The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-11-14

the road to success"
"How does he bear his misfortunes ?''
inquired.
al never heard him complain"
"It has been different with Mr.. Pay
sen."
40 dear, yes his whole life has been
marked with success. Whatever he touch.
es turns to gold" .-4fL.I'5 5... ..
The testimony in regard to the two
men agreed in the general. One had
succeeded in life, the other had not. ]
felt interest enough in both of them to
get nearer point of view, and so, in
virtue of old acquaintanceship, called to
see them. My first visit was to Mr.
Payson. Was it because, like the rest OF
the world, was more strongly attracted
by the successful manP Have it SO, il
you will human nature is weak.
"Will you send up your name 2" said
the servant, who showed me into rather
stylishly-furnished Office, where it was
plain, from the display of books and
papers, that Mr.. Payson met his visitors
who came on business.
| 1 gave my name, and then waited for
nearly five minutes before the gentleman
appeared. L saw, the instant my eyes
rested on his face, that he was in some
unpleasant doubt as to the purpose OF
my visit.
"Mr. Payson," said /. warmly, as /
arose and extended my hand.
He pronounced my name, but in a
tone guiltless of pleasure or cordiality.
The earnest pressure of my hand received
no appreciative return. His fingers lay
in mine like the senseless fingers of a
sleeper. was chilled by his manner,
and felt like retiring without another
word. But having approached him, l
was not willing to recede without read
ing him with some care.
cit is twenty five years since we met, "
said l., after resuming the seat from
which l had arisen. "Time works great
changes in all of u.s." 80.
$50 long as that" he responded, with
cut interest.
"Yes, it is twenty-five years since 1
went from the home-nest out into the
world, an ardent, hopeful young man."
"And how has the world used you ?'
He did not look at me in direct aspect
but with a slightly angular range of
vision, as if there were a selfish suspicion
in his mind touching the object of my
visit.
IL have no complaint to make against
the world" said 1.
You are rara auis, then," he replied,
with the ghost of a smile; "the first
man I have met in decade who didn't
rail at the world for treating him badly"
HAS it treated you bsdly?" could
not help smiling back into his face as 1
asked this question. .,.-.,
Eyes; or, at least, the people in it.
The world is well enough, I suppose but
the people! Oh dear Every other
man you meet has some design on you"
"Your experience has been more un-
favorable than mine," said I.
"Then you are fortunate-that is all I
have to say"
had been reading the face of this
friend of my younger days -attentively
from the moment he came in. He looked
older by forty years, instead of by twenty
five. But time had not improved his
face, as it does some faces. Every fea-
ture remained would have known him
among thousand; but every feature
was changed in its stronger or feebler
development. All that expressed kind
ness, humanity, and goodwill had nearly
died out; while hard selfishness looked
at you from every lineament."
"You have been fortunate" remarked,
I" as to this worlds goods. Your garner
is filed with the lands fatness."
The reference did not seem wholly
agreeable.
"When 1 went from this neighborhood
you were poor young man. I return,
and find that yeu have heaped up wealth
in rich abundance. Only the few are
successful in your degree"
"Money isn't happiness" he replied,
his hard, heavy forehead contracting.
"No; but it may be made the minister
of happiness" said, in return.
"Yes, I know. That's the common
talk of the day." He answered in kind
of growl. II find it the minister of
evil"
"You surprise me. Rich men are not
wont to speak after this fashion"
"Then they don't speak from their
hearts, as I do" -y. .
"You have health and beautiful
home. These are elements of real hap
piness."
He shut his lips tightly and shook his
head.
"I have no sound health. Don't know
what it is to have pleasant bodily SEN
sation. And as for the beautiful home
to which you refer"
He checked himself, and became silent,
while painful expression settled in his
face.
"You have children?"
He lifted his eyes to mine with ques-
tioning look, as if he thought me probing
him.
"Yes," he simply answered.
"Pretty well grown by this time? z"
"Some of them" He paused and then
added, "And quite past me. Children,
Sir % His manner grew suddenly ex-
cited. But he checked himself, with a
slight air of confusion then went on.
Children, Sir! !" stopped once more, as
if in shame.
"Happy is the man that hath his quiv-
er full of them," said l, cheeriully.
Payson merely shrugged his shoulders,
and looked stolid and unhappy. re-
ferred, in order to change the subject, to
a topic of public interest. But his an
swers showed that he had no intelligent
appreciation of matter in which every
man of thought felt common interest.
When left him, after half an hours in
terview, it was with the impression that,
outside of money, he was the most un-
successful man it had been nay fortune
to meet in this world. In nothing be-
sides money getting had he succeeded.