Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1851-02-14

lars week, We lived in two rooms, and did
all our own work had fewer wants then
than have ever had since, aud was far hap
pier than eyaf expect to be again ON this
side Of the grave
Just then srf was heard in the street.
6 Hark ~ exeIaimed Mr.. Aiken
Fire FireI Firem The startling sound
rose clear and Eshrin upon the air,
Aiken sprung p the window aud threw i
spen.
mr.. Freen.an's new building, as I live"
Aiken dropped the window, and catching
up his hat, huiriedly left the house.
Mrs. Aiken shook her head. mi
!. No, William, the same spirit that makes
you restless and Disconnected now, would be
With you no natter how greatly improved
might be youf external condition. Mr.. Free
man was onchl Is poor as you are. Do you
think him happser for his riches Does he
enjoy life m1re2 Has wealth brought q
greater freedom from easel Has it made
his sleep sweeter2 Far, very far from it
Riches;have but increased the sources Of dis
content
81 1t was an hour ere he returned. Mean
while, the fke ragged furiously, and from her
window, where she was safe from harm, Mrs
Aiken saw EhsIlsrgs new factory, which the
rich man had just erected, entirely consum-
ed by the fierce devouring element All in
vain was it that the intrepid fremen wrought
almost miracles Of daring, in their efforts to
save the building. Story after story was
successfully wrapped in flames, until, at
| length, over fifty thousand dollars worth Of
property LILY heap Of black and shoulder
\ ing ruins.
Wet to the skin, and covered with cinders,
was Mr.. Aiken when he returned to his
humble abode, after having worked manfully,
in his unselfish efforts to rescue a portion Of
his neighborss property from destruction.
\ "Poor Frseman / pity him from my
4 very heart TWAS his generous, sympathizine
| exclamation. as soon as he met his wife.
she ID Insured, is he not2' enquired Mrs
Aiken. J
Partly But even afull insurance vouIt
/ be poor cumpepsation for such loss. u
less than two weeks, this new factory, witt
4 all its perfoa aud beautiful machinery, woul
have been ii operation. The price Of good
4 is now high and Mr.. Freeman would hav
cleared d handsome sum of money on th
first seasons product of his mill II is
terrible disappointment for him. l neyt
saw man 30 much disturbed
Poor nan His sleep will not be
sound as Yours tonight, William"
Indeediit will not"
Nor, rich as be is, will he be as hapT
as Yep tsle-rsr u = - il
:. would not fret myself to death death i or =. =
, reai.p would, ratBfyy possession Possession = :
.Lhis ianot necessary consequence.
M, freeman turn a blessing into a ours
that lisa OBJECT in bis particular case"
# And few, in this fallen and evil worl
are free from the same defect William.
wealth were sought from unselish ends. the
u would make its possessor happy Bu
now tew So seek riches 1t is here: beliey
me. that the evil lies"
Mrs AIKEN spoke earnestly. ana sam,
tning 81 the truth that was in her mind ~
It's beams upon the mind of her hnsb.aa ~
on remember said she, smiling, nh
anecdote &c the rich man in New Yopt -,
asked p person who gave utterance 10 ward
of envy teFards himself-.Wo van 80,
he, take aal the care and anxiety attendan
upon the management Of my large estate anc
extensive business operations, merely fo,
your wtuass and clothssn No, indeed
would nots was the quick answer. II get n
more, SAID the rich man, grayely. And 4
was the truth, William. Thew who gef RAJ
~ TINS world, pass up through incessant toll
ana an; anxiety and, while they seem to enjoy
an the gootthings of life, in reality enioy
out httles They get only their yitnals and
clothes have worked for ihany rich la
dies; anaI do not remember one who an.
peared he happier than / am. And / am
n, missak enSlfIyour experience is not very much
like my eMn.n
q few days after this time, Aiken came
nome from his work one evening As. he
entered Che room where his wife and chill.
dren sat- they looked up to him with cheer
and smllsof welcome, and the latter gath.
cred aroYg4 him, filling his ears with the
music oh their happy voices The father
drew lansaEtn around one and another. and
as he SAD Ia their midst, his heart swelled in
ms bosom and warmed with glow of hap
SosniIhs meal was served--served BY the
hands ot hls wife-the good angel Of his
humble hope. William Aiken, as be look
cd around upon bis smiling children, and
their true hearted, eYen-tempered, cheerful
mother, felt that be had many blessings for
which be should be thankful.
" Issw something little while ago. that
! shall not soon forget," said he, when alone
with. his wife
w bat was that. William4n
had occasion to call at the house of
Mr.. Elder, on some business, as came home
this evening Mr.. Elder is rich. and have
often enyied him but shall not do So No
more ! found him in his sitting room
alone Walking the floor with troubled looR
on bis lace. He glanced at me with an inn
patiens expression as entered Imention.
ed my business, when he said abruptly and
rudely-
I've no time to think Of that now
As vas turning away, q door Of the
room opened, and Mrs Elder and two chill.
drenientered
wish you would send them children up
70 the nursery he exclaimed, In fretfui~I
half angry voice. "Pm in no humor to Be
troubled With them nown
The look cast upon their father by those
swo innocert little children, as their mother
,ashed them from the room, shall mot for
ret remembered, as left the house. that
here has been large failure in Market i
Street, ynd chat Mr.. Elder was said to he
he7lBseT b. some ten thousand dollars-less
han twentieth part Of what he is worth. /
m happier than he is tonight, Mary
And happier youmay ever Be, William
etdiued his wife, . If you but stoop to the \
tumble flowers that spring up along vour
athkay. apd, like the, bee, take the honey
God knows what, ID external
bin6s i best for Us; and he win make |
ithsr poverty or riches, which ever comes.
blessing # ve are humble, patient and