Year: 1859

"a man may buy 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.


ga man may buy gold too DEAR
None but the excessive miser, who would
barter everything for the ''yellow dust, I"
can doubt the fact that even the most
precious of metals can be bought too
dear.


The broker will tell you that he buys
gold too dear, who gives FIVE dollars a.
piece for soyereigns. when their market
value is but four and eighty-three cents.
The broker buys money merely to sell
again and he therefore, considers 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-al-
together too desrlY-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 portion of mankind


Gold is bought too dear by the man
who, leaving friends. relations. ireside.
and home, seeks distant land-it may
be an unhealthy climate-solely with
the view of amassing a fortune sooner
than it could be acquired at home, and
unexposed to the dangers and privations
of the distant land. He gains the for
tune, 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, 10 sUme the object of envy
for his wealth but to others, and the
most judicious part of mankind, be is the
object of pity, rather, on account of his
folly, who has bartered the noblest of
blessings for heap of shining dust
He cannot enjoy his gold when pur-
chased. With sallow countenance, an
enfeebled gait, and broken constitution,
he appears among his ancient neighbors,
astonishing them for short time with
his wealth, his splendor, and his equi.
page, 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 iand.-I
He has foregone the pleasures and COM
forts of friends. He has subjected him
self to disease and exposed himself to
death-and, though he has not fallen a
prey to the latter in foreign cline, he
has merely obtained respite for few
short and miserable years. He has
purchased bis gold too dear. because he
has not, by lis possession, gained any
equivalent for the amount of the cost
He might have acquired a competence
at home. A competence is all man
can enjoy; and all beyond is, Of course.
no better than so much worthless dross.
1t is gold bought too dearly.


All this, however, is on the supposi-
ton that it has been gotten honestly
But when it has been obtained by sac
rifce of conscIence-when moral princi-
pie has been bartered in the purchase
ii presents still stronger case of gold
bought too dearly for nothing can ever
repay the sacrifice Of honesty. Though
gold were a thousand times more pre-
cious than it is, still it is no more than
the dust in balance. compared with
pure and upright heart.


All wealth purchased by any act Of
dishonesty. by any perversion whatever
of moral principle, is purchased too
dearly. 1t costs too much on every
Observation-Disclosures the sum paid for
it affects the character, the peace, and
welfare of the purchaser, or of some of
his fellow-creatures.


Gold cost too dear when It is purchss-
ed By sacrifice of honesty in the COM
mon affairs of life-in buying and SELL
ing, in trade and merchandise, 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 contempt.