Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-09-04
THE BEGGAR AND BANKER.

liz DIIJbhh hND bh'Nh'N'
"SIand out of the way" said rough
voice under my window, one day as | sat
musing over the busting scenes below
me, at my lodgings, "Your honor will
please recolect," replied a sharp but
somewhat indignant voicc-"your honor
will please to recollect that am beggar
and have as much right to the road as
yourself" "And am banker" was
re'orted still more angriIy. Amused a.
this strange dialogue, leaned over the
case, and bcheld two citizens in a posi-
ton which pugiIist would denominate
squared, their countcnanccs somewhat
menacing, and their persons presenting
contrast at once ludicrous and instructive.
The one was pursc-proud, lordIy man
nered man, apparently in silk, and pro-
tecting carcase of nearly the circum-
ference of a hogshead; the other ragged
and dirty, but equally impudent and self
important parsonage, and from a compar-
lson OF their counenances it would have
puzzled the most profound NJ. d. which
OF their rolundllles were stored habtually
with good victuals and drink.
Upon close observation, however, Of
the counenance Of the banker, discoys
cred, almost as soon as my eye fell upon
, 1t, line bespeaking something of humor,
and awakened curiosity, as he stood fix
ed and eyed his antagonist; and this be-
come more clear and conspicuous when
he lowered his tone and SAID, GLOW will
you make right appear" Said the beg
gar, 'Why listen moment, and | will
teach you. In the first place do you take
notice. God has given to me soul and
body just as good for all the purpose Of
I, eating, linking, and drinking, and taking
my pleasure as he has you-and then you
may remember Dives and Lazarus as we
pass. Then again, it is a free country.
and here too, we are on an cquaIity-fr
you must know that here even a bergar's
dog may look gentleman in the face with
as much indifference as he would brother.
| and you have the same common mas
ter; are equally free; and live equally
easy; are both travelling the same Jour
ney, bound to the same place, and have
both 10 die and be buried in the end.
But, interrupted the banker, do you
pretend there is no difference between
the beggar and banker Not in the
least as to essentials. You swagger and
drink wine IN company of yonrown choose
ing-l swagger and drink beer, which |
like better than your wine, in company
which like better than your company
You make thousands a day, perhaps-I
make sh'lI'ngs, perhaps; ifyou are con-
tented, | am-we are equally happy at
night. You dress in your new cloths:
am just as comfortable in my old ones, and
have no trouble in keeping them from
solng; if | have less property than you.
!, have less to care about; if fewer friends
have less friendship to lose. and i'll do
not make as great figure in the world,
make as great shadow on the pavement
am as great as you. Besides, my word
for it, have fewer enemies, meet with
fewer losses, carry as light heart, and
sing as many songs as the best of YOU
'And thcp, said the banker, who had
all along tried to slip word in edgeways
is the contempt of world nothing?'
ne envy Of the world Is as bad as It's
coniempt-you have, perhaps, the one,
ana ! snare Oh 'he o'her' w arc match
ca mere TOO ana BESIDE the world
dea'S III t'lIS ma'ter equally UNJUST with
US POM on ana i've by our Wit, Instead
VI VI, r!''"s ny our industry; ana the ony
u'herchce between us IN tins particular
worm naming IS mat IT. costs society
more TO MAINTAIN you than 1t does mel
am content with a NUE. you want great
zeal NellneF OF us raise gram or pota-
toes or weave cloth, or manufacture any
lh'ng useful We therefore, add nothing
TO inc common STOCK we are only cons
'"ers'an" II inc wofId Judge WIN strict I'M
Par',a''y' therefore; 1t seems to me, |
would be pronounced the clcyerest tcl-
low
Some passer-by here interrupted the
conversation. The disputants separated
apparently good friends, and drew in my
ner of Alexander in the NAV .Js tLo,o
! al ,D,,on,