Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-08-28
M T SCELL A N Y .
THE WAY TO BE HAPPY.
A STORY OF EVERYDAY LIFE.

Gut your coat according to your cloth, Is an
old maxim, and a wise one; and if people will
only square their ideas according to their cir
cuinstances, how much happier might we all be !
If we would only come down peg or two in
our notions in accordance with our waning for
tunes, felicity would always be within our reach.
1t is not what we have or what we have not,
which adds to or subtracts from our felicity
1t is the longing for more than we haye-the
envying of those who possess that more, and we
wish to appear in the world of more consequence
than we really are, which destroys our peace of
mind and eventually leads to ruin. never wit
messed man submitting to circumstances with
good humor and good sense so remarkably as my
friend Alexander Willenot. When first saw
him since our school days, it was at the close of
the war be had been large contractor with
the Government for army clothing and accou-
trements, and was said to have realized an i'm
mense fortune, although his accounts were not
yet settled. Indeed it was said that they were
so vast that it would employ the time of six
clerks, for two years, to examine them, previous
to the balance sheet being struck.
AS observed, he had been at school with
me, and, on my return from the East Indies, l
called upon him to renew our old acquaintance,
and congratulate him upon his recent success.
''My dear Reynolds, | am delighted to see
you; you must come down to Beem Castle {;
Mrs. Wiemot will receive you with pleasure,
| am sure. You shall see my two girls" con
sented The chaise stopped at grand mansion,
and was ushered in by crowd OF liveried SER
wants. Everything was on he most sumptuous
and magnificent scale. Having paid my re-
spects to the lady Of the house, desired to dress,
as dinner was nearly ready, it being then half
past seven o'clock. 1t was eight before we sat
down. To an observation that made, express
ing hope that | had not occasioned the dinner
to be put off, Willemot replied: On the contrary,
my dear Reynolds, we never sit down until a.
bout this hour; how people can dine at four or
five o'clck, | cannot conceive. could not touch
mouthful.'
The dinner was excellent and pald IL the en-
comiums which were its due.
''Do not be afraid, my dear fellow-my COOK
is an artist extraordinaire-a regular Gordon
Blen. You may eat anything without fear OF
indigestion. How people can live upon the
English cookery of the present day, cannot
conceive. | seldom dine out for fear or being
poisoned. Depend upon it, a good COOK length
ems your days, and no price is 100 great to en-
sure one."
When the ladies retired, b.ing alone, we en-
tered into friendly conversation. expressed
my admiration of his daughters, who certainly
were very handsome and elegant girls.
"Very true f; they are more than passaole,> =
replied be. 1--WE have had many offers, but not
such as come up to expectations. Baronets are
cheap nowadays, and Irish lords are nothing:
| hope to settle them comfortably. we snail
see Try this claret; you will find it excellent,
not headache in hogshead oft. How peo-
pie can drink Port cannot imagine"
The next morning he proposed that we should
rattle round the park; and we set off in a
bon1cop,a oman corriaoo with fOur praVS ridden
by postill:ons at rapid pace. As we were
whiting along, he observed, "In town, we must,
of course, drive but pair, but in the country l
never 90 out without four horses. There Is a
spring in four horses which is delightful; it
makes our spirits elastic, and you feel that the
moor animals are not at hard labor. Rather
than not drive four, would prefer to stay at
home"
Our ride was very pleasant, and in such a.
musements passed one OF the most pleasant
weeks that ever remembered. WillemOt was
not the least altered-he was as friendly, as sin
cere. "a open-hearted, as when at school, l left
him pleased with his prosperity, and acknowl-
edoing that he was we'll deserving oft, although
his IDEAS had assumed such a scale of magnifi-
cence. went to India when my leave expired,
and was absent about four years.
On INV return inquired after my friend, Will
lemot, and was told that his circumstances and
exneotatious had been greatly altered. From
MANY causes. such as change in the government,
a demand for economy, and the wording of his
contracts having been differently rendered from
what Wi]lemot had supposed their meaning to
be- large items had been struck out Of his bal
ne was now gentleman with handsome prop
srtv Beem Castle had been sold, and he now
lived at Richmond; as hospitable as ever, and
was considered great addition to the neighbor-
hood.
took the earliest opportunity of going to see
him. 80, my dear Reynolds, this is SO kind in
you to come without % ia INVITATION s Your room Is
three nights ago. Come, Mrs. Willenot will be
delighted to see you"
found the girls still unmarried but they
were yet young. The whole family appeared as
contented and happy, and as friendly as bsfore.
We sat down to dinner at six O'Clock the
footnoap and cOachman attended The dinner