Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-04-14
Money is not Wealth.

BY l.. MARIA CHILD.
The highes, gifts my soul has received
during my earthly pilgrimage, have often
been bestowed by those who were poor, both
IN money and mental cultivation. Among
these donors, | particularly remember a
hard-wurkinr, uneducated mechanic, rom
Indiana or Illinois. lie told me that be
was one Of thirty or forty New Eng'anders.
who, twelve Years ago. had goue out to set
ne in that western wilderness TUey were
neiIhbors, and bad been driven TO unite to-
geiher ia emigration rom a general unity
of opinion on various subjects. For some
years previous they had been in the habit
of meeting occasionally at each Others
house to talk over their duties io God aud
man, IA all sincerity of heart Their libra
ry was Their gospel, their priesthood the IN
ward light There was then no autl-siaye-
~ societies; but thus taught and rcyereut-
~ waing TO Learn, they had 40 need OF such
agency to learn that 1t was wicked TO en-
slave. The efforts of peace societies had
reached the secluded band only ia broken
echoes, aud non-resistance societies had no
existence But with the volume OF the
Puace of Peace, and hearts open to his III
1ueuce, what need had they of preamhles
and resolutions
Rich IN spiritual culture, this little band
started for the Far West Their inward
homes were blooming gardens they made
their outward IN a wilderness They were
industrious and frugal, aud al things pros
pered under their hands But soon wolves
came near the fold, IA The shape of reckless,
unprncipled Observation-Disclosures IA force
aud cunning, aud who act according To
their creed The colony Of practical chris
tlaus spoke of their depredatous IN terms
OF geulesi remonstrauce, aud repaid them
with uuvayng kindness. They went fur
ther-they openly announced, You may do
what evil You choose, we Will return moth
ing but good, Lawyers came INTO the
neighborhod, and offered to setle disputes.
They answered, We have no need of YOU
As ueIghbors we receive you in the most
friendly spirit; but for as your occupation
has ceased To exist. What wall We 40 #
rascals burn your barns and steal your har-
vests We viii return good for evil We
believe this Is The highest trOlh, and there
fore the best eXpediency
When the rascals heard this, they consld-
cred II marvellous good joke, and SAID aud
dad mauy provoking things, which TO them
seemed WITTY Bars were taken out 10 the
night, aud cows let into the cornieid. The
Christians repaired the damages as well as
they could, put the cows IN the barn, and
al twilight drove them gently home, saying,
Neighbor, yonr cows have been IN my
field. have fed them well during the day,
But ! would not keep them all night lest
the children should suffer for their milk
Ii tins was un, they who planned the
joke had no heart TO laugh at IT, BY de-
grees visible change came over these
troublesome ueiLhbors They ceased 10
cut of horses tails, and break the legs Of
poultry. Rude boys would say to youn-
ger brother, don't throw that stone, Bill !!
When | killed their chicken, last week,
didn't they send IT 10 mother, because they
thought chicken broth would be good for
poor Maryl should be ashamed TO throw
stones at their chickens Thus was evil
overcome With good, all not one was TO be
found 10 do them wiul injury.
Years passed on, aud found them thriv-
ing IA worldly substance beyond their neigh
bors, yel beloved by ALL From them the
? lawyer and constable obtained no fees, The
sheriff slammered aud apologized, when he
took their hard earned goods IA payment
for the war tax. They mildly replied, It's
a bad trade, friend. Examine 1t IN the
light of conscience, and see If 1t be not SO.
\ At the end OF ten years, the public lands,
which they had chosen for their farms, were
advertised Tor sale by auction. According
TO the custom, those who had settled aud
cultivated the SOIL were considered to have
the right to bid il IN at the government
price, which was at that time : % per a.
ere. But the fever OF land speculation
then CHANGED to run unusually high Ad-
ventureTs from all parts of the country were
hocking TO the auction; capitalists from
Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York aud
Boston, were sending out agents TO buy up
western lands. No one supposed that GUS
tom or equity would be regarded
The first days sale showed that specula-
ton ran almost to the verge of insanity
Land was eagerly bought IN at seventeen,
twenty-five aud thirty dollars an acre. The
Christian colony had small hopes of retain
ing their farms. As the first settlers, they
had chosen the best land and persevering
industry had brought it into the highest
state OF cultivation. Its market value was
much greater than that Of the acres already
sold at exorblant prices. In view of these
facts they had prepared their minds for an-
other remove into the wilderness, perhaps
u1unlnnnuouu uoIuruunouuunu