The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1849-01-05

uestroyed as privately as il could be done
The fact however could not be concealed. A
friend Of a different order from the Piors one
asst introduced, inquired Of the old man why
he had done this? His answer was as follows:
"No man should live for himself alone
Each one should regard the common good,
and act with view to the common good, II
all were 20 do SO, you can easily see that we
should have heaven upon earth, from whence
alas! it has been almost entirely bqnished--
Our various employments are means whereby
we can save others, our own good being anal-
ural consequence. If the merchant send out
his ships to distant parts 10 obtain the useful
commodities Of other countries, in order to BEN
eft his fellow citizens, do you not see that he
would be far happier when his ships came in
laden with rich produce, than if he had sought
only tct hinaaln And 40 You not also see
that he would obtain for himself equal f not
greater advantages. If the builder hadin view
the comfort and convenience Of his neighbors
while erecting a house, instead Of regarding
only the money he was to rec, i've lor his work,
he would not only perform that work more
faithfully, and add 10 the common stock Of hap
Piness but would lay for himself a source Of
perennial satisfaction. He would not, after re-
ceiving the reward Of his labor in a Just return
of this worlds goods, lose all interest in the re.
suit Of that labors but would instead, have a
feeling Of deep interior pleasure whenever he
looked at a human habitation erected by his
hands, arising from a consciousness that his
skill had enabled him to add to the common
good The t%illersf 0 the soil, the manufacturer
Of its products into useful articles, the artisans
Of every class, the literary and professional
man, all would, if moved by a regard for the
welfare Of the whole social body, not only act
more efficiently in their c%allings, but would de-
rive therefrom a delight now unimagined ex-
cePt by avery few. Hence could not be
so blind as not to see that the onlp Fight
course for US not to pursue was to destroy d
worthless and injurious commodity, rather than
sell II at any price to one who would, for gain,
either himself deGraud his neighbor, or aid a,
mother in doing il. The article was not only
useless, it was worse than useless. How then
could ], with a clear conscience, sell it? No
NOR my friend. Fam not afrpidof any world
ly il--but / am afraid Of doing wrong 70 my
neighbcrs; or Of putting il in the power Of any
one else TO do wrong. AS | have said before
If every man were TO look to the good Of the
whole, instead Of turning all his thoughts in
upon himself his xvi interests would be bet
ter and he would be far happier"
'That's a beautiful theory remarked the
friend, "but never canbe realized in actual life.
Men are too selfish. They would find no
pleasure in contemplating the enjoyments Of
others, but would rather be %envious Of others
good. The merchant, so little does he care for
the common welfare, that unless he receive the
gain Of his adventures, he will let his goods
perish in his ware-house--to distribute them
even to the suffering, would not make him
happier. And 70 with the product Of labor in
all the various grades OF society. Men turn
their eyes inward upon the great social world.
Few, if any, understand that any other part Of
the whole, must affect the whole and copse-
quently themselves. Were this thoroughly UNI
derstood selfshness would lead men TO act less
selfshly? We should have heaven upon earth
If your pure theories could be brought out into
actual life"
Heaven win be found no where else by man.
was replied to this.
"Whutm said the friend in surprise. "Do
you mean to say that there is no heaven for the
good who bravely battle with evil in this life!
Is all the reward Of the righteous III this
wor d,