The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-11-04
LIFE.s CONVERSATIONS.

the privations. Thank God, the 'pufest plea-
sures of life are those which money cannot
buy. The artisan goin 9 from his weaTisome
love.lt smile of his wife, and takes bis fair
and healthy child upon his knee, knows a
thrill Of swee!er Joy than The most lavish ex-
penditure of gold upon costly siiEulants can
bring the jaded mind Of The epicurean 10 plea
sure. The wildwood Eflowers and the dew
drops are not bought; the glory Of sunse. and
The masnifcence Of tina full mnan- ara -free
to-ail. The blushpg cheek and beamlng
eyes Of the effeclion cannot be purchased /;
virtue and beauty receive no, their glorious
riches from the hand of Mammon; the intel
leciualy wealthy may well hold in contempt
The baser coin OF the world.
# is true that The bridegroom wotkingman,
as he bears his bride to their lowly home,
longs, with the impulse OF affection, 10 attire
her graceful io.m 10 the same adornmenls
which her prouder sisters use to tsighlen
heir charms; but it is foolish, though gen.
erous impulse. If he loves his bride, and
she him, they reed moi covet the situation
Of those whose love Of rivalship, display,
and "Pride of place" have most likely driv-
en- out simple, heartfelt happiness. The ra-
dant smile Of affection, and the clssr glance
Of unsullied virtue, are ornaments above
price, and will make the face Of d woman
/ beautiful even in it's oldage.
So the working-man father, looking around
upon his blooming children, is conscious
that their intellect is as keen, their percep-
tions as ready, as those oil The nabob's upon
The next street; and he delerm ines they shall
have similar advantages. This is a noble
ambition. But in these days, it is no reason
why man should spend his years in grumb-
ling discomfort because he is not rich. Our
system oicommon schools places education
within reach OF The .humtlesi. With mind
and education, every son and dauhter has
lair chance 10 achieve respectablily in this
county; and il is u false ambition which
would seek the rower and honor Conferred
only by money. YET, that son or daughter
may have Yearnings after The development
oil peculiar talents or genius; The son may
thirst 10 driuk deep Of the Perian spring
oil classical learning; may have a gift for a
profession (wilhout which especial calling
he has no business 10 attempt competition
in the overburdensd ranks OF The professions;)
and The daughter may have visions Of beau.
ty, or have dreams of melody, which call for
her fingers 10 accomplish themselves 10 pain
ling or music.
With heath moderate industry will bring
about all this, and still The soul not fall vic.
tim to the prevailing fever--the terrible gold
lever which scorches the sensibilties, and
dries up the springs oil humanity 10 SO many
hearts.
There is still another class who feel vet
more keenly the want of wealth not for the
petty pleasures Of sense, or the focal inhu.
ence It would give them, bnt because they
worship The Beautiful, and money would
give them The means Of gratifying their ex-
quisie tastes. With souls aspiring after
grace, fitness, ard beauty in all things, they
have 10 struggle with the details OF life and
poverty. These are the people of genius
poets, ansts-men of divine, unworldly gifts
They would convert the glorious Ideal in 10
the Real, if shey had The necessary means.
They are treated By the coarseness and ugli-
ness from which they cannot escape, yeI
they are self-decelved il they do not consider
themselves among the most fortunate, as far
even as happiness, commonly considered,
goes. We doubt not that the painter in his
uufurnished garrei, with his coffee .po, and
room with him, is filled with a richer plea
sure, as he site, and dreams, and broods over
the creation ol his genius upon the convas
before him, than il is possible for The veal.
Thy egolis,, who buys il Of him, 10 conceive.
We doubt not that his Acl-his beloved, wor.
SHIPPED Art is more to him than pyramids
of diamonds. Ask him ifhe would exchange
himself, his hopes, his dreams, his ideals,
his fine perceptions of beauty, his deep emo
tions, for The wilhered soul OF yonder Croesus,
who has spent his life in accumulaling bonds
and mortgages, rents, and interest upon in
tcfes,.
And the poet-will be say that he has ev.
er entered the portals Of any Fifth Avenue
palace, that could begin 10 equal the splen.
dor oflhe unearhly palaces through which
his Imagination daily walks? Will he give
up the materials fIom which he constructs
lhese-gold of the sunset, marble of the
clouds, silver Of The Starlight, gems OF the
dew and waterfall, draperies Of intangible
mis's and inexpressihly lovely shadows, spray
and foliage, with all The delight which they
give and the beauty which they Suggestion
the brown stone mansion ofi the miIonare
Will he not say that his day and his night
dreaming, his faRcies, his earnest aspirations
after the pure and lrue, his deep sympathy
with the heart of humanity, his mighty store
Of lore, his keen delight IN ell that is fair, his
broad and boundIess realm of feeling and
imag nation-where angels walk, and visi
isnts more beautiful than flowers, linser to
smile upon bim--will he not cay tina, these
ere beyond price--a wealth which he has in-
heriied from the Father iu Heaveni
The scholar and the scientific man; win
they measure their pleasures along with
I