Year: 1864

\ TRUE EkETCh Vi TIE WOfSLb 40 III


John SUitk t1udeT, sat 9t the door Of
his cottage and an unusat weight Of des.
poudency preyed upon his mind. His
circumstances, 10 be sure, were not so
bad-he was as prosperous as his neigh
bors but then, he thought, could he es
cape the endless round of care and vexa-
ton to which life of business exposed
him could he have time for repose, read.
ing, and meditations; in short, could he
be independent Of a thankless and selfish
world, how happy would he be! He
unused upon this thought until the 'mys
terious agent who is supposed TO keep
watch over temporal affairs Of men, stood
by his side.


4 have SEEM said the strange visitor,
the current Of your thoughts, and that
you lupg for wealth. Tell me by to-mor-
row what amount you desire, and it shall
be yours


The speaker vanished, a thrill Of de-
light ran through the veins Of John Smith.
But he Immediately bethought himself Of
the answer he should return his new ac-
quaintance when he re appeared. At
first, no difficulty was APPARENT, but as
soon as he had taken up his pencil to
make the necessary calculations, he found
that the question was not to be answered
so readily as he imagined. At first he
set down $4,000 as the sum Of his wishes.


1t will buy, said he, this little place,
enable me to stock my shop, repair my
fences, and buy me yoke Of oxen; /
shall be independent!


lie unused on this awhile.


Still, on the other hand he continued,
4 should have to labor sickness might
reduce my business TO disorder, and bring
poverty. Twill have $40, 900 beside, that
my interest money may be amply sufii'
cicnt for my support.


This sum was hardly fixed on, how
ever, ere he forcsaw that it would be
wholly insufficient.


1T will pinch on all Sides said he. u
could not keep carriage nor travel into
foreign countries, as have often thought
should like to do. Besides, should be
obliged to live in small way. 1t would
allow the to be contcnted and lead an
easy life, to be sure, il was satisfied,
like the brute, with mere case and suffi-
cient to eat. But want something more
than this. want to enjoy life like
gentleman. will add: let me see yes
twice as much for handsome country
seat alone, and ten times the amount in
bank stocks. Say about S250,000. This
will be capital fortune, and enable me
to crafty all my desires


Just then o new idea dropped into
Johns head.


Then, even then, | should find many
richer men in the country than myself


lie pondercd on this awhile. ltroused
up all the jealousy Of his soul. He did
not care about outshining them all in the
Splondor Of his establishment and mode Of
living; but he felt that the ability to do
so would be necessary to his happiness !;
and he was at once launched into wide
ocean of calculations, which carried him
finally to Sl0,O00OO0 With this he was
perfectly sure Of being satisfied.
But he had no sooner came to this con.
clusion than a new idea struck him. lie
had thought Of travelling in foreign coun-
tries; he would meet with men Of man.
moth fortunes in Europe. lie considered
a moment. and then added cipher to
the ten millions.


This sum of SlO0oo0,000, world put
me above the fear Of meeting rival in
point Of wealth.


But he soon found he was no nearer
satisfied now, than he was with the first
sum he named to hirself 1t appeared
absolutely necessary but nc should not
only be richer than any other man in the
world, but that he should be able to es.
tablish millions Of schools and churches.
and pay the salaries of ministers and
missionaries, and print bibles, &c., (for
John Smith was pious mani besides lay
ing by some ten, fifteen or twenty millions
per year.


In the midst Of the profound mcdita.
tions, however. on the subject of fixing
the proper sum of wealth he should de-
sire Of his supernatural visitor, the minis
ter Of fate suddenly rc.approached.


John declared that he had not yet been
able to fix the precise sum, and begged
his kind visitor to give him one hour
more.


MY errand is hnished!' was the reply
i 60 to return no more. Look inward
and answer thysclf the question: Wouldst
thou be content with the wealth Of India,
TIE glory Of Alexander, the homage of
the world and title to heaven y


The messenger had just pronounced
these words, and was in the act of vanish.
ing. when John Smith awoke-for he had
been drcaming-a satisfied man.