The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-05-10
From, The Christian Neigh5or. j
Poor Rich People.


1t is bad enough to be poor, but to
be rich and haunted by fear Of pow
erty is much worse. In my perigrina-
tions through life have seen several
of this unfortunate class.
The first was in my boyhood- Mr..
B., of the city OF c.. lie was a
man of very large fortune, paying at
the time Of which 1 speak larger
amount Of taxes than any other man
in the city. lie was quite old, wore
coarse and unsightly clothes, and nigh.
more readily have been mistaken for
beggar than taken for man Of for
tune. He had several children Of both
sexes, but felt too poor to educate
them. In fact, lie was too poor to fur
nish the ordinary ncccssarics Of life,
providing nothing for his family. For
tunately his yard and garden were
large, and his wife Industrious, who
turned them to good account by raising
fruit in one and vegetables il .hc
other. BY this means and taking in
sewing, she managed in a scanty way
to keep up the family. 1t was hard
scuiilc for them to live, and the chill
dren grew up in ignorance.
The property consisted mostly Of
real estate, scattered over large city,
and the old gentleman spent his time
in collecting his rents and investing in
other property. lie spent little money
on repairs, and his houses were dilapi-
dated and the fences falling down. lie
rented to poor whites and negroes at
high rates.
His countcnancc wore a haggard
appearance he walked with a slow
and trembling step, using an unusually
long walking-stick, without head or
fcrrule, probably cut from one of the
trees in his yard. lie picked up every
piece of twinc or rusty nail he saw.
His children were not noticed, and he
was never known to enter church.
Some years before his death his family
lived better. They would slip his
money out Of his pocket without his
being able to miss it. 1 remember
hearing one Of his sons boast how we'll
they got along by this means.
Poor man who would bc willing to
have his fortune and to suffer his poy-
crty?
knew lady OF this class who had
much property and devoted her time
70 the collection Of her rents and their
investment. She was profcsscdly rcli-
cious, but never attended church.
Large and rheumatic, she walked
with difficulty. and yet trudgcd miles
each day, and when tic Sabbath came
was too fatigucd to attend the sane
tUary. Her countcnancc bore The
marks Of anxiety and care. She SCI
dom smiled, and was suspicious Of
every one. Poor woman! life to her
was burden, and ! have often pi,icd
her rs have seen her limping along
through the street in all kinds of
weather, rs though her life depended!
upon her making the journey. With
all her wealth, she was poor indeed.
Another kncw-an elderly German
lady. She was member Of my church.
but seldom attended the house Of God.
Owning large property. and no, being
able either TO read or write, .lc had;
necessarily to intrust her business in
the hands Of others. As her pastor.
| became intimate with her, and she
was one Of the most unhappy creatures
ever saw. She seemed to bc afraid
to form the acquaintance Of any one,
and was suspicious Of her best friends.
With large property, she suffered all
the misery Of extreme poverty.
/ knew an old gentleman Of this
class whose appearance was remark
able. His head and beard were as