Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1866-09-21
Seeking u Fortune.
BY II. A. DWIGHT.

why is it,, said Mr.. Mason. that people
are never satisfied with their lot, when, if
they change, they change only for the
worseY
'Ahl do you think that is so, Mr.. Mason?'
said Mr.. Ripley. i have always thought
otherwise. Indeed, | have known many
that have bettered their condition by remov-
ing from one place to another
And / have known many that have lost
their all by doing the same thing. Take Mr.
Temple for an example. When he was with
us, he was making two or three thousand a
year. but he must go to New York, for he
would make ten thousand at least and thus
in short time become rich-and yet in less
than year he had lost all'
'Ol he fell among sharpers.
Doubtless he did-and so do most men
that go among strangers-for strangers and
sharpers are pretty much the same thing
and Solomon said so centuries ago
solomon! Solomon indeed! you must be
hard driven to refer to him. Why, don't you
know that he is an old fogy, ana tiut his
sayings are all out of date
Il know that he was a very wise man, and
that he never had an equal, and never will
have
'Pshaw! any third-rate lawyer would be
ashamed to keep him company nowadays.
Who ever quotes him now? and even
Blackstone is hardly mentioned at the pres
ent day. But l suppose, Mr. Mason, you
were shooting at me with your pop-gun, for
l conclude that you have heard that | am
going to bid you adieu.'
TO tell the truth. Mr.. Ripley, / do hate
to see a man that is well off, try to ruin him
self You are worth ten thousand, and have
everything that you can eat drink and wear,
and what do you want mOrey
tl,o,, hat to,, md
dollars these days? Why, sir, if you put
another cipher to it, it won't equal many a
mans yearly income
%! 1 know that; but suppose man has
hundred thousand, if he is not contented
with that sum, do not see that he is any
better off than you or |. In fact, it is often
the case, that those who have the most, are
least contented'
Ali but Mr.. Mason, a man that has only
ten thousand can't make show in the world.
The best he can do is to ride in a one-horse
carriage, whilst he who has hundred thou
sand can ride in a coach and four.
That is true But, Mr.. Ripley, did you
go to the public meeting last EVENING"
why, yes; of course | did. Don't you
think | take any interest in negro suffrage?'
%, yes, certainly, for men of your ardent
temperament are very apt TO take an inter-
est in political matters, especially in those a
little above their reach. Excuse me, Mr..
Ripley, do not wish to be personal
PERSONAL o. no. see you do not: you
hit man under the fifth rib, and then say,
am not personal. Solomon didn't do that
We'll, what l meant to say was that you
heard Mr.. Samson speak
Certainly, and l admired him very much.
But you wouldn't have admired him, /
presume, if you had known that he wasn't
worth a hraSs fnrthinp'
i didn't think anything about his pecuni-
airy circumstances-it was the orator | adj
mired'
Then he showed off well, you Think
Admirably, in his line.
And what do YOU think of his line COM
pared with that of the man that is worth a
hundred thousand and that is as dumb as an
adder? Which would you rather be, a De
mothenes or Crnsus-or 4 Diogencs, or a
golden-fleecedY
why, my dear sir, / never expect to be
either, and since | cannot be- | wish only to
extend my ten thousand to twenty that is
the height of my ambition
We'll, stay where you are, and you will
do it. But change and change. 90 from one
place to another, and keep on doing so, and
in a short time your ten thousand will lose
one or two of its ciphers, / assure you. II
you are doing well, don't try>to do better
let well enough alone.
All, sir, that is very good advice to some
but don't wish any such check-rcin thrown
over me- Besides, my wife says, Go, &C
somewhere; try to make fortune at least,
Your wife. o, she is the captain, is she;
Well, go then and the Philistines be upon
thee, Samson
OF course Mr.. Ripley went first to New
York-then he entered into grand petro
leum project. by which he was soon to make
a fortune. But, alas that bubble burst a,
soon as he was well out of pocket; and ST
ended the first lesson!
The next adventure was a coal specula
ton, and now the thing was secure. There
was no mistake about it, The stock was al
paid in, and Mr.. Ripley was in great glee, il
n short time he would be able to ride in
coach and four, and have darkey in livery
to drive him; and his wife could dress likt
queen and be welcomed even amongst tn,
mllionaires. So there wasn't a happier
family in all Chenille than Mr. Ripley's anC
in a short time they were to leave and follow
the fortunate husband and father to his gld
ed home.
And now said Mr.. Ripley to himself
what fool should have been to have re
manned at Chenille at the rate of a Thousand
Il year. Why, l never should have beer
anything and my family less than l. Wha
do those old fogies know about the world
Fools, fools, with no enterprise
Alack-a-day! just as the Ripleys wer,
about to start to their Eldorado, the news
came that the coal company had burst, ant
that amongst others, Mr.. Ripley was severe
ly wounded-in his pockets-by the eXplo
sion!
In short time, Mr. Ripley was back again
in Chenille, and meeting Mr.. Mason said
i am glad | was worth only ten Thousand
when left home, for if had been, | SHOULD
have lost the more!'-Gazette d Courier.