Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1840-07-10
NO. As
From the Trenton Emporium.
A USEFUL HINT.


throngs the theatre of life, and casting a.
round us an observing eye, we may CLEAN
many lessons of wisdom. Evil examples
abound, and these are to be studied and
avoided. Good ones are also to be found,
and these command our imitation, as well
as admiration. We journey through a
country so full of devious roads and wind
ing paths, that sometimes it is difficult to
determine which is the STRAIGHTFORWARD way,
and we are in danger Of turning to the right
or TO the left very often-but the examples
afforded by the history and the condition
of others if properly stud ed, would gener-
ally prove finger posts, in doubtful cases, to
point us in the right course. | have little
doubt that the exercise OF moderate share
of wisdom and pudehce, in at least nine
cases out Of ten, will enable US to escape
most oflife. Indeed so satisfied am that
men are generally the cause of their own
misiortunes, that whenever l see poor
half-starved looking soul, wandering about
with holes in his elbows, and his toes peep
ing out of his shoes, say to myself "that
man has been imprudent," and ask the
reader when he beholds such spectacle to
apply the test and see whether he differs
much from me in the conclusion. l sat
down however to tell a story.
In neat village, In that wild and TO-
mantle country to which the reader has
been led so often, on the banks of the Sus-
quehanna, not far from Alesbury, lived
family by the name of Merton, middling
good circumstances, respected and content
ed. Mary Merton was the eldest of six
daughters who, having been judiciously
brought up to habits of industry and econo-
my, were rather assistants than drawbacks
upon their parents. They were all well be-
haved, good looking girls, and in the bright
summer holidays, and long winter evenings,
seldom failed to be well supplied with those
necessary, though often mischievous, trou-
blesome things called gallants. The Mer-
tons had some worthy relations in Philadel-
phia, and one of them, generous old BACH
elor, sent Mary one summer an elegant
gold chain, with diamond clasp, of ex-
quiste workmanship, and great value. |
do not know precisely the amount in dol
lars, but it was some hundred, and these
were speedily magnified into thousands by
the astonished natives whose eyes had new
or beheld so rich spectacle.
Mary Merton was accordingly the toast
in all the country, round-the golden chain
evidently added wonderfully to her charms
she was courted by every body, and had
her choice among the beaux. She mar
ried. The chain adorned her neck at the
,.aJJ;o, o,,J tba t,r;daoroo,, troL oJ ,,,cc.
loveingly on her and on the bright folds of
the gay ornament alternately ''and smiled
and looked, and smiled again." For time
she wore it in every party, and was the eh-
Wy of her less fortunate companions, and all
though when the first wonder wore away
they ridiculed it little, and remarked that
Mary's wedding and outfit was only ten
times more costly to her father than it
would have been had she never seen the
chain, that it made fine clothes necessary
to correspond with it, &C., yet was easily
Z seen that the young married couple bore
{ themselves more stately, and with more
SELF complacency than was usual, on its ac-
count, and the young bride even showed
some symptoms Of superior importance to-
wards her husband, and these proved that
she did not regard what others might say
or even think.
Time passed away; the young people
) began the world genteelly but things did
not prosper well. The mistress of such a
golden chain could not descend to the en-
tire level of usefulness and industry in fam-
lily matters. The husband became infect
ed with sundry notions of gentility, not ale
together compatible with his circumstances.
The chain became sinking fund. 1t bro't
5 one expense after another, and yielded no
pro6t-for it was present could not be
sold-and it turned out in the end ruin
, Gus affair. One of the last recollections as
! ISOLATED with Mary and her partner, is the
; sale Of the golden chain, by the constable,
, containing many an item Of silk and satin
and all the ct ceteras Of extravaganza
They left the country soon after, in poverty
and modification.
The story is short and leaves the greater
room for improvement. Whenever see
poor person wrapped up in family, and
holding his head full Of notions Of quality,
in lofty idleness, above the common class,
cannot help thinking of the gold chain,
and the consequences that grew out Of lis
possession.
1t is somewhat questionable, whether,
n