Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-06-25
A Fortunate Man.

MY good father-a man who, even to
extreme old age, maintained habits OF
active employment-wSs speaking, one
day, of an English friend of his, Mr.. Wal
singhsm-one of those whom the world
considers ominently fortunate A man OF
letters, educated to every classical attain,
ment and the inheritor Of princely for
tune, he had been able to crafty, at a
wish, his cultivated tastes. He had mar
ried, In early life, an amiable wife, and
had seen his children (though he never
personally concerned himself with their
education) grow up around him with the
fairest promise. He had handsome
town. house in a fashionable square In
London, and q country'seat ten or twelve
miles off in the midst of one OF those
magnificent English psrks-the ideal of
stately rural elegance, with its trimly-kep'
lawn and its wide spreading chase, dotted
over with clumps Of noble old trees, where
the deer sought refuge from the MONDAY
heat and a lair at nightfall.
Mr.. Walsingham had Travelled over Eu.
rope, and brought back, as mementoes Of
his journey, paintings and statuary by
some of the best masters, ancient aud
modern, with which to adorn his favorite
retreat. The house itself Il have seen ii
since), with its rich marble columns and
balustrades, was fine specimen of the
purest Palladian manner, where ali thai
luxurious refinement could devise had
been unsparingly lavishcd. There my
father found his friend with no occupa
tion more pressing than to pore over thu
treasures of his library, and no graver
care than to superintend the riches of b
conservatory where wealth had brought
together, from half the world, its choicest
plants and flowers.
They spent some days in undisturbed
quiet not an incident beyond the conver.
sation of sedate and intellectual family
circle and the arrival and departure of a
friend or two to break the complete re-
pose. Delightful 1t was 10 my father, no
doubt, in contrast to the city hustle and
the constant occupation he had left. One
morning he said to his host Ihave been
thinking if ever met with a man who
has nothing left to desire, you are he.
Health of body, cultivation of mind, a
charming family, wealth and all 1t pro
curee-whatever nature and Art present OF
most beautiful-you have them all. Are
you not completely happy?" Never, my
father said to me, should he forget the
dresry sadness of the unexpected reply
Happy All, Mr.. 6ydenham, l commit
ted one fatal error In my youth, and dear
ly have abided 1t started in life with
out an object, even without an ambition,
My temperament disposed me to ease,
and to the full INDUCED the disposition
l said to myself, have all that see
others contending for: why should
struggler / knew not the curse thai
lights on those who have never to strug
gle for anything. Had / created for my
self definite pursuit-literary, scientific
artistic, social, political, no matter what
so there was something to labor for anC
to overcome-I might have beer
happy-I feel this now-too late
The power is gone. Habits have become
chains. Through all the profitless year
gone by, seek vainly for something +,
remember with pride or even to dwell
on with satisfaction. have thrown away
life. l feel, sometimes, as if there
were nothing remaining TO me worth liv
ing for. l am an unhappy man." ThA
was my fathers story. never forgot il
and trust have pfofted by its lessons
Beyond the Breakers, in the July Num5e
of LtDDincOtPS Magazine.