Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-04-03
His neIghbors used to call him CASTLE

building sort OF genius, and said all his
troubles arose from his dreaming himself
very great man every night, and waking
up plain Farmer Frank in the morning.
But, however this might have been, his
affairs became, in time, somewhat dcrang-
cd, in consequence of his inattcntion to
business, which grew out of his perpetual
repinng. A heavy heart never drives
business on splritedly, and misfortunes
sometimes come in earnest to those who
take so much pains to persuade them
selves they are unfortunate.
Thus we're affairs situated, when Frank,
who from being discontinued with his own
situation, had become envious of that of
every one else, after long walk over his
farm, at this time loaded with the promise
of rich harvest, returned home, and
throwing himself on a sofa, fell into
profound sleep.
Directly, a tall, noble looking figure,
wrapped up in large cloak, stood by his
side and accosted him with, Come,
Frank, my name is Fortune, go with me.
have long heard thy complaints, and
purpose holding a fair to-day, by attend
ing which thou may'st possibly better thy
hard lot"
He rose Immediately, and putting on
his hat, accompanied his mysterious
guide.
Presently he found himself in an extern
sivc plain, crowded with vast number
of men, belonging to all the different pro-
LESSONS in the country.
"Herc," said Fortune, pointing to the
great assemblage, "are many thousands
of good men, either of whom will change
situations and property with you, even
handed, at my command. You may,
therefore, make your choice"
Frank thanked his good friend his
eyes sparkled with pleasure, as the crowd
began to pass, one after another, before
him and he could hardly contain his
| joy, as his eyes rested on the portly form
ola rich neighbor Of his, who was one of
the first to approach him, and whose long
purse he had often bitterly envied him.
"That is the man, if you please" said
Frank.
At the back of his compagnion, old
Mortgage stood by his side, and very
complacently began to deliver up his
deeds, and obligations; and having done
so, Frank was about to run home with
the glad news, and get ready to put the
old man in possession of the farm. Blu,
Mortgage lifted up his equity leg, and
Fortune called: "Stay, Frank, this goes
with the rest-the bargain is, situation
for situation, and the equity foot goes will
neighbor Mortgages estate"
Frank was thunder-struck. He stared
minute, and then threw down the bundle
of papers, as man would drop no
dumplng-"I would not have his govt,
said he, "for all the dale"
The next parsonage that arrested
Franks attention, was a wealthy shippin!
merchant of the city. He was again il
raptures, and bent on the exchange. TIL,
merchant began to deliver inventories O
his property, and among the rest, those O
the cargoes of five vessels at sea. Thcs
last constituted a main part of the clae
estate and Frank never knew the anxiet,
that follows the possession of such pro
perty, till now. He remembered tn
great storm but a few days before; AM
that he heard of the wreck of some vessel
on the shore.-He hcsitated he tremblcd
he turned to go but he felt he should b
forever unhappy and he once more de
clared himself dissatisfied and that a
yet he had not found one whose situato
was better than his own.
Then dashing young fellow, VIII
owned by far the largest, and most Gle
giant farm in all Annandale, presente
himself, and Frank was sure of bein
suited. He had often whshed for John
fine horses and thought to be farmer afte
that sort would be worth living for. B,
when the young buck came to deliver II
the title deed, bond and mortgage, wit
intcres upaid, for half dozen year
was enclosed in it; enough to swallo
two-thirds of the estate, and horses an
curricle in the bargain. Frank drew bacl
"No, no." said he, "thc Dairy is clear
debt, and don't slip through my fingers
this way"
Thus it turned out with some hundre
more who were presented as candidate
IS for change of situation with Fran!
though those were taken promiscuous
from among the rich and poor-farmer
merchants, mechanics, professional me-
&c. Some were encountered with debts
others with diseases that belonged to the
necessary mode of life.-Some had or
b trouble; some another difficulty ar
c Frank, to the end, was thoroughly col
y vinccd he would never be able to bette
IF his situation, onthe whole, by an exchans
n and cxpressed to his kind guide his perfe