Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1859-07-29
-FOUR WAYS Oh lIFE.
Or, Envy, Avarice, Extravaganza,
and COntentnaenf.


Mr.. Felix Mark was ON the eve of departing
from his native city for a. long residence abroad.
Living in a retired but highly respectable court,
he had become familiar acquaintance OF sew
eral Of his neighbors; aud he thought il no more
than proper thaf he should cali upon them, and
tpay his parting respects. They were Of widely
different characters, as he wall knew, aud as
will be seen BY the substance of the four IN
tervws he obtained
He first called upon Mr.. and Mrs. Covet, and
made known his intention of going.
''You are lucky man." said Covet, regard
ing him with panied expression. 81 wish
was as fortunate. Butt suppose ! shall always
be poor mope aud drudge, while everybody else
is happy and getting ahead"
Mrs. CoYet sat rocking in her chair, uneasi-
/ y.
'sThe same for myself, . said she, after pause
al never can go abroad anywhere, though have
always had passion for travel. Tom must
drudge to keep our bodies and souls together,
and must Tend the pot. | wish we had half
the money that old Mr.. and Mrs. Clutch, over
the way, have got. But we can take it out in
wishing We shall always be worse off than
Everybody else. Il makes me mad 10 thank of
it,''
ssDo you think Mr. and Mrs. Clutch are to be
ensied!" asked Mr.. Mark
81 envy them their moneys" sighed Casot,
| "though | don't envy them, exactly; you know
they're very grAspiug. How despise graspipg
peoplel-always grasping, grasping, grasping,
as if they bad nothing else TO do but grasp. l
don't believe they're happy"
"Did you see bow respectfully everybody
bowed to them the other evening at the lecturef3
asked Mrs. Covet at was only for their mon
ey, know. But they don / make half as much
show as Mr. and Mrs. Crash make, though how
they can afford to cut such dash, don't see.
How do you suppose the Crashes pay their reut,
Mr.. Mark, and live so high aud dress 50 splen-
didlya"
81 never heard, and don. know was his
reply.
aCrash don't have more than seven or eight
hundred dollars year-=that know for pps-
tive fact" said Govet ssyet be lives like ns-
bob, drives splendid turnout, gives magnid-
cent parties, aud has the best OF everything. /
don't see how he does it; know c0Gldn't do
it, and make both ends meet"
81 wish | had that elegant shawl his wife pns
on the other day. bran new, for | never saw her
wear 1t BEFORE" declared Mrs. Covet. 'STdon't
see why it is ordered sol They are not biz
better than we are, and they've no business to
have such good things. often bite my fuger-
nails to tue quick, thinking of it"
swell, it's enough to make anybody fret,
that's fact" continued Covet. Some people
seem to me to have nothing but continued run
of good luck. Which ever way | turn, sec
everybody with something better than | eau get
for me and my wife. It's sckeniug enough by
jingo! don't think | shall live long; aud
don't want ton world where honest merit
never gets rewarded"
Mr.. Mark, fearing that be might catch the
morbid gloom of that envious couple, bade them
last adieu, and went over to do the same to
Mr. and Mrs. Clutch, their mutual neighbors.
The Uoyets had not exaggerated the ruling
propensity of the Clutches: the latter we're as
miserly as the former were enyious. They were
fairly mated When they were married thoy
were matched indeed.
"Please to rub you feet carefully on the
mat before you go up" said Mr. Clutch
ssToo much brushing is apt to wear out the car
pet"
"You might have gone in the steerage for
much less than that said Mr. Clutch, when he
heard OF Marks meditated voyage. II should
like to travel, but il costs 100 much to be NOV
ing about. hope you will not prove to be a
rolling stone which gathers no moss"
81 shall get as much moss as 1 can, said
Mark, smiling; that Is my object in leaving my
native land"
ssThat's right Be saving; and get all you
can, and keep all you get. That's my maxim.
Nothing like money. Husband your timel time
is money. What wonderful man Benjamin
Franklin was!"
Marx heard the door bell ring; aud, soon af-
ter the door was slammed to loudly, and Mrs
Clutch appeared, with red face.
''These pesky beggars!" exclaimed she.--
"Half the people are beggars, bsliye. wear
out pair Of shoes year going to the door to
answer beggars. I'm sure they don't come for
the encouragement they get; for they never got
crGmh from me in my lfe."
ssThe authorities ought to see to them," said
Clutch "They ought to be cent to the aims
house,
'fOr to the house of correction added Mrs.
Clutch. t'They have no business distressing
others with their distress. What's the use 10
worrying our souls out, almost, in trying to save
if we are going to be giving away all the time?
sfPenny wise and pound foolish They weT
all the paint off our doorsteps, too"
ssWho gigeh to the poor landeth to the Lordp
) said Mark, gravely
"Eh7" said Clutch, starting, and piqusd. =
"We could easily lend all we have in .hat way;
and if we were poor ourselves, wonder il tie
: Lord would take care of us2 The Lord knows
for | don't; and / shouldn't like to try
J Riches take to themselves wings and Az
away said Mark. sYou may be poor you
selves some day.
That's just it, said Clutch fbutit won't 20
any fault Of ours. Riches do have wings enough,
that's fact, without one helping them 70 ~