Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-01-05

him. These regrets seemed really to-
come from his heart; and though no man
ever was more uncharitable, yet so hu-
namely did he talk about the matter, that
his neighbors often said among them
selves, what pity it is that the Hertons
are not wealthy; how liberal they would
be; how much they would do for the
poor. i
"Ah. Mrs. Woliley," Horton used
often to say to the old lady who lived in
the farm house, adjoining his plantation,
and whose wealth was scattered with a
liberal hand abroad, as "A full stream
winding through the vale, and carrying
blessings wherever II meandered-"Ah, !,
Mrs. " or.!ey, how blcst would be if |
had the means to be generous like you.--
ike YOU would relieve the widows, and
assist the orphans, bind up the broken
hearts and 90 about doing good. No oc-
cupat;on appears dressed in 80 many at
fractions. But this labor and toll; this
scanty income this povcrty--how 1t
grieves me to be destitute Of the ability
to DO as | would"
Il Mrs. Wonley was charmed with these
frequent -laculatlons-this overflow OF
benevolent feeling; and she thought she
could not put a portion of her fortune to a
better use than leaving it to the would-be
phianthropist of llerton Cottage. She
dicd-and in her will bestowed upon Mr..
Horton large and ample legacy. 1t
made him rich.
The legacy was paid. Many pretty
improvements were made about the cot
.taqe, and the inmates it was thought, soon
began to hold their heads little higher
than usual. They dressed gal!y; rode in
ii new carriage; and dined late. Improve
! mcnt, indeed, after improvement, was
seen to take place in l'.>ir style of living:
but in vain were the expectations OF the
nciehborhood, that the promised charities
of the good hearted cottagers would now
burst forth. The word seemed to have
bccn strangely blottcd ont of their MEM
ories, since their good fortune put it in
their power to practice on it. The dis
dressed felt the loss of Mrs. Wortley most
scnsib'v; and It was natural that they
-h ,uld look with much hope on the Her
toms, the principal heirs of her fortune for
rcrara,ion of the loss her death had oc-
casioned them. 1t was forLorn hope
and speedily cut oil. The doors of Her.
ton Cottage were not Enclosed TO every
one. The hearts of its inhabitants in
process of time, grew proud, and selfish,
aud Scorntul, and, whenever a man was
heard afterwards in Alesbury, Boosting
Il hat
he had not--or talking much about char
ty, and doing nothing to Illustrate his re-
al meaning-;t was SAID, "1hat is a Her
ton story"
4 story so barren Of incidents ought to
be rich in instruction. Let us look to the
moral. Are there not thousands in the
world: nay, many in your neighborhood,
who appear to think great deal, and who
do talk great deal about doing good land
being charitable, when they become rich
or than they are, and yet who are very
far from giving or doing nor to the extent
Of their ability? Depend upon it, these
arc all decciving themselves. Wherever.
the root otthc matter is, there will be fruit
according to the means and opportunities
enjoyed. 1t is common for people to-
quct their consciences in this way, per-
suading themselves they are too poor 10
be charitable, while they neglect thou
sand opportunities of doing good, which
are entirely within their reach. But he
alone discharges his duty, who, whatev-
may be his situation, to the extent of his
ability, casts his Offering into the common
treasury, for the relief of human suffer-
ing wherever it is found.