The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-08-17
FOUR WAYS OF LIFE.
OR, ENVY
AvARicE, ExrRAvAGANcE, AND CONFINEMENT

ing from his native city for long residence
abroad. Living in a retired but highly re
spectacle court, he had become familiar
acquaintance of several of his neighbors
and he thought ii no more than proper tha
he should call upon them, and pay his
parting respects. They were of widely diff.
ferent characters, as he we'll knew, and as
will be seen by the substance of the four in.
terviews he obtained.
He first called upon MIR. and Mrs. Covet,
and made known his intention of going.
"You are lucky man." said Covet, re-
gardng him with panied expression. al
wish was so fortunate. But | suppose
shall always be a poor NOPE and drudge,
while everybody else is happy and getting
ahead"
Mrs. Covet sat rocking in her chair un-
easily.
"The same for myself" SAID she, after a
pause. 81 never can go abroad anywhere,
though have always had passion for
travel. Tom must drudge 10 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. 1t makes me mad to think of it !'
"Do you think Mr.. and Mrs. Clutch are
| TO be ehvied 2" asked Mr.. Mark.
81 Ienvy them their money!" sighed Covet,
though don't envy them, exactly ; you
know they're very grasping How ! de-
spise grasping people always grasping,
grasping, grasping, as if they had nothing
else TO do but grasp don't believe they're
happy"
Ibid you see how respectfully everybody
bowed TO them the other evening at the
lecture 2" asked Mrs. Covet. at was only
for their morey, know. But they don'l
make half as much show as MIR. and Mrs.
Crash make though how they can afford
TO cut such dash, don't see. How Go
you suppose the Crashes pay their rent MIR.
Mark, and live so high and dress so splen-
didy |"
81 never heard, and don't know" was
his reply.
"Crash don't have more than seven or
eight hundred dollars year-that know,
for positive fact" said Covet "yet he
lives like nabob, drives a splendid turn
ont, gives magnificent, parties, and has the
best of everything. don't see how he does
it know couldn't do it, and make both
ends meet.
81 wish had that elegant shawl his wife
put on the other day bran new, for never
saw her wear it BEFORE" declared Mrs. Gov.
ct. 81 don't see why it was ordered so =
They're not a bit better than we are, and
they've no business to have such good
things Ioilen bite my finge: nails TO the
quick thinking Of it p
"Well, it's enough 10 make anybody fret
that's fact" continued Covet. Some
/ people seem 10 me 10 have nothing but
continued run Of good luck. Which
ever way turn, see everybody with
something better than can get for my wife
It's sickenirg enough, by jingo don't think
shall live long and don't want to-in
world where honest merit never gets re-
| wardn
Mr.. Mark, fearing that he might catch
! the morbid gloom Of that envious couple,
bade them a last adieu, and went over to do
the same to MIR. and Mrs. Clutch, their mu-
tual neighbors.
The Covets had not exaggerated the rul-
, ing propensity of the Clutches; the latter
were as miserIy as the former were envious
They were fairly mated. When they were
married, they were matched, indeed.
"Please to rub your feet carefully on the
mat before you go up" said Mrs. Clutch-
"Too much brushing is apt 10 wear out the
carpet"
"You might have gone in the steerage fol
much less than that" said MIR. Clutch, when
he heard of Marks meditated voyage. "a
should like 10 travel, but it costs too much
to be moving about. hope you will moi
prove to be rolling stone which gathers
no moss"
81 shall get as much moss as can," said
Mark, smiling "that is my object in leav'
ing my native land"
"That's right Be saving ard get al
you can, and keep all you get. That's my
maxim. Nothing like money. Husband
your time time is money. What a Won
derful man Benjamin Franklin was G'
Mark heard the door bell ring and, soor
after the door was slammed TO loudly, and
Mrs. Clutch appeared with red face.
"These pesky beggars !' exclaimed she
"Half the people are beggars, believe.
wear out PAIR Of shoes a year going TO the
door TO answer 6eggars. Pm sure they
don't come for fhe encouragement they get
for they never got crumb from me in my
life."
"The authorities ought TO see 10 them,
said Clutch. "They ought TO be sent 10 the
aims house."
'tOr 10 the house of correction" added
Mrs. Clutch. "They've no business dis
tressings others in their distress. What's
the use in worrying our souls out almost, in
trying TO save, if we are going TO be giving
away all this time ! penny wise ant
pound ioolish.' They wear all the paint of
our door steps, too"