Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-02-25
RICH AND POOR.
By +. s. ARTHUR.

tleman who sat talking. one pleasant evening
with his children, 'has brought to my mind
the story of discontented man, that | once
heard His name was Willis. lie was al
ways complaining and finding fault with
Providence. Nothing happened just as be
wanted it. He enjoyed q fair, toerable good
income, the result of industry and skill in
his business; but. although all his real wants
were supplied, he was far from being salts
fed
Then think he must have been a very
unreasonable man, said William, the Oldest
snpi otl qfope btfeR566abfe tlah grea rnuuy
Others; nor, perhaps, more unreasonable than
we all are, sometimes replied Mr.. Barton,
But, if remember rightly, wrote the story
down when heard it. and if | can find il in
my secretary. will read it TO you
Mr.. Barton went to his secretary, and at
Yer searching among his papers some time,
said-
Yes, here it is'-and he brought out few
sheets of paper from which he read the fol-
lowing story OF
THE MAN WHO FOUND FAULT WITH Paoyi-
DENcE.
Il think, said Mr.. Benjamin Willis, spea-
king to a neighbor, that | attn as good as
Mr.. Jones. and quite as deserving of pros
perity as he is They say that Providence
is impartial. Ifit bo SO, why is it that the
worst people have generally the most Of
life's blessings; whilo those who would do
some good in the world with money, if they
had it, can scarcely get enough to keep soul
and body togetherl'
i suppose it is all best as it is replied the
A.. I h..l.
it so. God.is too wise to err in regard to
his creatures, and too good to be unkind to
them. My doctrine is, to do the best | can
to do my duties in life faithfully and ear
nestly, and let the result come out as it will.
satisfied in my own mind that all will be well.
Il wish could think and feel so, but |
can't replied Mr.. Willis. 1t is impossible
to make me believe that all that happens is
best for me. Do you think it was best for
me to lose a thousand dollars last year by q
man who cheated mo out of that sum-
i suppose it was said the noghbor, 'or it
wouldn't have happened
You can't make me believe that doctrine,
replied Mr.. Willis, shaking his head. 1T
was all for the best too, suppose, when |
fell and broke my leg, and couldn't attend to
business for three or four months!'
NO doubt oft. When get sick, aud my
business suffers in consequences; or when
meet with losses and disappointments, | say
to myself, This is permitted for some wise
purpose, and will try and think that it is u
blessing in Disguise
It's all very we'll for you ii you can do it,;
but can't replied Mr.. Willis. Il don't be-
lieve in such blessings in disguise. They
arc no blessings to me-
The time may como when you viii think
differently said the neighbor.
i doubt that very much returned Mr.
Willis, and tAou they parted.
Mr.. Jones, to whom allusion was made,
had hired vessel, and sent out cargo OF
flour to the West Indies, upon which he had
made large sum of money At the same
time that his vessel sailed, Mr. Willis sont
one out. also with cargo OF flour, in expec-'
tation of getting handsome return. Ii so
happened that the vessel of Mr.. Jones reach
ed its destination four days earlier than that
of Mr.. Willis, and found the market almost
exhausted. Mr.. Jones, of course, got high
price. Four vessels. all laden with flour, ar
rived the next day and overstocked the mar
ket. When the cargo of Mr.. Willis arrived,
prices had fallen so low that his flour scarce
ly brought its cost. This was what had
worried his mind. and set him to complain
ing against Providence. lie thought him
self great deal better man than Mr.. Jones.
and felt quite angry with the Great Disposer
of all events for favorng Mr.. Jones and dis
appointing him in his scheme of profit.
Mr.. Jones' said he to himself lis sell
fish and bad man, and does no good at all
with his money; and yet, every thing he
touches is tuned into gold, while |, who
would make q much better use OF riches, if
had them, am permitted barely to make a
living. They needn't tell me about a wise,
good and impartial Providence! | don't be-
liove a word of it,
In this state of mind Mr.. Willis returned
home in the evening. His children ran out
20 meet him, when they saw him coming;
but he had no. kind words for them. His
wife stood at the door to welcome him, but
he did not return her pleasant smile. There
was q warm fire in the CRATE, and soon after
he came in, cheerful lights burned in tho
family sitting room. His comfortable chair
was moved up to its usual place by one of
his children; another brought his slippers;
and all seemed rejoiced that he had como
home again, and were anxious to show the
love that was in their hearts. But all these
great blessings. freely given by good Prov
dence, Mr.. Willis did not then feel to be
blessings, because he had been disappointed
in tho adventure he had made with cargo of
flour.
BY the time the tea bell rang, the cold and
silent manner of Mr.. Willis had caused all |
Of his children to shrink from him. Two of
them had taken books and wero reading, and /
the two youngest had stolen quietly away.
and seated themselves at distance. No /
cheerful conversation passed around the ia
Die at tho tea-timo, for Mr.. Willis had moth
ing to say; and single glance at his face
was enough to check in the children all de-
sire to speak.
After tea, Mr. Willis retired, alone, into the /
paror and sat down there to brood over his
and complaio against Provi-
ience for permitting MIR. Jones to make Sow
eral thousand dollars proft6n his -four, whilo
be made nothing. The moro he thought a.
bout il, the moro unhappy he felt; for, in
aonanlain ininr a0ainct Drovidanea ha narnnif- I