Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1865-11-28
RICH ENOUGH.

The following letter is interesting and
profitable, as exhibiting state of contents
ment which IS as rare as it is worthy of imi-
tatlon. 1t was written by gentleman in
Maryland to friend ip New York, who had
expressed wish that some good luck might
occur to make him rich:
My Dear Friend But am rich! /
have got boy whose eyes sparkle like '.jew-
els of the mines, and whose smiles are pure
ly angelic, and there is SO much of Heaven
in his face, that, when I see him, am out
of the ills of this life. Why, 1 have such
tranquility, such bliss, that the moments fy-
lug are of more value, each of them, than
brightest sands of California.
L an, rich for daily witness scones in
the I" drama" of the Worlds affairs that
make me humble, make me thoughtful make
me thankful, MA lie me charitable, make me
peaceful.
an. rich! for I live in an age big With
events of the Worlds progress. In my boy
hood | read of the stirring scenes of the
American Revolution; Of the Meteoric Whirl
Of Napoleon; of all such events us would
fire the mind Of youth, and wished that 1
could live at time when | could be in the
midst of such mighty events; and now here
am, at period in the history of the World
more interesting than any before it when
there is a more general, a greater develop
ment of mind than ever before when thsre
mighticr revolutions than ever before
and not so much by leading individual spirits,
as by universal and voluntary spirit per-
vading al! classes.
There was u time when the poet sung
thus:
How fleet is the glance of the mind!
Compared with The speed of itS flight,
The tempest itself lags behind,
And the swift winged arrows of light!
Not so could he sing now for we follow in
the lightning's wake, and are up with the
"glance OF thought"
an rich for witness the struggle for
the gold Of California; the lives sacrificed,
the desperate reaching forth Of tOttering old
aye for that gold which it worships in the
rays OF the setting sun, and l am happy that
the current has not burne me thther.
l an rich for I have virtuous mind,
and have no relish for the society Of the dis
solQte aud vicious; and their pleasures, to
me, seem all hlackIess
. | am rich ! for have peaceful mind;
and though the vicissitudes Of life have been
many and severe to me, their cifeGt upon my
mind has been such that a retrospect is sof
tened, and | look back upon my Experience
l am at times annoyed in my pecuniary af-
fairs, and feel that destiny has given me
service that is unworthy of me; but rally
from the ipfuences of those 'stings when I
can, as the tree rises when the storm passes
by, and l have hours of tranquility that at-
ford me balance for all the trials.
Look out from your window; perchance
You see the fue carriage and the trappiugs of
wealth (Which things 30 not object to; l
speak not of them i'll cynical way gay in
dress may be occupants, but possibly the
weight ofscrrow upon their hearts, if express
cd i'll pouuds, would stop the wheels of that
carriage. Spch reflections must tegch US that
We each have our share Of wealth IL the true
sensc Of the word.
live on, and in trouble something always
comes to my rescue; and my wish to be rich
is prompted less by desire for my own graft
tcation, than to pe able to reciprocate actsof
kindness have experienced from others.
You see that'l turn at the touch of your
pen to show you that the sun shines heyc,
and that it is pot such a serious thing to live,
and. taking all in all, this world is about what
it was intended to be.
Yours truly,