Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-01-05
The Reggar aud Banker.

- The Beggar aud Banker.
Stand out Of my way said rough,
surly voice under. my Nindow, one day as
| sat ,nusing over the bussiing scene below
me, at my Logging in chestnut stree.. Your
| honor will please TO recollect,' replied a
sharp and sotnewha, Indignant voice. that
| am a beggar, and have as gauch right TO
the road as yonrseIf.' Il am bauker,'
was reloted still more grumy and angrily.
Amused at this strange dialogue, | leaned
over the easement and beheid couple of
cltlzens, In position wiAch q pugalist
would probably denominate squared, theH
countenances somewhat menaclng, and
their persons presenting contrast at once
ludicrous and Instructive. The one was
a purse proud, lordiy hammered man, ap>
pareled IN silk, and protecting carcass of
nearly The circumference OF hogshead-
and The other ragged and dirty, but equal
ly important personage; and lrom the COM
parisou OF their counlenances, it would have
puzzled the most profound M. d. to deter
milne which of their rotundities was best
stored habilually with gooo vituals and
drink.
Upon close observation, however, Of the
countenance OF the banker. 1 discovered
almost as soon as my eye fell upon it, a
iine bespeaking something OF humor and
awakened curioslly, as he stood fixed and
eyed his antagonist; and this became more
clear and coIspic luus when he lowered his
tune and asked How will you mike this
rIgh. appear.' How said the beggar, why
listen moment and l'.l learn you. In
The first place do you take notice that Gud
mas given me soul aud body, just as good
tor all the purposes Of thinking, eating aud
drinking, and taking my leasure, as he has
you-and then you may remember Divers
and Lazarus just as we pass. Then, again
II is q free Country, aEd4 her 100 we are OIL
equaiily-ior you must know that here,
even a beggar's dog may look gentleman
IN the face with as mucn indifference as he
would brother. and you have the same
common master, are equally free, live
equally easy, are both travelling to the sa me
place, and both have to die aud be buried
in the end, t...-. se. =.
But Interrupted the banker, 'do you
pretend there is no difference between
beggar and a bankerP &4@@' A's2# s5.,. s''-
mot in tho least, rejoined the other, with
the utmost readiness, mot III tho least esSeh-
tials. You swagger and drink wine IN
company OF your choosing. swagger and
drink beer, which | like better than your
wine. IN company which like better Than
your company. You make thousands a
day, perhaps; | make ashilling, perhaps;
If you're contenied. | am; we are equally
happy at night You dress lnsnew clothes,
| am as comfortable in old ones; and have
no trouble in keeping them from sofilng.-
lf4 have less property than you, have less
10 care about; if fewer frlends, have less
friendship to loose, and If do not make as
great q shadow on the pavement, am as
great as you. Besides, my word for 1t.
have fewer enemies, meet with lever losses,
carry as light heart, and sing as many
songs as The best of you.
rAnd lhen,' said The banker who had all
along tried 70 slip in word edgeways, is
The contempt Of the world nothingF
srhe envy of The world is as bad as fts
contempt, you have perhaps the one, and
q
there too. And besides, the world deals in
this matter equally unjust with us both, you
and live by our wits, insterd of living by
our industry, and the only difference in this
particular worth naming 10, that 1t COSTS
society more to maintain you Than II does
me; / am content with q little, you walt a
great deal. Neither Of US raise grain or
| potatoes, or weave cloth, or manufacture
anything useful;3 we iherelore add nolhing
to the common stock; We are only con
| sumers, and If The world EJudged wHn- strict
mparliaity, il seems to me | would be pro-
noupced the cleveress fellow -..-
Some passers by here interrupted the
conversation. The dispntanis separated,
apparently good friends; and drew in my
head ejacularihg somewhat in The manner
of Alexander in lhe PLAYS there, then no
difference between n beggar and banker!
But severaly years have since passed away
and now both these individuals have paid
.he debt of nature. They died as they
lived, one n banker, the oiher beggor. !
| examined both of their graves when | next
visited the city; they were of a similar
length and breadth, the grass grew equally
green ab3ve each; the sun looked down
as pleasant on one as on the other. No
honors, pleasures, delights, clustered around
The grave of the rich man. No fingers OF
scorn were pointed al that o. the poor man
! They were both equally deserted, lonely.
/ and forgotten! | thought TOO, of the desli.
nies 10 which they had passed-of that
state 10 which temporal distinctions exist
not. where pride, and slhe circumstances
which surround this life, never find admit
tance. ssf5..s h.
! TSomebody says: '1'he devel never
troubles a busy man. This we know 10
be false. Show US buster man than the
editor. and vet he is fortunate if he has no