Southern telegraph., 1838-10-24
MISERS.

Quentin Mastis, the blacksmith of Ant
werp, painted picture which he called
"The Misers." He was wrong in the de-
signation, and Inapprehensive of the topic.
His figures are not the figures of miscrs,
but of comfortable, cozy old souls, part
ners in a fourishing concern. They are
excellent accountants, and you see that
they are satisfied with the aspect Of their
books. Misers! Why, there is nothing
miserable about them; and, if recollect
Alright, the door of their room is standing
ajar while they are making up their ac-
ccounts, and their money is lying loose on
the table. People talk about misers with
out seeming to know any thing of the mat
ter. He is Dot miser who collects much
money, counts it carefully, looks at it fire.
quentIy, and spends it rarely: he is not a
miser who wears an old coat when he has
money enough to buy new one. A man
who is worth twenty thousand pounds, and
gets five per cent. for his money, and
spends it, enjoys thousand year; but he
who keeps twenty thousand pounds in bags,
and loves the sight of hisr gold, and feasts
his eyes with gazing at it, and his fingers
with handling it, enjoys twenty thousand a
yer. Let the unlearned reader, il such
there be, know that miser is Latin word
sgnifying miserable; it is, therefore, con-
tradiction in terms to call man a miser
who is clearly not only not miserable, but
decidedly happy in doing and being that for
which he is called miser. Old Elves
was happy man, Notwithstanding his eIon.
gated visage, his attenuated frame, and bis
non-enjoyment of revelry noisy gaity. He
was not miserable when, from his saving
care of money, the roof of his house ad.
mtted rain, but was exceedingly happy in
his reply to a visiter: "Mr. ELVES, the roof
of your Fouse is in sad condition; the
rain absolutely came upon my bed, and
twas forced to push it up to the farther end
Of the room to get out of the wet" SAY,
ay," said the old gentleman, "that is a
nice snug corner IN wetweather.
The true and real miser is he who moi
only has no enjoyment of his money, buI
who finds and feels money to be source o
pain; who feels in every payment a pang
that penetrates his inmost soul, whose mon
ey quits his purse as reluctantly as a three
pronged tooth parts from its bony and ago
nized socket; who is always meditatng
some plan of saving expense, and rs a
constantly thwarted in his schemes; wh'
is really miserable because he has not th'
courage to be what the world calls a miser
I who endeayors to be generous, but has no
the heart to be really so; who at the sigh
S of beggar sickens with sadness, miscal
r led sympathy, and pities his own pocke
;more than his neighbours poverty; VIII
buys every thing as cheaply as he can, AM
II then, after all, has the pleasure of curslni
n his stars that, he has paid sixpence NOR
o Than was absolutely necessary. Your gen
g uine mser has often a very good coat to hi
d back, and may even dwell in awater-proc
n house; but he has haggled with his tailc
r. ill he has lost his temper, and he fidget
lg his very life out to see the gloss departln
$, from his broadcloth, and when he pays h
o rent, he writhes like baby with hllst'
es on its back at the thought that another hou'
j. in the same street is let for FIVE pounds
he wears less than his. He is great barga
ou hunter, and, of course, is often bit; he bu,
it advertised wine, and smacks his lips ov
- Cape. He has not the spirit to spend m
e. ney, nor the courage to hoard it. He W
les be charitable in his way, but it is in lit
Ise way; he praises the Mendicity Society, a
yht reads Nautilus on population. lie is cC
,p- tinually getting into scrapes with hackn
,ut coachman and watermen. He calls
coach on rainy day, and still he is
md throughin order to make a good ba,rg'
up with the coachman. During the whole
a tent and duration Of his ride he is caIcu
md ting how much it will cost him, and WI