Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-07-12
INHERITED WEALTH.
A STORY FOR PARENTS.

Timothy Chandler was fve-and- thirty
years, and he had a wife and four chill
dren. His oldest child was boy, four.
teen years old--for Tim had married young
while his youngest was girl of six
His wife was one of those busy, tidy, low
ing women, who seem raised up by heaven
to show to degenerate age how much the
wife and mother can do towards making
fresides heavens on earth. Tim was a
cooper by trade, and no man could ask for
better business than he had it in his
power to command. And Tim was one of
those kind hearted, generous, ee-spoken,
impulsive men, who can so easily engage
the love and esteem of their fellows.
But Tim had faults. He had some very
bad faults. He was discontented NOR
tai and he was convivial mortal He
envied those who possessed more worldly
wealth than did he; and he spent large
portion of his own effects in the company
of riotous companions. In short, Tim was
becoming Incorporate. 1t was to be seen
in the unsteadiness of his step; in the un-
natural flush of his cheek and in the dy-
ing light of his once clear, bright eye
And, alas it was to be seen in his once
happy home-but unhappy now. 1t was
to be seen in the fading Of the bloom up
on his wife's fair cheek; in the tears that
stole down her dropping lashes; in the
sighs that broke from ner heaving bosom
in the look of deep unrest that often dwelt
upon the faces Of his elder children. And
it could be seen, too, in the foot marks of
desolation that was beginning to creep
around the cottage.
"Timothy," said his wife--it was early
in the morning, before the children were
up-"Joseph and William must have some
warmer clothing. The ground is begin
ming to freeze, and they suffer"
"That's easier said than DONE" said
Tim, in a rough, uneven way. They'll
have to wait till can make raise. Con-
found it why was not born as other
folks are born? Why wasn't good luck
my star Why wasn't there fortune
left to me by wealthy parents ?"
The wife made no response. This was
her husbands envious hobby. When he
felt the need of money, he invariably
found fault with his fate.
"Look atStiles, he continued, growing
more bitter; " and look at Butler, and
Crane-see how they live They had mo
ney left to 'em. They inherited wealth
from their parents. They don't have tC
work, and dig, and be dunned for what
they cant afford. Curses on this poor
luck, / sayl"
Hannah Chandler could not help speak
ing what she felt. She had heard thii
same complaint so often, aud had tried Il
cheer her husband so much, that she fell
like telling him the truth.
"Timothy, she said, in the kindest way
but yet with frmness, "you do wrong t
talk so; you do wrong to allow you
thoughts to flow in that direction. In
stead of looking at those that are pecuni
arily better off than you are, why not lool
at those that are worse off Instead o
mourning for what you cannot possess
why cant you think of what you nigh
possess if you would?'
"Well-what might possess 2" aske,
Tim, abruptly
"You might possess enough. There
not mechanic in this town with bette
trade, You might possess enough I
make your home comfortable aud hap
py one, o, my husband, listen to me,
she cried, with her folded hands upon he
bosom, "you arc making US all very un
happy-you are making us very miseru
BILE. Your children feel it, In the stres
they hear your name coupled with unhol
things. They bow their heads in shame
in a shame which their father"
Without allowing his wife to finish th
, sentence, Timothy Chandler started frol
his chair, seized his hat, and went out il
= to the she'd where he busted himself
working up odd bits of wood until u
. children were up aud breakfast was read
And this was the woyh always did. y