Litchfield enquirer., 1834-07-03
THE AvARIcE OF Wealth.


Than him whom plenty s,aryes aud blessings cusse
The heggarS hut coMlmoH fate arl,lore:
The rich poor man e emphaiicaily poor. Cc.Qley.
Every body knows how wealthy Col.
Miers was, who living in snug looking
chateau within the suburbs of a neighbour
ing city, and whose constant employment
might have been engrossed in nothing but
counting up his mortgages, leases and til
ties, and the sums perpelually pouring in
upon him from an untold list of tenants
and dependents. No one scarcely passed
his garden without an envious spirit crawl
ing in him that he were the fortunate oc-
cupant of as many rich renements and
acres, and might dozc away his time a.
midst the uncomfortable Mxuries which
have rejoiced the heart Of the fortunate
possessor. The blessings of others are ev-
er APT to be viewed through the partial
glass ofour own wishes and conditiofls. ra-
Their than through that of those whose pros
perity we are excited to covet. 1T is not
considered that happiness depends more
upon the mind than the external happiness
and possessions Of an individual, and that
even the most felicitous situation upon
earth may be utterly distastefallo-p
of nncohgenial passions and habits, which.
1t would render Others OF a different tenn
permanent as happy as this world could
mike them.
Although Col. 'Miers possessed large
unavailable estate, yet he could enjoy ev-
cry thing but the satisfaction arising from
the possession Of his wealth. Amidst all
his blessings, he always felt himself poor
man, conceded himself liable to be seized
for debt, and every pecuniary disappoint-
ment, however small, appeared TO him the
certain precursor Of an execution being
levelsed on his property. Rich as he was,
there was professedly no poorer man to be-
found, and people could not help plying
him for the punishment he inflicted on him
self, although they wished themselves in
possession Of the same glitterihg stores that
so cruelty tormented his imagination.
Quarter day was the important festival in
his calendar, which he always kept 10 the
scrupfe of moment. Every one Of his
tenants was required without fail to bring
early on that morning the regular sacrifice
Of rent under the certain penalty of hays--
ing their omission dealt with according to
the most rigorous exactipns of the law. h.
1t happened that ON a. certain first Of
May; an unfortunate widow was unable TO
bring to him the amount other rent, and
in consequence of il, her few household
goods were levied on and distrained, and
herself with two small childreR was CONE.
PEELED to solicit from the charity 1of others
her anolg1Ss i ad5faa. Iha Raf sf5 v:
ever, extricated her in few years from the
gripes of poverty, and she had probably
forgotten the unhappy circumstances, or
had ceased to dwell upon it with those haf-
rowing sensations which had once reduced
her to the very eve of despair.
It was after several years had rolled by,
when widow Smiley heard a loud rapping
at her door, which indicated that the mes
senger was man Of business, or had come
to see her on the most urgent errand pos
sible. What can it be thought the good
dame to herself; and so going to the door.
she learned from, servant that Col. Miers
was very i'll and wished 10 sec her imnle-
diately, and that she must lose no time in
going, as the business he desired to see her
about fery intimately concerned her inter-
est. A thousand conjectures foated across
her mind; and in short time she found
herself entering the house Of the individ-
ual who not many years before had turned
her aud her little ones, unbefrended, into
the street. Sickness and adversely are sea-
sons, however, which are apt to calm down
the turbulent feelings Of the oppressor as
we'll as the injured; and the widow felt
that he who was touched by che hand OF
heaven, might have more than expiated the
injury in the suf1erings he had underwent.
No words can describe her feelings as
she entered the apartment Of the sick man,
filled around with costly furniture and
piles Of prodigious trunks; and there sufe
enough was the sallow countenance OF him
who had once frowned the heavy penalty
of election upon her head. There was a
busy looking character sitting at table
near the bed, WHO was seemingly writing
down the dictations Of the invalid, and an
anxious mental was standing in the recess
as if waiting the announcement Of the du.
ties he was TO discharge.
lis that widow Smiley?' demanded th'
apparently pulse-sunken Colonel, holding
out his thin hand towards her as she wa
hesitaiing to approach him.
1t is she replied, gaining confidenc
from the gesture; and, advancing nearer