The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1864-06-15


10! BY magic wonder wrought. table Of
gold, studded with gems, with dishes Of
mere than regal magnificence, containing
all the epicurean luxuries Of earth, rose up
before him--and beside il sparkling foun-
tain Of clear, cold water-while, soft and
sweet as the tones Of an aoiian harp, he
heard the voice oi the fairy saying:
Asalph shall never hunger and never
thlrst--for what IS before him shall invisi,
bly, be replenished whenever withdrawn.
One wish yet remains to Asalph, and let
him think we'll ere he names it."
Asalph spent many days in his magni6-
cent home. happy beyond the power Of
language to express. He roamed up and
down and through all the winding passages
and gems -spangled apartments Of his para
disc, forgetiul Of home and friends. and
everything but the fact that he was lord Of
his souls delight.
But at last came the reflection, Of what
use was all his wealth. il there were meme
to envy and admire s--for the value OIL
riches IS just in proportion to their supe-
risrity over the possessions Of others. Air
and water have no set value because uni.
yersai and the rich man never boasts Of
inhaling the one, nor imbibing the other,
simply because every human being of eve-
~ station in life does the same. He pridss
himself. therefore, only in having what the
many do not possess; and if gold, silver,
and what are now called precious stones,
were as common as earth and rocks, they
would be just as valneIess and if one man
were sole deniZen OF the earth, what pride
would he have in knowing that all was his,
and he after al. only servant to himself !!
The miser loves his gold in secret. it il
true; but simply because its presence
makes him conscious of the fact that it is
ih bis power. whether he choose to exert i,
or not. to make his fellow-man bow and
cringe and do him reverence.
This, Asalph, upon serieus reflection
now began to comprehend, and the COM
prehension alloyed his happiness. Gould
he always enjoy his treasures in secret
No. because, if Of nc value to others, they
must, SO soon as the novelty should wear
of, become Of no value to himself. And
how could they be OF value to others, il no,
present to behold thems AAd then again
how could others be present. without each
being as much the Possessor of all he saw
as himself , for other eyes would behold all
that his could behold. and he only had pos
session through the sense Of seeing.
Then AsaIph began to compare his sur.
roundings with the surroundings Of nature,
aud to secretly confess that the dome oi
his new abode. with all its glittsring gems,
was far inferior to the blue vault OF heaven.
with It's glorious sun. lovely moon. and
twinkling stars and that his stsny trees
and flowers were no rivals Of the sweetly.
perfumed and changing creations OF M.
ture not TO mention the genial compan.
ionship Of his fellow man. and the world o
active. loving life that had been around
him.
A few days Of such reflections and com.
parisons satisfied Asalph that he had chang.
ed his condition for the worse and rs one
wish yet remained 10 him, he prayed ths
fairy to restore him to his family and fer
mer condition.
For," said he, 81 au assured that Q
Greater than has planned all for the best
and whstever might change, would be ts
injure rather than improve. Happiness
must come through the heart. aud not from
external possessions; and without happi.
ness, even gold, silver. and precious stone,
are but as mere clay. Henceforth let me
labor, and love, and be content; and LEI
the treasures Of earth be for those who
have not the capacity to distinguish the
true from the false--to prefer hamble hap
piness to splendid misery"
"Thos hast wisely chosen, AsalPh." said
the voice Of the fairy for the greatest
jewel Of earth isa contented heart. and one
which the miser's hoard can never pur-
chase
With this Asalph was again invisibly
lifted and bsrne through space. The ner,