Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-08-03
Cbuir& IitGraturr.
From Godey's Uaya=ine, for A"gHs'.
Three Scenes in The Life of A Worldhng'
"Coutentmont Better than Wealth."
BY r.. s. ARTHUR.
SCENE FIRST.

SCENE FIRST.
GIr ia vain to urge me, brother Robert. |
Out into the world must 60 The impulse
il on me. should die Of nacton here
you need not be inactive. There Is /
work TO do. shall never be idle
GAnd such work Delying in and grovel-
ling close to the very ground. And for what
Oh no, Robert My ambition scars beyond
Your quiet cottage in sheltered vale, Ny
appetite Graves something more than simple
herbs and water from the brook. have
set my heart on attaining wealth; and,
where there is a will, there is always way.
'Conteutment is better than wealth.
a proverb for drones'
No, William il is proyerb for the wise.
BE it for the wise or the simple, as COM
monty understood, it is no proyerb for me.
AS poor plodder along the way Of life, 1t
were impossible for Inc to know content.-
So urge me no farther, Robert. | am going
out into the world a weath-seeker, and not
until wealth is gained do purpose to return
What Of Ellen, Robert?
The young man turned quickly towards
his brother, Iisbly disturbed, and fixed his
eyes upon him with an earnest expression
j love her as my life, he said, with
strong emphasis on his words.
Do you love wealth more than life,
WilliamP
Robert =
III you love Ellen as your life, and leave
her for the sake Of getting riches, then you
must love money mJre than life.
Don't talk TO me after this fashion.
cannot bear it. love Ellen tenderly ant
truly. am going forth as well for her sak'
as my own. In all the good fortune tha
comes as the need of effort, she will be !
sharer.'
You will see her before you leave us ?
No. | will neither pain her nor mysel
by parting interview. Send her this lette
aud this ring
4 few hours later, and the brothors stood
with tightly grasped hands, gazing into eacl
others faces.
Farewell Robert
Farewell. Think Of the old Homestead
as still your home. Though it is mine, II
the division of our patrimony, let your hear
come back to it as yours. Think Of it a
home and, should fortune cheat you wit
the apples OF Sodom, return to it again.
Its doors will ever be open, and its hearth
fire bright for you as Of old. FAREWELL
Aud they turned from each other, one
going ont into the restless world, an cage
seeker for its wealth and honors; the othe
to Hnger among the pleasant places dear
him by every association OF childhood, ther
TO fill up the measure OF his days-not i'll.
for he was no droue in the social hive.
On the evening Of that day two maideT
sat alone, each in the sanctuary OF her ow
chamber. There was warm glow on Il
checks Of one, and glad light in her eye
Pale was the others face, and wet her droo
ing lashes. And she that sorrowed held
open letter in her hand. 1t WAS full
tender words; bat the writer loved veal
more than the maiden, and had gone for
to seek the mistress of his soul. lie wor
'come back but when? All, what veil
uncertainty was upon the futures II
stricken heart! The other maiden-she
the glowing cheeks anG dancing eyes-h'
also a letter in her hand. II was from
brother Of the weal!h-seeker; and twas a
full of loving words; and it said that, on
morrow, he would come to bear her as
bride to his pleasant home. Happy lnaide