Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-11-05
1.-THE Rich Poor Man and the
Poor Rich Man,,

Tne R1cn Poor Man ana tht
1 Poor Rich Man,
There are those who regard triumph il
ones calling, and the rapid accumulation
of dollars and cents, as the climax of sue
cess. No matter what noble qualities tb'
person has left undeveloped, nor wha
moral convictions have been violated ant
stifed. it is enough if a mere worldly OBJ
ject has been attained. But we have mort
exalted ideas of success than this. If {
man LAYS up fortune in series of busy
years, while he has dwarfed bis soul, ant
ignored every moral and religious obliga
tion in the effort, he has been successful
only in part. If he has million of dol
lars and no character he is not worth much
If he has completely triumphed in bis
pursuit, so as to be finished master of it
and the race has cost him the crown of vir
tue, his Life, in its most important rela.
tions is failure. Every observer feels
that very essential attainment is wanting
A writer relates the following fact, and
we quote it as an illustration of this point
/ have heard of two brothers, whose
father died leaving them five hundred dol
lars piece. II will take this money, and
make myself rich man, said Henry, the
younger brother. II will take this money,
and make myself good man" said George
the elder.
Henry, who knew little beyond the null
tiplication table, abandoned all thoughts
of going to school, and began by ped
ding goods in a small way, over the coun-
try. He was very shrewd and quick to
learn what he gave his attention to; and
he gave all his attention to make money.
He succeeded. In one year his five hun
dred dollars had become a thousand. In
five years it has grown to be twenty thous-
and; and at the age of fifty he was worth
million.
George remembered the words of the
wise man: "With all thy getting get un-
derstanding." He spent two thirds of his
money in going TO school and acquiring a
taste for solid knowledge. He then spent
the remainder in purchasing few acres OF
land in the neighborhood of thriving
city. He resolved on being farmer.
After the laps Of thirty-five years, the
two brothers met. 1t was at Georges
house. A bright, vigorous, alert man was
George, tho upward of fifty-five years old.
Henry, though several years younger,
was very infrm. He had kept his count
ing room long after the doctors, had warn
ed him to give up business, and now he
found himself stricken in health beyond
repair. But that was not the worst. He
was out of his element when not making
money.
George took him into his library, and
showed him fine collection of books
Poor Henry had never cultivated taste
for reading. He looked upon the books
with no more interest than he would on SO
many bricks. George took him into his
garden, but Henry began to cough, and
said be was afraid of the east wind. When
George pointed out to him beautiful elm,
he only cried, "PshawF'
George took him into his greenhouse,
and talked with enthusiasm of some rare
flowers, the beauty of which seemed to
give the farmer great pleasure. Henry
shrugged his shoulders and yawned, say
ing. "Ah! I do not care for these things. y
George asked if he was not fond ofpaint-
ings and engravings.
mo, no! don't trouble yourself" said
Henry. 81 can't tell one daub from an
other"
"WelI, you shall hear my daughter
Edith play on the piano: she is no ordi-
nary performer assure you."
'No, don't, brother don't, if you love
me-" said Henry beseechingly: II never
could endure music"
"But what can do to amuse you?-
Will you take ride?"
81 am afraid of horses; but if you will
drive me carefully down to your village
bank, will stop and have chat with the
President"
Poor Henry money was the only thing
uppermost in his mind. To it he had sac
rifced every other good thing. When, a
few days afterwards, he parted with his
farmer brother, he laid his hand on his
shoulder and said:
"George, you can just support yourself
comfortably on the interest of your money.
and l have got enough to buy up the
whole of your town bank and all-and yet
your life has been success, and mine a
dead failure.