The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-09-18
Miscellaneous.
'IfI were a Rich Man.
I we're a rich mani! said Mr. Hnrris

Why, Ia give 20 the poor, and reap the
pleasure Of charity
you would, would your
yes, sir, most certninly.'
'And wouldn't wish to keep n trne for this
purpose and for that, and ride in your car
rage, when you might as well go a foot.
NO sir-not /; Mr. Brown
'And would prove an honorable exception
aaong rich mcn-would you"
i should try, l think
But what makes you think you would be
so much better than the rich in genernl%
ooh, can't say exactly; suppose it is be-
cause | so frequently experience the incon-
ycnience of poverty
you poor! Mr. Harris. why, / always con-
sdered you wealthy man.
Me wealthy! Why, sir, could not mus
ter five hundred dollars, if ! should sell every
thing possess. Rich! I'd like TO own my
dinner before cat it; am sure should grow
fat at the bare thought
But Mr. Harris, what would You really do
ifyou were as rich as Jacob Astor"
well don't know exactly what / would
do with so much money as he has; but one
thing is certain, I'd give all the poor in my
neighborhood one good dinner
is that allP
90 no. would repeat the dose so often
that the leanest should cry enough
well, Mr. Harris, have heard great man
people talk in ust this manner; bur, when
Providence has blessed them, they have al
most invariably forgot all their good resolu.
tons
Some may have done so; but just give me
chance and I'll show you the difference
'Ah, | fear neighbour said Mr. Brown ms
he walked away-'but few are able to with
stand the temptation
And am willing to he tempted; the soon
er the better said Mr. Harris ms he passed on.
But one year after the date of the above
conversation, Mr. Harris was what the world
caIs-a rich man. An uncle had died in the
Indies Tor somewhere else )-ut Just the luck
ymoment leaving him sole heir to n fortune.
Mr. llarris's first intelligence was draft for
fifty thousand dollars, payable at sight.-The
poor man could hardly contain himself for
Joy; II thousand brilliant visions danced
through his brain. His wife should not la
Dor; his children should be finely dressed,and
delicately fed--and his neighbors should
have---yes he would give--some-
thing to some of his neighbors.
The news ofhis good fortune spread like
widfire. Friends gathered round to con-
graduate him. One and another volunteer
cd this service aud that-olfers they never
would have made but for the ringing of that
same fifty thousand dollars.
MIR Harris moved from his humble cottage
longer performed the drudgery for her fam
ily Jane and Ellen left offknitting mittens
Tor their brothers, and Henry and Edward
split no more wood for the kitchen fire. e,
WIN wealth came wants unnumbercd.
Labor once performed from nccessity,' was
renonnced entirely, and with it the pleasure
that labor brings
Mr. Harris soon found himself unable to
walk-Ilorses must do the drudgery his
bn1 nh tn
while pampered appetite rejected the whole
some food which not long ago crowned his
table
Mr. Brown, who had anticipated such rev.
oIutions, should his neighbours wish be gran
ted, looked OH it in silence. True, the good
man breathed sigh now and then for the
hckleness ofhis fellows, but he chose that
time and opportunity should convince Mr.
Harris that after all his boastings he was on
ly human.
The wholesome resolves "to do something
Tor his neighbors" were undoubtedly forgot
Ten IN thesmultiplicity of cares which now ell
compassed our rich friend, unless we reck-
on the Hastings he gave those who were able
to feast in return as worthy ofthe title.
Not that Mr. Harris possessed less kindly
impulses than in former times. Not so. He
was ever neighborly man, and ready to as
SIst others according to his ability. Once his
limited; now his position furnished neces-
shy Tor larger expenditures, and he really
hau hotnihg left to give. At least so he con-
Nhced himself, and endeavored to convince
ollers. NOR is this an exception to the gen
eral manifestation of suddenly acquired
wealth.
If man is omniverous in any passion, it
must be love ofgold, nor for its own sake a.
lone, so much as for the qualification it in
Snres Wealth can purchase honor, fame,
luxury, might and right, everything but, -
and many poor rich man groans as he nears
The but happiness.
That thank Cod is the poor mans birth
right, ifhe will but lawfully claim the boom
honor may come at the beck of n silver
wand. Fame may wreathe her laurels to
ond the brow already eecked with purchas-
Gu oriIlIants, and luxury may pampcr until
haniiness is lost; but peace, contentment,
W"hout which gold is vain, is won without
money and without price,
u IN process oftime, Mr. Harris fell ill. Mr.
Drown who never lost sight of his old friend
now nov renewed his former friendly intercourse.
pun recoIlectons ola conversation once
ne,u with the same MIR Brown, haunted the
SICK mans mind. He was willing to be temp
aeu' ms wish had been granted and like ma
ny others had proved himself frail man.
DuFllg his protracted illness, recolIections
vi neglected opportunities, and wasteful ex-
M,iNagance troubled him. Resolutions for
me future were frequently avowed, but
";io"$h the arrangements of Providence,
nPPed IN the bud. The man who but few
yeors ago found his heart so deeply touched
WIN sympathy for his fellows, had not fulfill
"'' better promptings when means were