The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1851-02-12

~ ~@o*<' Noas w HitdH* safu
Mrs. Aiken, speaking in tone Of kind
concern to her husband. who sat silent
and moody, with his eyes fixed upon
the floor. and now following the forms
Of his plainly-clad children as they
sported. full ofheaIth and spirits. about
the room.
II was evening. and Mr.. Aiken, a
man who earned his bread by the sweat
Of his brow, had. little while before,
returned from his daily labor.
No answer was made 10 the wife's
question. Afew minutes went by, and
then she spoke again.
"ls any thing wrong with you. Will
liams.
J" Nothing more than usual, was re-
piled. There's always something
wrong. The fact is, I'm out Of heart" !"
William I"
Mrs. Aiken came and stood beside
her husband, and laid her hand gently
upon his shoulder.
The evil spirit of envy and discon-
tent was IN the poor mans rt,-this
his wife understood right well. She
had often before seen him in this frame
of mind. N
Pm asgood as Freeman. am | notf"
Yes, and a good deal better, 1
hope" replied Mrs. Aiken.
" And yet he is rolling in wealth,
while l, though compelled to toll early
and late. can scarcely keep soul and
body together"
"Hush, William. Don't talk so. II
does you no good. We have a CON-
Portable home, with food and raiment,
--let US herewith be contented and
thankful"
/" Thankful for this mean hut !!
Thankful for hard labor, poor fare, and
coarse clothing"
+" None are so happy as those who
labor; none enjoy better health than
they who have only the plainest food.
Do you ever go hungry to bed. Will
liam 7"
"No, of course not"
edo you or your children shiver in
the cold Of winter for lack Of warm clio,
thing 7"
"No; but"
William! DO not look past YOU
real comforts in envy Of the blessing
God has given to others. Depend up
on II, we receive all Of this world,
goods the kind Father above sees it bes
Tor us to have. With more, we NIGH
not be so happy as we are."
"I'll take all that risk" said Aiken
"Give me plenty Of money, and III
find q way to largely increase tn,
bounds Of enjoyment"
The largest amount of happiness
| believe, is ever to be found in tha
external condition in which God ha,
placed u.s."
"Then every poor man should viii
lingly remain poor"
=" | did not say that, William.
think every man should seek earnest
ly to improve bis worldly affairs--ye
be contented with his lot at all times
for only in contcntmcnt is there hap
piness, and that is blessing the poo
may share equally with the rich. In
deed, believe the poor have this bless
ing in large store. You. for instance
are happier man than Mr.. Freeman
81 am not SO sure Of that"
81 am, then. Look at his face
Doesn't that tell the story? Would yo,
, exchange with him in every respect ?
!" No, not in every respect. Iwoul,
|, like to have his money"
"Ah, William! William !" Mrs
: Aiken shook her head. I" You are Civ
ing place in your heart for the entrance
Of bad spirits. Try to enjoy fully wha
YOU have, and you will be a far happie
man than Mr.. Freeman. Your sleep !
! sound at night"
aIknow. A man who labors as har,
as do, can't help but sleep soundly."
.Then labor is blessing. If for no
: thing else. took home, to-day. cou
9 pie Of aprons made for Mrs. Freeman
!. She looked pale and troubled, and
: asked her If she was not well"
!. Mot very,' she replied. "I've los
so much rest of late, that I'm almos
? worn out"
!. q did not ask why this was; but al
ter remaining silent for few moments
!, she said
II "Mr. Freeman has got himself s
excited about business, that he SLEEP
. scarcely three hours in twenty-fou
He cares neither for eating nor drinI
: ing; and if l did not watch him, woul
scarcely appear abroad in decent app'
. rel. Hardly day passes that SOM
thing does not go wrong. Workme
tail in their contracts, prices fall b
low what he expected them to be, agen
prove to be unfaithful in fact, hui
!. dred things occur to interfere with h
. expectation, and to cloud his mind wi
:. disappointment, Ave were far happi
when we were poor Mrs. Aiken. lei
: was time when we enjoyed this 81
!, Rrirhf IA vs t-hov wall ara Al