Eastern times., 1850-11-07
BATH, MAINE, THURSDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER = 1850

in items too small tor enumeration, leaving a
balance on hand of fifteen dollars to the account
of Heaven. This sum he placed in the hands
of the minister to be disbursed as that individu-
al might, in his better judgment in such mat
ters, determine
4 have followed your good ADVICE said Mr..
Palmer, in making this disposition of the bal
ance; my profits this first year have been one
thousand dollars, and i have given one hum
| dred to the Lord
well and wisely done, brother Palmer,
was replied to this. BE sure, if you continue
to practice, through life, on this system, you
will be largely the gamer in worldly goods,
besides laying up treasure in Heaven. Re.
member that he who giveth to the poor lend
eth to the Lord, and He will repay him again.
Palmer felt much encouraged-in fact, he
considered that he held Heavens guaranty for
success. During the second year every thing
prospered with him. His business increased
beyond his anticipations. His gross profits
were over FIVE thousand dollars but as there
were good many outstanding accounts, one or
two of which were little doubtful, he was
not able to make a clear division of profits on
the side of Heaven, of over one hundred and
fifty dollars. He felt little uneasy at assess
| ing so small sum, when the profit was, ap-
parently, so much larger, lest Heaven should
| be offended and withdraw its favor. For a
time he debated the question, whether it would
not be his wisest policy to assume five thou
sand dollars as the real profit of the year, and
set off five hundred as his offering to the sacred
| treasury thus as it were, securing the coop
Grafton of Heaven in aid of the safe collection
of the years balance of outstanding debts
But when the settlement of the account came,
the merchants faith was hardly strong enough
for this. He felt that bird in the hand was
worth two in the bush. Were he to part
with the additional three hundred and fifty dol
lars, he was not absolutely certain that the
nine-tenths, his own property, which it repre-
sented, would come in.
Prosperity crowned the efforts of the third
| year, and the merchant paid over four hundred
dollars as the tthe of his income In the
fourth year, the sum amounted to five hundred
dollars, and in the fifth year to seven hundred.
Justin Palmer made fewer bad debts than any
of his neighbors, at which, as well as at his
| rapid progress, many wondered. He knew,
or thought he knew, the secret, but, strange
enough, he felt willing to keep this secret 10
himself. His real motive for this he did not
know, for he was not man habitually in the
practice of examining his motives. To his
bargain with Heaven he was strict TO the let
ter, and, therefore, he felt that, in the eyes of
Heaven, he was faithful steward, and that,
would be committed to his hands, nine-tenths
of which, under the contract, would be abso-
lutely his own, to be held and used exclusively
for his own purposes. If he were to impart
to his neighbors the secret referred to, many
Of them, he believed, would adopt the same
system, thus dividing the almoners of Heaven S
bounty, and, as a consequence, dividing the
profits, and injuring his prosperity. He was
able and willing to dispense thousands every
year; and it would be just the same for the
interests of religion and charity, as if the work
were committed to a dozen, and vast deal
better for himself.
Here was his real motive for being silent on
the subject. He did not really know that such
was his end for he was not, as has been said
an Investigator of motive, and his self-love
and consequent good opinion Of himself, gave
him credit for beiag man Of the purest inten,
tions.
Year after year went by, and Mr.. Palmer
continued to gather in riches. OF course he
gave literally to the church, and literally 70,
all benevolent purposes, for he had large
fund TO draw upon, and did not feel, when he
put his hand into the Golfer which contained it
that he was making any sacrifice. He PAID
over, with scrnpulous exactness, into this funt
! every year, the tenth of his income, and wher
he drew from it, it was with the same feeling
in a certain sense, that a man draws upon Z
fund, entrusted TO his care, for the use of ar
other. Ifhe paid over fifty or one hundred
dollars for any benevolent purpose, the elf
was not accompanied by any unpleasant relnc
tance. 1t went freely, and the selfgratulatioI
and pleasure were without an alloy.
Of course, Mr. Palmer was looked upon il
the church to which he belonged, and in thu
general community as very benevolent man
He was usually called upon to head subscrip
tion papers, and this, when the object seemed
to call for it, was usually done in a libera
style. But, in another relation TO society, mer
thought less favorably of the merchants rea
kindness and good will to his fellows. The
carman, the porter, the poor day laborer-ir
fact, all who in any way performed servics
for Mr.. Palmer, found him close even to injus
tice, in his dealings. With two interests te
serve, his own, and the interest of Heaven, he
felt under obligation to make the most of every
transaction, and to save the pennies, that they
might accumulate into pounds, in all ways
possible. In doing this, as we have intimated
he was not always just to others. In bargain
ing, he felt a certain right to get the best side
if possible, and he always strove to do so. He
was therefore known as sharp dealer, ant
merchants who had transactions with him wert
accustomed to be on their guard.
In matters of religion, Mr.. Palmer was
known as a piO,is man This in fact uas q