The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-08-09

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large family, with mutual interests and de
Tendencies, some regard ought to be had to
the general good, in all we do
If each one takes care Of himself, all,
then, will be provided for That is my doc
trine.'
If each one takes care of himself, in a
right Wayne doubt alIiwilI be'provided with
at least the necessaries of life. But what
| mean to say is tbis-returning TO the first
remark of yours, in regard to retiring from
business. 1t seems TO me, though may
be wrong. for my ideas are still very crude
in regard to the subject, that we ought new
er to look forward in the hope of one day
retiring from business, simply with view
to our own ease
Why not, asked Maurey. in an incred-
ulous tone.
1t seems 10 me- resumed Lester, sthat
while individual interest is the all-powerful
agent that urges US into activity in business,
we should permit regard for the well being
OF the whole to have enough of influence
with us TO cause US TO continue active in
carrying on the general uses Of society,"
As look at it, | do not think any man, with
capital, health, and capacity for business.
has any right TO retire into life of mere
idleness.'
Look at it as you will. friend Lester
was Maurey's reply for my part can
say, that only give me chance to retire,
with sum sufficient to satisfy me, and |
will do it in spite of oil your wire>drawn no
tons of public duty
And perhaps may follow your exam
pie, was the reply of Lester, in whose mind
the idea he had thrown out was by no means
clear.
No doubt of it, was the laughing rejoin.
der
In these two young merchants we see in
existence, strong in one case, and feeble in
the other, two opposite principles of action.
The one acknowledge that thoroughly sell
fish ends in prosecuting business, are true
ends; and the other is more than half con-
WINGED that it is right to have some end to
the general good In all our actions. Alb.
stract ideas in the mind are like seeds. If
thought about and loved, then thought and
affection are 10 them light a,d heat, causing
the latent principle of life to become active,
and the seeds to terminate, grow, and pro-
duce fruit 1t matters not whether the cher
ished ideas be good or evil. The same law
applies. Maurey, from an overweening
love Of self, thought about and loved his
ends of action, ard called them, from his
affection for them, true ends. They, there
fore. had life in his mind, and grew, and
continued to grow until every generous
feeling, every thought of benefitting others
became entirely obscured. So much so,in.
deed, was this the case, that his moral sense
was not shocked ut any act of overreachiDg
in business, that did not come within the
pale Of legal restrictions. { 1t is all right
he would say, let every man look out for
himself
Ii vas otherwise with Mr.. Lester. Good
seed, or good principles had been sown in
his mind. The more he thought about these
principles the more clearly did he see them
to be right, and though self pleaded hard
for other ends of action, and prevailed, to
a great extent, yet these were never declar-
ed to be erroneous, and were continued to
be pondered over, until the moral beauty Of
truly generous action caused him to en-
terrain an affection for,and TO desire to have
truer and better motives than those which
mainly influenced his conduct. From thus
state, he gradually rose to higher one,and
as years passed away, the current of his
feelings became changed, so that instead of
making individual gain the sole motive for
prosecuting business in everv transaction,
he endeavored to look to the general good
as well as his own, and TO take an interest
at all times in the public welfare.
Twenty-Five years from the date of their
| first introduction TO the reader. Maurey and
Lester we're denominated rich men. The
former mad realized in trade about one huns
bred and fifty thousand dollars; the latter,
something like an equal sum. Their inter-
course as friends, with mutual svmpathies,
had ceased long before; although. as bust
ness men, they met almost daily, and upon
the basis of business, courtesy, and good
feeling. Each had son who had attain-
ed the age of maturity, and each had in
troduced his son into business with him, az
ter having given him thorough business
training.
About this time they were thrown togetb>
er in a wav that caused Mr.. Maurey to al.
lude more particularly to himself and his
private feelings than he had done for years.
Il really think, Mr.. Lester he remarked
seriously, that have made enough OF
money, and that ought to retire from bu.
siness, and take my ease during the rest OF
my life. | am now over fifty, and begin
to feel my years little. John is just en-
tering upon life, and as he has been thor
oughIy educated for merchant, and ha:
been familiar with the whole course Of my
business for two or three years, he might as
well work for himself. as for me to toll or
at my age. You know that he is my only
child, and will get all of my property at my
death. | have always looked forward ,tc
the time when could retire, and find relieI
from these harrassing cares
Do you think John is fully able to con
duct the business alone, asked DIR. Lester
20 yes, | think so. But of course it will
be greatly reduced, as shall withdraw the
hulk of nv canitaI and invest II in safe and