Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1846-11-25
THE PERILS OF WEALTH.
Glove light like meteor has faded,
The hope and the dream of my youth
Are lost n the guilt of another,
The pullt that | Trusted for truth - 4no,

One of the great desires Of the human
family, or at least large portion of man
kind in civilized life, is 10 become indepen-
dent, affiuent TO attain a position beyond
pecun airy want. If we look through soci
ely, this object will be found a leading one
wi h the multitude. Riches are coveted by
all or nearly all; almost every sacrifice is
made with line obieci Of attaining a coDd-
ton Of worldly independence. And yet it
is conceded thatweaiih by no means brings
happiness, that in many cases niuduces
habits of Incidence, throws open new ave
nues OF temptation, and thus impairs health
and shortens life. Nevertheless there are
hundreds and thousands who, already iich,
and whose span OF existence is rapidly
drawing TO "a close, who, notwithstanding,
toll onas steadily as ever, anxious, il would
seem, TO accumulate still more Tor their
children, and thus willing 10 subject those
children to new temptdtions, We may
mention case in poirt. A few years
since, a merchant Of this city, died sud.
denly, and left fortune of $l50,000,
which was TO be divided between his wild
ow, son and q daughter. The son was
engaged with his father in business
and become interested in commercial
pursuits, and thus continued in the good Oh
track. He is, perhaps, worth somewhat
more al the present day Than nj the decease
of his parent. lie has lived generously
and happily, he attends his counting room
daily, ovetlooks lis clerks. and thus use
fully employs u Ialge portion of his time.
But the widow and daughter. Both we're
reputed worth far more than they really
were, and they Immediately became OBJ
jects of temptation 10 mercenary adyentu'
rers. The former disgraced hersef' by
marrying a man much her junior, who has
already contrived 10 make way with 4
large portion OF her fortune. She is by no
means conlented, for now that the decep-
lion practced upon her has become visible
how that she sees that her money was
the object, she indeed feels d sappoin!ed
and WEIGHED. The few charrs she pos.
sessed III earlier life are gone, and she OBJ
nerves with shudder, that Der Young has
band rgards her in any but an afiectlonae
spirit, and that even his acts of courtesy
and attention are fore cd and constrained.
She was forwarncd of all this, and those
who loved and respected her most, inter-
coded for hours before she took The fatal
step. But the arts of u plausible and cap
livaiing man were irresistible witt weak
and susceptible woman, and the result is
as We have stated.
The daughter, too-alasi her case is still
worse. She was ore of the loveliest of
her sex, amiable, generous and con6dtng.
She could not believe IN The possibility of
a mercenary marriage. She regarded
with horror The idea Oft deliberate scheme
of deception. She was gentle, susceptible
and affect onate, and would have cheeriully
made any sacrifice for The object of hel
choice. To her, reciprocity OF feeling, mu-
tull regard, were dearer, sweeter than life.
Money weighed as no'h ng in the scale OF
aficc ion. Under such circumstances, she
was singled out with deliberate mcdtat on
by hearlless forlune-hunter, was WIN
and cheerlully conlidcd her happiness and
her property to his keeping. liefole the
marriage, some Of Ter friends ventured t.
speak of disluct PROVISION for herself, o!
the settlement Of Il portion of her fortune
in such a way as 10 place ii beyond the
reach of the vicissitudes oftrade and spec
uIaion. But she heard the suggestions
with ind nna; ion She had unboundcd con
! tiIence in her intended husband, and " Id
DO nothing calculated in the slightest de-
gree to implv doubt Alas! The fatal
error. They were married. They lived
in apparent peace together for short time.
! But twelve months had not elapsed, be.
tore the scales Of delusion fell from her
eyes She saw. and woman's ca ckress in
such matters is wonderful, that she was
not. and never had been sincerely loved
| Death would have been preferable to such
Il conviction, and for long time she strove
% shu, i, out from her mind and heat
But each week and month served but tC
render il stronger and more calling. Her
fortune, too, VS. rapidly waslIng away
Her husband had become u profllgate II
more senses than one. He could not bear
prosperity. He had been poor until hi,
marriage, and thus his tastes, appe,ites anc
propensities, had been kept in che OK by TIC
force of necessity ru. now, with ample
means at his command. and conscious oil
having played base part towards his wife
he gradually became more neglectfui, mere
reckless, and more vicious The sensitive
nature of the heiress shrunk, and she was
appalled, at the prospecl before and around
her. She saw that her life was TO be one
of misery, and broken in spirit and in
pride, she scarcely Struggled against hei
fate.
Years rolled on, and her checks grew
thin and her eyes wan. the companions OF
her earlier years scarcely recognized her
She was bankrupt in hope and happiness
She had periled her ali Of earthly bliss OF
the fidelity Of one, and DE had iailed. A
times she S Ill chung to The deiusioa that al
was no, lost, that adversely might induce
penitence. and restore something OF those
delicious hopes which memory s. Il refer
red 10 with melancholy delight. But iht
hone was vain. 4 lew years more. AM
the husband having exhausted his to'inne
and nearly broken the heart q his VIE
was. while INDUCING in some scene 0
reyel and dissipation, seized with aPoPtex,
and summoned 10 his last account Bu
Il she. whom he had deceived and belrayed-
wbat a wreck did she now present! Pc
I ma,urely Old, faded and sad, The conIas
!. VITA her youthful position and brilliant
II ,,ennrnfuI 4 M