The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-09-05
lie Died Rich.

HOW HARD some men strive all their
lives to have it said of them when they
have passed hence" He died Tich!r'
Relatives and friends who are left
behind seem to consider it sort of
compliment to the dead to dwell upon
the theme he died rich!'
And now comes Up the question, Is it
an honor to a man to die rich7 Is the
world any better for q man to die rich
than it would be if the same man died
poor? Is the man any happier in the
next life on account of it?
If the spirit be conscious after death,
is it any satisfaction to that spirit, in
the other life, to know that he left q
hundred thousand or two for his rcla-
tives to quarrel over, and break his
will over, and on account of which they
are to be at swords points with each
other through all time?
Is the man who died rich mourned
for any more sincerely than the man
who died poor? And when we come to
talk about that, is it really desirable to
have people mourn for us after we are
dead? It is exceedingly uncomfortable
for them, and what benefit can it be to
us?
Tears, eminent authorities tell us,
are a luxury, but is it u luxury to
mourn for those who arc gone from us
never to return? would we purchase
forgetfulness at any price? Would we
forego weeping for the sake of comfort,
and ease of mind?
The good old country deacon comes
to our mind just here. He lost his wife,
and at the funeral was observed to
weep very freely-mnch more 50 than
it was believed to be consistent with
his character. A friend said to him:
"DeacOn Jones, try and be comfort
ed. So much weeping over one whom
God has called is sinful. And, beside,
it will make you illr'
II amt crying particularly over
Sallyr' replied the deacon. "Shc was
about old enough to die; but have the
catarrh in my head, and crying kinder
clears it out! And whenever my nose
feels stopped up think of Sally, and
crying brings relief"
| But we wander from our text.
1t is amusing to note how the people
at large, and the newspapers in gem
cral, speak of the man who died rich.
AhOy ~ INV CsOAJ POI eNuAoA VA h0
peculiarities, and remark on the way
he wore his old hats, and boarded up
his mustered-out boots, and old stock
ings; and they will tell you anecdotes
of his eccentricities, and allude to his
dogs and horses, and mention the fact
that his wife and family are over
whelmed with grief!
| Who says anything when the poor
man dies about his old hats and stock
ings? He may have boarded them
quite as religiously as has his wealth.
Ter neighbor, but there is nothing said
about it. His lean dog is not thought
worth a newspaper paragraph. His
wife's grief is not SO noteworthy rs that
of the rich mans lady, and his chill
dren's tears are never immortalized in
printers ink.
But, when the grand account is made
up, and God jud gcs, will it make any
difference whether man died rich or
lpoor?
Locking back TO the life which has
been, will any human soul believe that
it has been worth the struggle to have
it said-.'H He died rich?''
We cannot think so; but we do be-
lieve that it is worth toll, and trial, and
tribulation, to be so filled with the
peace which comes from right doing,
that when we die it may be truly said
of us" He died rich !r'-Kate Thorn, in
N. Y. Weekly.