The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-04-02
The WAY Of the World.

There was once pleasant village in a thrifty
New England State-there are scores OF sucn
to-day. The boys attended district school,
helped on the farm, in the store, and up at the
mill; the girls went to school too, when their
mothers could spare them, rode down hill on
the boys sleds in winter, helped with the
housework in summer, and frolicked, boys and
girls together, at apple-bees, corn-huskingss,
quilting-pa and picnics all the year round.
By-and-by two of the boys, the son of a far
mer and son of minister. went to the city:
They were tired of country life and determined
to see the world. They were good, smart boys,
and everybody prophesied we'll for them. Ihey
would take honest country blood into the great
city, the world would hear of them and thelr
native village be proud of them.
And so at first it seemed. The boys were
received with favor, obtained the confidence OF
their employers and rose rapidly until they
were placed in positions of honor and trust.
This FOOD news travelled of course to the little
New England village, and became the never
ending subject of conversation. The boys were
the heroes and exemplars of the modern spirlt
of enterprise and progress; and while the gllls
who were left behind fretted at the necessity
which chained them to their homes, numbers
of the boys were goaded by taunts at their want
of "smartness'' to try their own luck, ana were
lost in the great maelstrom.
But our two young adventures continued to
Justify the good opinion OF their townsfolk.
Their fame spread, wealth came to them, sub
stantial evidences Of which were seen in sundry
additions to the farmhouse, in new four
wheeled vehicle for Sunday church going, in
divers silk dresses of quiet style but rich mate
rial, city-made bonnets, and such hitting OUT
as the parsonage had not seen in all the days OF
it's existence.
When the boys, now men, returned after a
long absence for brief visit they we're received
with due honors A meeting was held IN the
Westinghouse, speeches were made, everybody
shook hands, the old people cried, the young
women presented bouquets, and everything
went merry as a marriage-bell. In fact mar
rage bells followed. The son of the minister
had welded the daughter of city millionaire,
but the farmers son returned to wed the only
daughter of the richest man in his native town.
This put the climax to their prosperity. Boys
were sent to them to be taught the art OF sue
cess; money rolled in upon them-they were
now at the head of great business houses OF
their own-orphans and widows begged, them
to take their funds invest and increase them.
What is it that makes the apple rot when it
has reached perfection? What is it that puts
a li.ait to prosperity and says to the waves OF
ambition thus far shalt thou go and no further
What is it in poor human nature that thus pre-
pares its own downfall?
One day great bubble burst; oneday great
wrong was detected. In the ruins of these
events we find two smart boys; two rich, greedy,
INSCRIPTIONS men hundreds of ruined fami-
lies; thousands of miserable, wrecked men,
women and children One finds refuge in a
foreign land, the other in back street; neither
dare 60 home to receive curses instead of bless
ings.