Year: 1859




There is an old proverb which says "A nian
may 6qy gold too DEAR We do not know
where it originated, but the apothegm is an
exceedingly wise one, let it come from whose
head it might - p. 4.


GA may buy gold too dear None but
the excessive miser, who would barter every
thing for the ''yellow dust" can doubt the fact
that even the most precious of metals can be
bought too dear. fF.


The broker will tell you that he buys gold
too dear, who gives five dollars apiece for SOW
ereigns, when their market value is but four
dollars and eighty-three cents. The broker
buys money merely to sell again; and he there
fore, consider it only in relation to what it will
yield him.


But there are cases where gold may be
bought too dear, even though it may be sold
again for more than it cost. Gold may be
purchased too dear-altogether too dearly
when life, health, friendship, conscience, or
peace of mind, is sacrificed in the purchase.
Yet, how often does the one, or the other, or
all of these happen, in the acquisition of wealth.
apparently the sole end and aim of so large a
portion of mankind!


Gold is bought too dear by the man who,
leaving friends, relations, freside, and home,
seeks distant land-it may be an unhealthy
climate-solely with the view of amassing





home, and unexposed to the dangers and pri-
vations of the distant land. He gains the
fortune, indeed he accomplishes the object of
his desire-but at what expense? Health IS
gone. He returns with his gold, but it has cost
him too dear. He is, no doubt, to some the
object of envy for his wealth; but to others,
and the most judicious part of mankind, he Is
the object of pity, rather, account of his
folly, who has bartered the noblest of blessings
for heap of shining dust. He cannot enjoy
his gold when purchased. With a sallow
countenance, enfeebled gait, and broken
constitution, he appears among his ancient
neighbors, astonishing them for short time
with his wealth, his splendor and his equipage,
then sinks into the grave, victim to the
enormous price he paid for his gold. Surely it
cost him too dearly.


He has sojourned in distant land. He has
foregone the pleasures and comforts of home
and of friends He has subjected himself to
disease and exposed himself to death-and,
though he has not fallen prey to the latter in
a foreign cline, he has merely obtained a re
spite for a few short and miserable years. He
has purchased his gold too dear, because he has
not, by its possession, gained any equivalent
for the amount of the cost. He might have
acquired that competence at home. A COM
petenee is all man can enjoy; and all beyond
is, of course, no better than SO much worthless
dross. Tt is gold bought too dearly.


All this, however, is the supposition that
it has been gotten honestly But when it has
been obtained by a sacrifice of conscience
when moral principle has been bartered in the
purchase-it presents still stronger case of
gold bought too dearly; for nothing can ever
repay the sacrifice of honesty. Though gold
were thousand times more precious than it is,
still it is no more than the dust in the balance,
compared with pure and upright heart.


All wealth purchased by any act OF dishon-
esty, by any perverson whatever of moral prin-
ciple, is purchased too dearly. It costs too
much on every OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the sum
paid for it affect the character, the peace, and
welfare of the purchaser, or of some of his
fcllow-creaturcs '7


Gold costs too dear when it is purchased by
sacrifice of honesty in the common affairs of
life-in buying and selling, in trade and mer-
chandise, and in any of the everyday concerns
between man and man. One may boast of the
great bargains he has made by deceiving his
fellow creatures; but how contemplate must he
appear in his own estimation, to say nothing OF
the estimation of others, who has been fain to
resort to trick and to falsehood, either direct or
implied, for the acquisition of money! Can
such a man 'ssleep O nights?" We doubt it.
His mind must be on the rack; if not severely,
at least sufficient to keep him from enjoying
the calm and undisturbed repose of the truly
good an honest man. His gold, then, is pur-
chased too dearly. It is not the sleep only
which it has cost him, but it is the loss of the
respect and esteem of all whose good opinions
are worth possessing.