The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-01-24
AN ORIGINAL TALE.
For The Ledger.
ISLANDER,
OR BROWN AND HIS FRIENDS.
ny ALPHA.

Drown was Pood, honest, open hea
ted man, but he was poor. lie had
wife and two small children to provid
for, and 1t required his utmost exertions I
provide tliom with the most common n,
cessaries. Brown was Mechanic. an,
worked faithfully and diligently, but whe
the sustenance Of his wife, children an
himself, depended alone and entirely upo
his exertions, he would often after on
meal, scratch his head, and wonder wher
the next would come from. He got plen
~ Of work. md il all his customers woulc
pay him promptly, he would have beer
enabled to push along some way, but tn,
rich and the poor alike complained o
harl times, and Brown was more thar
once mortified when he presented his bills
to be repulsed with the never changing
cry-no money! Brown did not despair
and although reduced to such an extrerni
tv, he worked his way along, and his
family were provided for, even II the pro-
visions were of the IN )st simple anl co ,rse
kind. ..-..
Poverty is q hard master. Those who
have lived in ease and aliiuence, shiver
ireadtuily when he oblruleS upon them,
and are ready TO sink in sorrow and des.
pair. Not so is il with the poor-they
have oeco ne accustomed to his cold Tree.
zing calls, and with that hope which
brightens the path way of life, they en-
dure his visits, and that same augeiic in.
fluence points aheal TO better times. Yes,
It is hard 10 re poor, tits hard to see
Others around US enjoying the comforts
which money can afford, aud we c ,npetl
ell to envy tha poor dog the crum3s which
fall from the rich mans table. And yet
riches, nor power, nor fame, bring that
which cheers the heart, and reniers the
heart peaceful aud happy. Ricnes may
bring comfort to the physical man, bur
there is u confort enjoyed in the soul, fre-
quently BY the poor, which the rIrn neser
feel. A clear conscience, n knowledge Of
dong unto his neighbor as he would wish
ais neiyhbor TO do unto him, this Is an
lnmost joy too often unfelt by the rich,
while il is the anchor OF hope and peace
to the poor and wretched. Brown was a
good man. lie tried to do right. He
defra"deI no man, aud if the world did
use him roughly, he thanked I'd it was
no worse. His vile lo;ed him, his chil
dren were healthy, and mig,t one day be-
able to contribute ID his wants and nece>.
sites, and in that humble dwelling uf
Browns, although theIr fare was Sctniy
and oi the cheapest kind, aud although
their dwelling was small an1 rough, vet
there was more actual comfort, more
peace Of mind than is ,ften cnj,ycl by
those possessed Of thous 'nds. '
Not far from Browns aoase livsi Mr.
Green. Nc, 'irecn was once poor. but he
WAS one of those kind OF men who make
money fast. In the space of few years,
from dealer in smsll wares, he had be
come merchantrof character and i'm
portance.
There is fable Of E<rp's, about frog,
, who in his pride exp inied to such size,
that he burst open. Now Mr.. Green. had
swellei considera ,ly, when success follow.
ed him SO adventiously. lie became n
big man. h. thought nightly OF him.
sell, and as for his wife, il was cOnjectured
by some, if she wnnld accept of seat in
Heaven, unless drawn Tn ther by car
rage and four.
Green lived in style, rs .'tight times"
came upon him, lie eliza little crarnped
sometimes, but Mrs. q. would not hear Of
retrenchmenr IN the domestic economy
She WAS not willing to fall even button
hole, 80 they lived on in style sneered at
Others, called the poor, lazy people, and
many time Green was in such q tight fix
when bank note would come due, that
he would look towards Brown and envy
she poor man that winch he could not
possess; yes, that which he never wouio
p ,ssess, n clear conscience, IAN easy mind.
Many poor man hal been rnined.
routed out Of house aud home, in order
10 Oil the Golfers OF this same Green. A
man owes him 500 or $1,000, what
cares he whether he rise or fall, survive or
perish, he msst have his money; and NJ.
though the grating door Of the prison
house when opened to receive the poor
debtor, although the cries OF famishsd
children, and the walls of a heart bsoksn
mother, would send chill 10 AN intideI's
heart. Green woull be unmoved consoIing
himself wills the reflection, "he owes me
and aust pay"
Money is tha root Of ali evil, and al.
though he vas t. present himself AT the bar
OF Gcdencased in gold. and diamond
turban on his bead, Il would not save him
The weigl, OF the precious metals, would
sink him deeper into hell. 9
A rich mans word carries weight will
il When any thing came frpm ID.
tireens, il was hearkened n, when any
thing came from the Browns, L was e
Che Winds
u was cold winter afternoon in De