up the eggs themselves. He lived easy.
and nobody sung more merriy, or looked
more cheerfully than he. When he saw
ambitious men striving after honour, and sa-
craficing their peace and conscience in chase
of popularity, he laughed outright at their
folly; these he allowed we're mere seekers
after bubbles and those who like his friend
Kersey, gave their whole lite to money max
ing, were but little wiser; and satisfied Of
this he gave himself ne trouble about one
concern or the other.
Kersey grew rich by the policy he pursu-
ed !; it cost him great deal of care and la
bour; he lived a remarkably frugal life,
and it rarely happened that sixpence slip
ped through his fingers beyond what was
absolutely necessary for his support; he
was hard dealing, close shaving man,
whose whole stock of happiness was locked
up in his money chests.
As might have been expected the vcinage
Of those opposite characters afforded them
frequent opportunities of discussing their fa-
vourite theories. Jersey used TO insist that
Fortune was not only the foundation, but the
very soul and essence of all happiness, and
that the use made Of it by its possessor had
little to do with the question, inasmuch as,
il he did not choose to enjoy the ease, the
comfortable things, and the henours it would
purchase, he still always had before his
mind the consciousness of his ability to en-
joy them if he pleased. Merryman, on the
contrary, used to say that he did not under
stand how man could enjoy bowl of punch
without calling for or tasting it, merely be-
cause he had two shillings in his pocket,
and could buy it if he pleased; that the on
ly good Of money was to spend it; and ridi-
culed all Garrabrant's ideal notions with
great slee and effect; making out that he
himself was the the paragon of wisdom, and
that his neighbour was mere sophist In the
ory, and slave in practice.
One day an old gray-headed man stopped
at the tavern towards evening, and while he
was quietly smoking his pipe on the porch.
Kersey came over the road and he and the
landlord entered into an argument as usual,
on the merits OF their respective tn eories of
the art of living happily. The old man list
ened very attentively, and his sage and ven-
cradle appearance at length led the disI ut
ants to refer the matter to him. ~.
1t is growing late, said he, looking towards
the west, and knocking the ashes from his
pipe, but if you will walk with me down the
road, will give you my opinion.
They both nodded assent, and followed.
him wondering where the old man could
be travelling at such time--and as they
walked on, 1@'H- "G
+ IL Ihave lived long in the world" said he,
"and never found wisdom in any man. If he
seeks wealth to hoard it up, its promise Of
happiness is like the voice of the Echo-alI
t,c ,t