Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-02-18

out, and the resplendent gliding
peeled off.
sHumph = exclaimed Alfred, mus
ing; "dad was right, certainly, here.
AS far as mere buying and selling
went he knew something, though he
was an ignoramus on other points.
Yes, | suppose, in trade, the cheapest
things are the dearest-you must pay
the best price if you want the best
article.''
He now gave himself up entirely to
the society of his somewhat loose,
| but well-born, associates. Notoriety
was the object of his existence. He
wished to rank among the eccentric
roues of the day, and become cele-
brated for breaking lamps, beating
policemen, driving over old women,
purloining knockers, and insulting
street passengers but either he had
less spirit or more sense than the rest
for in drunkenness, folly, brutality
and vice, they were greatly beyond
him. While theil names were known
! far and wide, and their deeds fondly
inflated, he was known only as
third-rate genius, and more an imita
tor himself than an original worthy
of imitation. He retired from the
field considerably worse in pocket
and constitution. ''Alas p said he,
"there was more in that fantastic
maxim than | suspected. 1t does
not apply to trade only. | was will
ing to purchase notoriety and find,
unhappily, that the first quality of
that commodity costs more than [
can afford. 1t was foolish to wish to
obtain it; but more foolish to expect
to obtain it cheaply. Yes; you must
pay the best price if you want the
best article
He had now hidden farewell to his
unworthy companions, and resolved
to pursue better path. Love en-
tirely occupied his thoughts. He Sc
lected q beautiful, accomplished and
amiable girl, and thought if he could
induce her to become his wife, hap
piness would be his portion for ever.
But she was not easily won. There
were points in his conduct which she
wished to see altered before she could
prefer him to all others. These con-
cessions he was not exactly inclined
to make and there was Mary Tomp-
kins, very pretty girl, who was
quite ready to have him just as he
was. He married Mary Tompkins.
Six months after marriage she ran off
with Ensign Jenkins.
"Ahp sighed Alfred, ''what an
error did l commit | lost a charm
ing creature from idleness and pride.
In proportion to the pain of acquisi-
ton, so would have been pleasure Of
possession. You must pay the best
price if you want the best article
He had arrived at the time of life
when love generally yields to ambi-
ton. Alfred determined to become
great-and great as a philosopher.
He would examine into the nature of
man and the constitution of society,
and endeavor to leave the world wis
er and better than he found it. He
read-he meditated-he wrote-he
published. But the course Of his
reading and meditation was very pru-
IDENTIFY and daintily IN accordance
with popular notions; whence ii
happened that the books he wrote and
published were trite and common
place. He gained no reputation as q
philosopher, but he lost none as a
man. Truth was not in his compo-
sitions, and consequently defamation
and abuse were not in the criticisms
on them.
II see, clearly said he, ''that
philosophic fame and the worlds
love are incompatible with each other.
Every man who greatly benefits his
fellow creatures is hated and despised,
while living by the majority of those
he serves. The immortality of an in
novator is purchased dearly indeed
You must pay the best price if you
want the best article His hair was
by this time beginning to grow gray,
and the ''old gentlemanly vice. stirred
him exceedingly. II will make mon
ey," exclaimed he. ''True, l have
already some thousands; but wise
man should consider these merely as
seed to produce plentiful crop. [
am not young enough to enter trade
regularly, but I will speculate. That
is the way to make a fortune in a
few years.
Accordingly he bought shares in
joint stock companies, and became a
trafficker in stock of all sorts. ''Bull, .
''bear,' ''scrip," ''premium, were
familiar words. He thought, he
dreamed of nought but speculation
of shares going down OF getting up in
the market-or paid up and unpaid
up capital.
But commercial matters, even the
most promising, are uncertain. Al
) fred's Joint Stock companies went
successfully to the dogs, and all his
stock eyinced the greatest alacrity in
sinking. A few knowing ones be-
came astonishingly rich, but Mr.. Al
t fred Richardson was not a knowing
} one, and lost nearly all he had in the
world. Some one must suffer thai
. | others NAV eniOui Such is the rule