The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-11-24
From the WtHiamsto,cn .4dUocate.
THE FORTUNATE PURCHASE.

Ihere is native disposition in the mine
OF man to attribute his success in any en-
Iterprlse to his own foresight and prnden
calculations. When he beholds the wealth
and the luxuries with which he is surround
ed. he is very likely to manifest a DISPOSE
ton similar to that recorded of Nebuchad
nezzar when he said, "Is not this great
Babylon which have built ?'-forgetune
that they are merely instruments in the
hands of The great Disposer of all, which he
has ordained to accomplish the wise pur-
poses OF his prudence. Even the best OF
men sometimes fall into the same stste OF
feeling, and are pulled up with pride. Thus
Moses, the meekest man the world ever
saw, on one occasion took the whole c-edt
OF signal interposition of Divine favo, to
himself; and the same disposition has Ieen
manifested in some degree by all men, f;om
that day to this. The doctrine that Provi-
dence directs in all things, is either wholly
Kept out OF view, or is regarded in so gen.
eral sense as to produce no effect whatever
on the feelings or conduct This, in our own
country, may be particularly observed with
regard to the acquisition of wealth, which
among US is undeniably the source of pow
er and influence. Men who possess it i'm
aglne, and frequently say, that the poor have
no excuse for being SO. eve were once"
say they, "poor ourselves, and have obtain
ed wealth by frugality and industry, and
why cannot others do the same ?" Notruth
in a general sense, is more obvious than
''the hand Of the diligent maketh rich" and
that industry and economy are the hand
maids Of fortune. But it is also true, "pov-
erty and riches alike come from the Lord"
How often, on the one hand, do we see the
brightest prospects of the sober and indus
trious blasted by sickness, mildew, storm,
or fire; while on the other riches are pour
ed into the lap of such as live in compare
tive Incidence. OF this latter class was the
self-styled "lord" Timothy Dexter of New
buryport. He was probably as destitute of
forest ght as any man could be and carry on
business; having accumulated few humid
red dollars, he asked advice ofsome Traders
as to the best way of turning it to advan-
tage. They told him to lay it out in warm
lng-pans, which he was assured would find
a ready market at high price in any of the
West India Islands. These Islands, as
every body knows, lie nearly under the
equator, and enjoy perpetual summer "a
cargo of warming pans, therefore, accord
ing to all human probability, would be about
as likely to sell with profit there, as would a
cargo of ice in Nova Zembla. RELYING,
however, on the good faith of his advisers,
Dexter purchased and shipped his warming
pans; they arrived in the sugar season, and
the pans were sold for ladies' and their lids
for skimmers, at about 300 per cent
vance on their cost. by series OF similar
speculations, Dexter acquired a princely
fortune, which of course he attributed main
ly to his own superior industry and sagacty.
An instance of prosperity no less remark
able than the foregoing, though under diff
ferent circumstances, came to our knowl
edge short time since, which incontesti-
bly, proves what we have before asserted,
and which, for that purpose, we will relate
to our readers; trusting it will suit them as
we'll or even better than the usual quantity
of a." horrid murders" and shocking acct
dents" which most editors are obliged to
use weekly by way of seasoning to thei7
literary DISH"
Mr.. H. was a native of Oxford, in the
county of Worcester, in this State. By in
heritance and industry he became compar-
atiVely rich, and was highly respected and
honored. But unexpected losses thwarted
his schemes his property diminished by
degrees he became disconsolate and dis
pirited his pretended friends, one by one,
fell away; and, having no fixed principles
of virtue, it is by no means wonderful that
he became dissipated in his habits, and his
wife and family consequently miserable and
unhappy. About this time he ascertained
that his debts were much more than he
could pay, and that his creditors were about
to administer upon what property he pos
sessed. Under these circumstances, he de-
term!ned to abscond, and in such way as
to prevent detection. Accordingly he pri-
vately procured new suit ofcothes, select
ed horse from his stable, and, having de-
posted his ordinary clothes and hat on the
beach of pond, Ito induce his creditors to
believe he had committed suicide) protect
ed by the darkness of an autumnal night,
he precipitatelv and silently left his native
village. He had determined to seek home
in the western wilds where his character
and resources were unknown, and shaped
his course for that region. Late one after
noon he arrived at amin in village on the
western bank of the Hudson, with only a
single dollar in his pocket.
| At the inn where he stopped there hap
pened to he an Agent of the State Of New
York, dsposing of the wild lands in the
southwestern corner Of that State at public
auction. Being dressed in the garb of a
gentleman, his fellow dodgers took him for
n land speculator, who had, like themselves.
come to purchase at the sale; and he de-
termined to maintain the character with
which they had so unceremoniously invested
him, but TO be so cautious in his bids as not
to incur responsibility which he had moi
the means of meeting. He commenced bid
ding indlscrimnately, and, contrary 10 his
intention and expectation, large tract in
what is now called the 'Susquehana coun-
try was struck off to him. His thoughts
were now directed to the invention of plar
10y which he could get rid of his bargain
without confessing his poverty. Finally he
determined to wait till the inmates of the
house were wrapped in sumber, and ther