Litchfield enquirer., 1838-08-23


What more pitifnl, loatllsome, and disgust
ing object - there in the whole range Of an
imal existence, than the man who. having
amassed an abundance Of this world 70 goods.
permits a grasping avarice TO lock up his
full Golfers, and benumb every spring OF be-
nevolence which the human soul naturally
possesses! He stands aloOf from the COM
mon order of his species, and frowns down
every attempt TO interest him in the useful
and benevolent efforts of his time. he mas,
perhaps, reached an old ngc-iS worm ms
tens of thousands; his councillors, too are
all wealthy and his own property accumu-
lating every year upon ms nands-yet mol
me cent can be squeezed from his stout
0rasn for any useful purpose, and he seems,
e ne approaches the grave, to hold il with
ten fold more tenacity. If you wish him to
Join with his neighbors in any benevolent
enterprise, he does not sec the utility OF the
PLAN" If any attempts are made TO benefit
the rising mass of mind, by founding libra
ries, building up schools. and disseminating
knowledge. and he is called upon to assist,
the solicitor IS coldly repulsed, and told that
he must apply to the younger part of COM
munity for assistance. IL is predetermined
whether such q man has any real enjoy
ment-he certainly has noue, unless it be in
contemplating his amassed riches. His affec-
ti0us are blHnted to every thing else. and be-
come more so as his years increase upon
him. As his grey hairs drop off one by one,
andhe approaches the end Of his course, his
relations become impatient to take posses
sion of his goods; and when at last, wealth
isno longer his, " they can say intheif hearts,
"Why should we mourn1' IA
His neighbof8 and the poor in the vicinity,
can recOlIect3p instance in which he has ia
vored them, willie they remember many Of
his extortions. He dies unwept and unla.
mented-he dies, and this is the only act
which he has ever done, in which self-inte-
rest was not the moving cause. And now
permit me to give him his epitaph, and then
we will let him rest:
IS T7iberalis came-he lived and died,
And meath this sod his mortal part remains;
NeiehHoss and kindred an were gratified-
The FIRST, have his room-the last his gains"
as He Rich r-Many a sigh is heaved,
many heart is broken, many allie isrender-
ed miserable by the terrible iniatuation
which parents often manifest inachoosing a
life companion for their daughters. How is
it possible for happiness to result from the
union of two principles so Numerically OPP
posed to each other in every point as virtue
is to vice! And yet how often is wealth
considered better recommendation to a
young man than virtue! How often is the
first question which is asked respecting the
suffer Of a daughter, this: Is hc rich? Is he
rich? Yes, he abounds in wealth but does
that afford any evidence that he will make
kind and affectionate husband? Is he rich!
Yes! " his clothing is purple and fine linen,
and he fares sumptuously every day" but
can you infer from this, he is .virtuous! Is
he rich! Yes; he has thousands floating on
every ocean. But do not riches sometimes
"take to themselves wings and fly away I"
and will you consent that your daughter
shall marry man that has nothing to recon-
mend him but wealth? All, beware, the
gilded bait sometimes covers barbed hook.
Ask moi, then, is he rich but, is he virtuous!
or: and do not sacrifice your daughters
peace for money.