Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1856-04-16
Getting Rich.

Yes-they are getting rich. The princely
mansion, the sumptuous decorations and gorge
Gus apparel, all proclaim that fortune is heap
ing her gifts upon them with lavish hand
But is the step moro bnoyant upon the velvet
carpets than in the days of yore, when the
smooth, white cottage floor resounded from morn
till eve with merry foottalls! Hath the voice
deeper joy in its music tones, within the lofty,
gided walls, than in the vine-clad arbors of
the home Of aud lang syne? Does the heart
beat more rapturously meath the siken garb,
than was it wont when the simple toilet graced
the form! Look at the man who calls these
magnificent possessions his own. Mark the
careworn, anxious expression of his features !;
these and his bowed form tell not of a weight
of years, for he hath not felt the frosts of many
winters-but they speak in unmistakable lam
guage of weary, toiIsome days and sleepless
nights, with an al-absorbing passion feeding
upon the energies, the aspirations, even the
very life of his being. lie needs not the voice
of friendship and love, nor even the innocent
prattle OF childhood he is deaf to all save the
clinking Of gold. He sees not the thousand
expressions of beauty and grandeur, which ma
ture is ever exhibiting, for naught but bank
notes comes within the scope of his vision
His heart knows not the joys of social inter-
course-feels not the sweet genial influences
of home, and is a stranger to the pure, holy
joy, that springs from communion with the
Great Supreme; for he hath builded a wall of
gold about his heart, and what good thing can
enter there! The only real Joy he experiences
is when memory, with her magic wand, opens
the portals of the past, and reveals the quiet
home and happy family, basking in love, unbur-
dened with luxuries and cares, unfettered by
fashion and famine of the heart.
The wife, once enjoying all that an angel
might covet, in the paradise of her little home
with the rose ofhealth on her cheek, and the
light Of love in her eye, and wealth of smiles
On her lips that gladdened those around her,
now moves with stately tread, pale cheek and
languid eye, through her gorgeous apartments.
Even the presence of the chosen one of her
heart and the pledges of their early love, send
feeling of her nature is crushed, and with gold
en- letters she is bound to an altar of senseless,
heartless FORMS The silent tear that sometimes
trembles on her cheek, and the sigh escaping
her compressed lips, tell that memory hath
opened her precious stores, and methinks she ID
ready to acknowledge that her golden visions
of happiness were but empty bubbles.
And look at those innocent little ones, trans.
formed to mere automatons, enjoying none o.
the dear delights designed for them by nature
every joyous, loving impulse, encased in gold
and being dragged to an early grave by relent
less iasnioh! aafteN a.s hs,.r4s ..#
God haze mercy on the rich (! s..l - s....
o, vain mortals! why seek ye for happiness
in the gilded trappings of earth, whose sweet
est boon is but the scorpions sting, save wheI
you make your wealth subserve the creates
good of yourselves and those around you! o
come to the inexhs ustible fount of truth an,
goodness, and there taste unending joys, tina
/. are subject neither to the changes of time o