Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-04-01
Selected Gales.
From the Saturday Erening Post
LOOKING UP.
BY Mrs. T. II. Butler.
CHAPTER !.

.
tent in the heart 4, Yet the every day
life of some persons is but a continued
round Of lault-fnding and complaining
they have ever something 10 cavil at
some petty annoy ance to nurse i0iO. a
/ bug bear some fancied evil to cherish
Indeed there are many persons Of this
class " no doubtless imagine that had the
shaping of their own destiny been theirs,
the shears Of Fate would have been
welded by much more able hands
"Oh the thousand grievances" say
they "which we would have clipped -
the thorns which are now pricking us on
every side we would have pruned away,
and poverty Topped of root and branch
whether spreading its unseemly shadow
over our own door sill, or shooting up in
the sickIy shape Of beggars and poor re-
lations !"
/ Contentment is indeed a rare jewel
which but few possess, and happy may
those esteem themselves who can call
his treasure theirs.
The evils arising from a spirit Of dis
content, the history of the Wilmots may
partially illustrate. They live in gen
teel style, which, interpreted in their
case, means that their house. a modern
three-story, was situated in one Of the
most fashionable streets Of the city
that their furniture, although chosen
more for display than was consistent
with good taste, was still costly and ele
gant-that they gave excellent dinners
10 very excellent people, and that the
set which filled their handsome parlors
when Mrs Wilmot issued cards for a
party, stood in the eyes Of the world,
those enormous eyes to bask in whose
favorable light people forget they have
eyes, ears, or tastes Of their own-very
near the top round of the ladder. So
far their right to gentilty could not be
denied.
The characters Of Mr.. and Mrs. Will
mot were in striking contrast. He was
patient, cheerful, industrious. She new
er satisfied always complaining-keep-
ing upa "never ending, still beginning
worrying. Poor man,
I"Drawn with the power of heart-robbing eve,
And wrapte IN ieiters of golden tresse =
he had married her for love She had
married him to rise in the world, and
would just as soon have married any body
else, provided they had asked her, and
their rent-roll had presented the same
weighty arguments. She fancied when
she became the wife Of a leading mer-
chant, when she could live in hand
some house, have servants at her com
mand, give parties and look down upon
her CT derant neighbors and companions,
she should be happy. Mistaken woman
the demon Of discomfort held her hap
piness in tbrall
There was one unfortunate propensity
10 particular which caused her perpetual
pain, and was as ominous to the purse OF
her husband as the "Stand and Deliver"
Of some highway robber, Mrs. N'lmot
LOOKED Ur The comforts, nay, lux
uries, by which she was surrounded, had
no power to charm beyond their first al
ia inment- once hers, Their value was
gone, and her desires as instantly fixed
themselves upon some object or some
plan tending to still higher exaltation in
her scale Of grandeur. Looking up ever,
she forgot the modest, respectable sphere
from which she had already emerged,
aud which had once seemed TO her as
the summit Of her worldly ambition, but
pressed on, ,hrusting behind her those
whose race with Mammon was not swift,
and looked up with un-praiseworIhy ina
btion to reach the position Of the most
wealthy and aristocratic in her worlds
arena.
Mrs. Wilmot was never without food
for this tormenting, unsa,Ialed spirit Of
,discontent-she could extract discomfort
from the most absurd trfles, and not un-
called for came Envy to her bosom,
driving thence all the kindly affections
which so adorn and sanctiiy the domes-
tic fire. side. The never-ceasing indul-
gence of her husband failed TO excite
either her gratitude or her good nature,
and so this self made wre,ched woman
lived on day after day, fte,tlas herself iu-