The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-07-05
Money as a Means Of Happiness.

Joe, Bradley, boy at our school,
wrote composition the other day, and
one thing he said in it was this:
" There is nothing in the. world that
can give a person so much happiness as
plenty OF money! '1n'i FTaA'''
Now | always felt that plenty of
money was good thing, and wished
had a pile of it, but when l tried to re-
member all the. rich people living in
our town | could think of only two
who seemed happy. Some are sick;
some are afraid of thieves; some don't
seem to know how to pass away their
time, and one man is troubled for fear
that he may become poor
Then thought of our two nearest
neighbors. MIR. King has large fac
tory, and employs several hundred
workmen. He lives in a handsome
house, and dresses well, and has the
best in the market on his table; but his
face always wears a look of care, and
he never seems to take any time for en-
joyment. ... ina s.ir !
He has Only one son, George, who
associates with low fellows. and is q
constant cause of trouble to his father.
Yet Mr.. King is called one of the
richest men in town, and appears to
have everything that money can give
him, but he certainly doesn't seem very
happy. ...7E ,.a,. .4,a
Our next neighbor, in the other direc-
ton. is Mr. Lee. He is farmer and
wears coarse clothes. But he is indus
trious and saving, and his wife is a good
manager. His house is very plainly
furnished.
But his children are obedient and re-
spectful, and they always stand among
the first in their classes at school,
don't know a family anywhere that
seems happier than they are. .lI. t.g
In these two cases Joe's idea doesn't
seem to be true.
While / was thinking over the matter
Uncle John came to-visit us. So asked
him about it, and this is what he said:
at is true that money can be made
the means of great happiness. If per-
| son has plenty of money he can not only
occupy handsome house and live in
good style, but he can also travel, buy
| books, help those who need assistance,
and he can obtain with it every earthly
comfort. But it takes a great deal of
Judgment to spend money wisely.
| There are some persons who consider
that their money was only given them
in trust, and they look about them to
| see where they can use it to the best adj
vantage in relieving suffering and in aid
ing worthy objects. Many persons lay
| aside certain proportion of their in
come yearly for this purpose.
81 am glad to notice, by the papers,
that the number of people who endow
charitable and educational institutions
is increasing. More persons, too, seem
inclined to carry out their plans them
| selves, while living, than to wait till
| their death before the money can be-
| gin its good work. In such cases, mon
ey is made to perform its true Office as
| a servant.
"But, on the other hand, money can
become the means of great unhappi-
ness. A person may occupy an ele-
| giant house, and be doing a large and
! profitable business; but this frequently
involves great risks, which, in many
cases, burden the mind with care and
anxiety.
'When man gives all his energies
to money-making, he loses, in great
measure, his power to sympathize with
| DINERS; SO Undl ne 10 LheIcDy HoI ohly
untitled to himself enjoy the pleasures
o home and social life, but even his
presence interieres with the happiness
Of those by whom he is surrounded.
Then too, the wealth of parents
otter leads their children to imagine
that they need do nothing but enjoy
life's pleasures. BY this means extrav-
agant tastes are acquired, and habits of
dissipation frequently follow.
| I'm these cases, money is perverted
from its true office, and becomes q mas
ter. So you see that, 20 one who has a
worthy object in life, money wisely
spent will be OF great assistance in pro-
noting it.
but to one who has no such object,
money il abundance becomes a tempta-