Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-05-21


really unfortunate people in the world, we
are far from being inclined to dispute: nay. If
the evil did not far out balance the good for
tune of life, il would not be v hat the Almigh-
~ decreed it-ono of trial, disappointment,
and suffering. But when men are driven
back, or prevented from getting forward in
the world by a downright series of misfor-
tunes, these are generally so evident and pal
pable, as TO be seen, understood, and sympa-
thised with, by their fellow creatures. With
regard to the individuals above spoken of, on
the other hand--those whom the world is
said to "go against" and whose tagging be-
hind their fellows in the career of life can be
traced to no particular cause-we are con-
vlnccd that in nine cases out of ten their sun
happy destiny is attributable solely to some
flaw or impcrfcction in their own conduct or
character. In short, we have great faith in
the aphorism of the poet i'll these matters
that
! We make ourselves our own dis ress,
! We a,e elves rHpl iaess. ~
This fatal bar TO advancement in life consists
sometimes in a natural inaptitude for the bu-
slness of II: but much more trcque ntly from
some mlsmanagement in the finance depart
ment-a mlscalcuatlon of expenditure to the
'ways and means;" and, in others, a general
want of attention 10 those little matters of e.
economy by which Ito use homely phrase J
the two ends are made to meet. We pointed
out in late number how impcrceptibly, but
fatally, the giving way to habit of laying
out small sums on unnecessary matters, eats
up mans means, and we daily see instances
of families who, with very limited incomes by
dint of sheer domestic management, not on
ly make more respectable figure out of
doors, but appear even more comfortable and
contcDted within, than others with double or
triple their income. AS one fact, however,
~ worth thousand arguments in what con-
Germs the practical matters of life, we will
narratc an anecdote illustrative of the present
subject, which was lately brought under our
observation, and for the truth of which we
can nth safety vouch.
\ In certain bugh, which it is needless to-
particularlse, wonned a worthy couple, who
by dint Of fpcrseverng industry, had realised
handsome competency literally out Of moth
ing. Their family consisted of one son,
whose proper settlement in respectable way
OF doing, as they themselves had retired from
the cares of business, was now almost their
only earthly concern; and as they proved, in
their own persons, both the misery of power
ty, and the blessings of independence, they
him to the same line of business in which
they had themselves succeeded so well. In
process of time, accordingly, Mr.. Thomas
=, was installed in suitable premises in
an excellent locality of the burgh, aud an
ample and valuable stock of goods was laid
in; he was well connected, and still better re-
commended through his fathers influence
on the latter account, too, his credit stood
high in the trading world. I'm short, no young
man in his way Of business could possibly
start IN life with fairer prospects of success.
On his own part. nothing seemed wanting to
fulfil the expectations entertained by his
friends. lie was sober, industrious young
man-regular and correct in his private hab-
It's, assiduous in attending to his business.
and his goods were both excellent and cheap;
his customers every day increased, and every
one thought he was rapidly and descrvedly
realizing fortune. Guess the astonishment
then, of all and sundry, when, in about
year and half after his opening shop, Mr..
Thomas --, or rather his worthy sire,
found it prudent to close it again and the
parties learned, that the paterna funds were
minus good many hundred pounds by the
speculation
Here was poser for the trading quidnuncs
of the place! The matter was to them
perfectly ineomprehensible. 1t seemed like
that which had hitherto been supposed an
impossbility in nature-an effect without
cause. MIR. Thomas -, had been uni
versally reckoned perfect pattern of what
man ought to be, who wished to thrive in the
world In fact, he had been held up to all
the young men in the neighborhood, as a mo-
del whereby to fashion their own conduct
Neither was he of an adventurous turn Of
mind, nor had he met with any serious losses
in trade, to account for his ''misfortune."-
AS there was no feasible way, therefore, of
explaining the matter, the usual verdict was
of course, passed upon the occasion-that, in
spite of all Mr. Thomas IS efforts and
industry, "He worid has goee against him.,
He was the victim of luck, or, to speak out
plainly the meaning of their words, he was
one "doomed by Providence not to thrive in
the world;' and all, therefore, agreed in the
propriety Of his parents Withdrawing him, as
they did, from the concerns of business to
their little rural abode, as they said that "do-
ing nothing, was still better than doing M"-
Shortly after the event took place, a kind
hearted lady, who had been Il steady custo-
mer and warm patron Of Mr.. Thomas ever
since he "set up" and had all along admired
his exemplary conduct, had occasion to call
at ms parents abode about a servants char
acter, or some such matter, when she took
the opportunity of expressing the surprise
and regret Of herself and friends at what had
happened. "Deed, Mrs.--," replied the
dame, "i'm sure we're a. much
obliged to yeersel', and other weel wishers,
for your concern about Tam; but, ye see, the
world just gaed against him, and we thocht it
better to keep what we had left than rim the
risk of losing a." As the visitor did not ap-
near IA. cnti-G,1 ,.;,I. Ill