The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-01-23
MASCEH.LANEOUS.
ON THE ACCUMULATION OF PROPERTY.

BY THE REV, J. S. C. ABBOTT.
In the last number of the Magazine it was sta
ted that wealth, in itself considered, is regarded
by God as blessing that il is the duty of every
man to he diligentl in business, and to be sue
cessfll, and that in our current expenditures,
style OF living must in some degree conform to
our income. a caution was added against neg
ecting other duties in application to business, and
against expanding our income without regard to
the greatest usefulness. Then proceeding TO
remark upon temptations to which those are expo
sed, who engaged in the eager pursuit of
wealth. whether successful or unsuccessful.
They that will be rich fall into temptation and
snare In the former number we dwet upon
the Temptations in the present one would lead
your thoughts to the snare
l suppose the progress and the decline ofiam
lily fortunes have been essentially the same in all
parts of the world, if we except those coun-
tries in which the laws ofentail and primogeni
ture preserve the oldest son from the reverses
which otherwise inevitably ensue.
young man comes into the city from his re-
spectacle home of industry in the country. He
comes with energy of character and industrious
habits, and is Injured to economy. He has moth
ing TO depend upon but his own resources of dill
igence and fidelity.
After few years, he commences business for
himself-his only capital is good name and
business talent. These guide him to wealth.
In few years he is found one of the most oPu-
lent and influential merchants in the city,-and
street he did, in search ola fortune, now looks
up TO him with reverence as one otthe noblest of
the land.
This is the history of the first merchant of
Boston aad NewYo rk. These poor sonrtry
boys with the virtues which are nurtlHed in an
economical home, come into our great cities and
take the lead in law in poIitics,.i in merchan-
die. There are exceptions, but-this is the gen
eral rule in all the principal cities of this ceiaiary
and in England. What is the subsequ eals&fs
/ tory -'+-1
The sons and daughters Of thfsnow rich man,
find different cradle from that which their faith
er found in his parental home. Profusion and
splendor are all around them. Their farther
Uod painted floor, or perhaps ate his bread and
milk !rom the carthern bowl or the tin dipper.
They move in apartments furnished with splen-
dor. and take their coffee from cups OF silver. /
am not now saying that this is wrong, but simply
describing the process which Iapprehend is gem
eral. Under such influences they have many inn
uginary wants-and the profusion around them
destroys all habits Of economy. The sons feel
that they are not dependent on their own eXer-
tons for support that their fatheris rich that he
will set them up in business, nndthey think that
property will flow in upon them, rs easily as 1t
follows the we'll directed efforts of their fathers
strong mind. They form no habits of strong
applications They have received no instruc-
ton in the hard but useful school Of adversely
The father has felt that in amassing properly, he
was promoting the welfare of his tilmily. lie
would be rich, and he has "tallen into Il snare"
The father dies. The property is divided
the sons are in business their habits are such
thar they cannot avoid heavy expenditures, and
they cannot endure the rigor Of unwearied eXer
ton. Their father Commenced u the bottom oil
the ladder, and gradually ascended. lie came
from the farm house and rose 10y degrees to OPP
uence and luxury. The sons commence al
the top of the Iadder and go down. Year after
year the property dwindles away, and the chill
dren are soon fairly down in the walks of obscur-
, ity and poverty. The son ot'the coachman and
his master simply change places. The one
with wife and children takes the inside seat
The other with the whip and reius mounts the
box. 1t is thus the wheel is continually revo
wing. And this is not through the caprice ofbhnC
fortune, but through the operation OF clearly de
fined and natural causes.
Now, here is the snare into which he falls who
will be rich. He may be laboring all his life
for accumulation of property, and that very
property be the cause of the ruin of his family
The exposure fthe,daughters happiness,ma be
, still greater than that of the sons. When al
affectionnte hearted lady aWakes to the con
I seriousness that her husband has taken her but a
7 the necessary incumberancc of her fathers prop
+ erty, the measure of her WretchedneeSs IS al
most tuIl The danger of unhappy marriages is
F., under all circumstances, great Even where
, there is no aurement, to the connection, bu
congenlallty of taste and affection, the number o
lll-sorted and dscordant unions is feartulIy great
a But the chances of happiness which ayoung lad,
+ with an independent fortune has, are very small
f indeed. The very fact that she has money, will
h be regarded as an objection by many of the hes
# minds and hearts, while the trivilous and thu
heaItless, and the protiigate will crowdl aroun'
o her. An Ingenious young man shrinks from
r the imputation of marrying for money, and hi
J fears to take as companion through fe's hare
4 pilgrimage, one who has been nutured in fashion
e and luxury.
n Thus does not unfrequently labor for hi
: Whole life, to accumulate property which rum
y his sons & destroys his daughters. He neglect
# God, gives himself no time for preparation 70
: another world, and when age and inf rmitie
y press heavily upon him, 'he finds that he la
II spent his strength for that which is not bread
g and his labor FOR that which profiteth not
:, The great men of our country, those who hRv
r, sent their names and their influence through tn
d union, have almost universally come from wha
Is would generally be called the humble waks!of If
IS was once walking in the fields with one O