Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-01-08
.AsssJsssJs .ssse1e .s.&ssss.yaAAS'
= A Preacher =
y Among the People. !.
THAT WHICH sATIsr1ETH NOT"
= s.,e..t.st.A,Nsst,,t,st = - - - $3.50,

Martin Berry cut Shore Acres up into
building lots, determined to get rich
even though he had to sell his moth
er's grave. But his plan failed. After
che old home farm had been heavily
mortgaged to pay for the necessary
surveying and grading the lots could
not ne sold, and on Christmas eve
Martin was shocked into realization
of the fact that his unrestrained de-
sire FOR material prosperity had de-
stroyed the old-time happiness of his
household and lost him his home.
1t was sad awakening; and the sad
ness would have been but little If any
less had the plan to sell Shore Acres
at a fabulous price succeeded. No
matter how phenomenal his material
prosperity, no man can be happy who
exchanges love for gold. The passion
for wealth, like many others, can be
mastered; but If unbridled, 1t cannot
be gratified.
George Grabb was prosperous farm
er and might have been happy; but
he coveted the farm that belonged to
boiled like a slave, denying himself and
his family many comforts and enjoy
ments lhat he could have well afforded,
and all for the sake of buying that
farm.
In the course of tine the necessary
amount of money was accumulated
and the purchase was made. 1t proved
20 be a very profitable investment as
lar as dollars and cents were concern
ed; but Grabb was not happy. AS
soon as the Jones farm was bought and
paid for he began to covet the land
that lay just across the road. In due
time that too was bought, but, like the
water that ever receded from the lips
Of the thirsty Tantalus, happiness, the
zeal prize that Grabb hoped to secure
seemed to take flight, and in his dis
torted Imagination it settled on the
farm just beyond. He kept up the
pursuit until death stopped him, and
then, sadly enough his closing eyes
saw the phantom he had been chasing
lowering over the farm adjoining the
one he bought last
AS the world usually measures sue
,ess, George Grabb was a successful
nan. He had a sort of midas touch
hat seemed totransform into gold near
~ everything with which he came in
contact. Almost universally his in
Sestments were profitable; but both
his moLey and labor were given for
that which did not satisfy. He sue
eeeded and yet he failed His thoughts
became as earthly as his farms, and his
heart metallic as his gold, and they Of
his own house shuddered when he
drew near.
| used to have friend who lived in
mortal dread of dying in the poor
house. l verify believe he suffered
more mental agony anticipating the
humiliation incident to a 1hing that
lever happened than attends ten
leath is the average charitable
institution. Although it is some
thing from which nearly all
If us would shrink if we saw
hat is was probable, there are
worse things than dying in poor
house, and one of them is to die the
Lnrequited slave of a bag of metal or
a pile of dirt
Men go on adding success to sue
cess until the riches of yesterday are
the poverty of today and yet they are
not happy. There is an intense long
ing Tor something they do not possess,
an aching void" that stocks, bonds,
and farms do not fill. All their in
yestments may be profitable when
looked at from the financier's point of
view, but very unsatisfactory when
love is all they want" Solomon had
his fill of material prosperity and his
Judgment in the end was, lit is all
vanity" He had the resources of a
prosperous kingdom upon which to
draw. He built houses and chariots,
oougnt fine horses and kept many SER
wants, supplied his table with the
richest of food and furnished his
wardrobe with costly raiment; but the
old Cynic philosopher Diogenes, with
only tub to shelter him from the
storm and cold, came as near finding
Ind possessing himself of genuine hap
Diness as did Israel's rich and power
iul king.
There are victims of wealth just as
,ruly as there are victims of poverty.
Paul wrote Timothy that, IF any pro-
vide not for his own, and especially
fer those of his own house, he hath de-
MED the faith and is worse than an in
Ildel," There are exceptions to all
'ules; but as Ions as it is possible for
man to provide for his own house, If
ne does not do so, Paul's denunciation
Of him is none too severe. Poverty
,egotten of sloth is not a virtue. A
nan may see his family suffer and be
indifferent; but he cannot be happy.
His contentment is the child of stupid
ty and not of the conscious
less that he has done his best His
'eace is the peace of stagnation that
'reeds moral malaria and disease, and
lot that OF the flowing river that
reshens the banks and enrIches the