The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-04-24
&c compengationg Of Poverty.

The compensatiOns Of Poverty.
To have just enough, and to know
that it is enough, and to be thankful
Tor it-this is the secret which the Cos
pei long ago proclaimed to mankind, /
but which the wisdom of this world re
iscts with scorn. And to suppose that |
a modest competence, such as modern
times would call utter poverty, has no
real charms or vivid enjoyments of its
own, is a profound mistake. It is full |
Of Joy, though Of the simplest and |
sweetest kind. Let some of us old |
married people who, after twenty or
thirty years hard work, have a little |
more to live upon than when we first
started, look back to the days long ago,
when, in a tiny house, and with simple
furniture, and the whole world in front
of us, each others love sweetened ev-
cry care of life. Are we so much hap
pier now, when every half-crown does
not want such sharp looking after. than
when we had seriously to consider If we
could afford weeks holiday, or invite
the visit of a friendP How rich, too,
we thought ourselves then, if we had
once in three months five-pound note
10 spare and spend How we talked
over this way and that of doing the
best with it; and at last picked up some
thing to make the little drawing-room
brighter, or perhaps bought some sec
ond hand books for the shelves. The
enjoyment was so keen because the
pleasure was so rare. Incessant work
brought its own reward with it never
TO expect is never to be disappointed.
a certain scantiness of purse makes the
Wits strangely keen in ways of laying
out money to the best advantage. You
take trouble, you make inquiries, you
hunt, and compare, and calculate and
when you have run down your game, it
seems doubly earned. AIaiestically to
walk into a shop, calmly to select the
lirst thing that suits you, always to have
money enough to pay for it, never to be
compelled to choose what is worse be-
cause it is cheaper, no doubt has its
advantages and who would underval-
lie them? But there are real compen-
satiOns for the multitude, who, so to
speak, have to make an appetite for
their food by first earning it; and
among the simple and innocent enjoy,
ment of quiet people, none, perhaps,
has more zest in it, or reward after it,
than long days search for some spe-
cial object, which they cannot give
more than certain sum for, and which
they know is to be had if they are not
afraid of trouble. Besides, there is
not only much happiness 10 be enjoyed
consistently with the circumstances of
What is now called pover'y, there is
also much happiness to be given. The
secret of being we'll of is to know how
to do without things. The secret of
helping others to be we'll off is not the
monopoly of those who can give great
presents or confer big favors it Is also
with those who can make trifiles 90 a
long way ON the errands of kindness,
md who can brighten their gifts with
love, if they cannot gid them with
splendor. This age is dear in some
things, but it is cheap in others. All
round, probably, it takes more to keep
u family even in the simplest fashion
than generation ago. But life is much
less dull, and shut up, and common
place, and uninteresting, than it used
to be, when there were no railways, nc
cheap press, no penny postage, no Gro
quet, no Nudes library. There is
moro refinement in some houses, il
there is more luxury in others and il
meat and rent cost more, clothes and
tea cost less. But all this bears or
the possibility of making others happy
limited as our means may be; in the
occasions OF simple hospitality, in the
lending of books and writing of letters
and interchange of trifing but pleasant
gifts. No doubt it is delightful to re
ceive ffty-pound note from a KIND
grandmother, and to be told you are t.
, 10 with it just what you please bu
sometimes that which costs only fiv,
shillings gives just as much pleasure
and bright heart that loves to see
child smile may buy as many smiles a
it wants for sixpence apiece.