Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-02-06
Contentment Better than Wealth

Helen, don't you wish you were that little
girl riding in tae grand carriage - said little
Sarah Brown to her sis, as they sat by an
open window, n pleasant summers after
noon, watching the passers.by.
why, Sarah? asked Helen.
why, Helen, don't you see her beautiful
pink bonnet, and her lovely white parasol2
and, oh! dear, what a splendid silk dressl-
Helen, she must be very happy. If | bad a
frock just like that, and could ride in a car
riage, how happy | sho1ld be-
Helen and Sarah Brown were the children
of a laborious mechanic in humble, though
very comfortable circumstances.
, Mrs Brown, who was working in the back
part Of the room, overheard Sarah,s remarks.
and to correct in the bud what might in the
end become a coyetous disposition, called the
two children to her side.
} Sarah, my daughter, are you not happy ?
, said the mother.
oh yes, mamma, | am very happy indeed,
replied Sarah, somewhat surprised by her
mothers question
And yet, my child. did | not hear you
wishing for riches, that you might be hap.
! PyT
' Sarah blnshed, as she replied:
wUs u1IIy riiIIIainss fratn"- -l
people, who can have everything in the worlt
that they want, must be very happy
Listen to me, Sarah, and | will tell you
fable of a rich man and try, my children
to take note OF its moral.
There lived a rich man at the court o
King HerOd. He was lord chamberlain, ant
clothed himself in purple anu fine linen, AM
lived in very great magnificence.
There anne to him, from a far distan
country, 4. friend of his youth, whom he ha,
not seen for many years.
To do honor to his friend, the chamber
lain made a sumptuous feast, and invited al
his great ~acQuaintances. There stood upoi
the table a variety o. costly de!lcacies, in gol
and silver dishes and costly vases with DE,
fumes and ointments, together with VINE c
rarest village
AN the rich man sat at the head of tn
table, and WAS hospitable to all, and his frien
who had come from a distant country, sat a
his right hand. And they ate and dranl
and were satisfied.
'fhen the stranger addressed the chambe,
lain Of the King: Such splendor and ma,
n~ificence as your house contains is not to /
found in my country, far or wldep And /
spoke highly of his state, and pronounce
him the happIest Of meR-
But the rich man, the kings chamberlai
o~ASSSSN go ~RPtC avn a SONASA dtSH~ l.
apple was large and beautiful it's color W
, yellow, streaked with red. And be took Il
apple and said: This apple has rested
gold, and its form is very beautifully So
reached it to the stranger, the friend of |
D youth.
{ The friend cut the apple, and, beholdl
!. its middLepds a worm! Then the strane
: cast his eyes on the chamberlain; but t
. lord chamberlain looked Upon the ground a
t sighed %soTrowfully. There was a worm
: the heart of all his grandeur.
My children, beware of ~covetousness f
:. as Christ Jesus has said: a mans life c.
d sisteth not in the abundance of the thir
If which he possesseth. A contented heart
4 quiet conscience, a soul at peace with Goo
" these are the true sources of happiness.
Q And, now, my daughter, / want you
y carry this little proverb in your heart: 'Ct
tentment is better than health