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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Who Are Happiest? and Other Stories, by T. S.
+Arthur, Illustrated by  Croome
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: Who Are Happiest? and Other Stories
+
+
+Author: T. S. Arthur
+
+
+
+Release Date: March 4, 2008  [eBook #24753]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHO ARE HAPPIEST? AND OTHER
+STORIES***
+
+
+E-text prepared by David Edwards, Carolyn Bottomley, and the Project
+Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) from
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+Florida PALMM Project (http://palmm.fcla.edu/)
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+
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+
+
+Transcriber's Note:
+
+      Italicized text is enclosed by underscores (_italic_).
+
+      In "Means of Enjoyment" the word "vail" was replaced with "veil"
+      in the sentence "It seemed as if a veil had suddenly been drawn
+      from before his eyes."
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Title Page.]
+
+WHO ARE HAPPIEST?
+
+AND
+
+OTHER STORIES.
+
+by
+
+T. S. ARTHUR.
+
+With Illustrations from Original Designs by Croome.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Philadelphia:
+Lippincott, Grambo & Co.
+1852.
+
+Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1852, by
+Lippincott, Grambo & Co.
+in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of
+Pennsylvania.
+
+Stereotyped by L. Johnson & Co.
+Philadelphia.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+                                          PAGE
+
+WHO ARE HAPPIEST?                           9
+
+DICK LAWSON, AND THE YOUNG MOCKING-BIRD.   21
+
+THE MEANS OF ENJOYMENT.                    60
+
+MAN'S JUDGMENT.                            72
+
+WHAT FIVE DOLLARS PAID.                    89
+
+LOOK AT T'OTHER SIDE.                      97
+
+THIN SHOES.                               115
+
+THE UNRULY MEMBER.                        131
+
+THE RICH AND THE POOR.                    149
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION.
+
+
+In this volume, the stories are not illustrative of childish
+experiences. Most of the actors are men and women,--and the trials and
+temptations to which they are subjected, such as are experienced in
+mature life. Their object is to fix in the young mind, by familiar
+illustrations, principles of action for the future. While several of the
+volumes in this series will be addressed to children as children,
+others, like this one, will be addressed to them as our future men and
+women, toward which estate they are rapidly progressing, and in which
+they will need for their guidance all things good and true that can be
+stored up in their memories.
+
+
+
+
+WHO ARE HAPPIEST?
+
+
+"What troubles you, William?" said Mrs. Aiken, speaking in a tone of
+kind concern to her husband, who sat silent and moody, with his eyes now
+fixed upon the floor, and now following the forms of his plainly-clad
+children as they sported, full of health and spirits, about the room.
+
+It was evening, and Mr. Aiken, a man who earned his bread by the sweat
+of his brow, had, a little while before, returned from his daily labour.
+
+No answer was made to the wife's question. A few minutes went by, and
+then she spoke again:
+
+"Is any thing wrong with you, William?"
+
+"Nothing more than usual," was replied. "There's always something wrong.
+The fact is, I'm out of heart."
+
+"William!"
+
+Mrs. Aiken came and stood beside her husband, and laid her hand gently
+upon his shoulder.
+
+The evil spirit of envy and discontent was in the poor man's
+heart,--this his wife understood right well. She had often before seen
+him in this frame of mind.
+
+"I'm as good as Freeman; am I not?"
+
+"Yes, and a great deal better, I hope," replied Mrs. Aiken.
+
+"And yet he is rolling in wealth, while I, though compelled to toil
+early and late, can scarcely keep soul and body together."
+
+"Hush, William! Don't talk so. It does you no good. We have a
+comfortable home, with food and raiment,--let us therewith be contented
+and thankful."
+
+"Thankful for this mean hut! Thankful for hard labour, poor fare, and
+coarse clothing!"
+
+"None are so happy as those who labour; none enjoy better health than
+they who have only the plainest food. Do you ever go hungry to bed,
+William?"
+
+"No, of course not."
+
+"Do you or your children shiver in the cold of winter for lack of warm
+clothing?"
+
+"No; but"----
+
+"William! Do not look past your real comforts in envy of the blessings
+God has given to others. Depend upon it, we receive all of this world's
+goods the kind Father above sees best for us to have. With more, we
+might not be so happy as we are."
+
+"I'll take all that risk," said Mr. Aiken. "Give me plenty of money, and
+I'll find a way to largely increase the bounds of enjoyment."
+
+"The largest amount of happiness, I believe, is ever to be found in that
+condition wherein God had placed us."
+
+"Then every poor man should willingly remain poor!"
+
+"I did not say that, William: I think every man should seek earnestly to
+improve his worldly affairs--yet, be contented with his lot at all
+times; for, only in contentment is there happiness, and this is a
+blessing the poor may share equally with the rich. Indeed, I believe the
+poor have this blessing in larger store. You, for instance, are a
+happier man than Mr. Freeman."
+
+"I'm not so sure of that."
+
+"I am, then. Look at his face. Doesn't that tell the story? Would you
+exchange with him in every respect?"
+
+"No, not in _every_ respect. I would like to have his money."
+
+"Ah, William! William!" Mrs. Aiken shook her head. "You are giving place
+in your heart for the entrance of bad spirits. Try to enjoy, fully, what
+you have, and you will be a far happier man than Mr. Freeman. Your sleep
+is sound at night."
+
+"I know. A man who labours as hard as I do, can't help sleeping
+soundly."
+
+"Then labour is a blessing, if for nothing else. I took home, to-day, a
+couple of aprons made for Mrs. Freeman. She looked pale and troubled,
+and I asked her if she were not well."
+
+"'Not very,' she replied. 'I've lost so much rest of late, that I'm
+almost worn out.'
+
+"I did not ask why this was; but, after remaining silent for a few
+moments, she said--
+
+"'Mr. Freeman has got himself so excited about business, that he sleeps
+scarcely three hours in the twenty-four. He cares neither for eating nor
+drinking; and, if I did not watch him, would scarcely appear abroad in
+decent apparel. Hardly a day passes that something does not go wrong.
+Workmen fail in their contracts, prices fall below what he expected them
+to be, and agents prove unfaithful; in fact, a hundred things occur to
+interfere with his expectations, and to cloud his mind with
+disappointment. We were far happier when we were poor, Mrs. Aiken.
+There _was_ a time when we enjoyed this life. Bright days!--how well are
+they remembered! Mr. Freeman's income was twelve dollars a week; we
+lived in two rooms, and I did all our own work. I had fewer wants then
+than I have ever had since, and was far happier than I ever expect to be
+again on this side of the grave.'"
+
+Just then a cry was heard in the street.
+
+"Hark!" exclaimed Mr. Aiken.
+
+"Fire! Fire! Fire!" The startling sound rose clear and shrill upon the
+air.
+
+Mr. Aiken sprang to the window and threw it open.
+
+"Mr. Freeman's new building, as I live!"
+
+Mr. Aiken dropped the window, and catching up his hat, hurriedly left
+the house.
+
+[Illustration: MR. AIKEN'S RETURN FROM THE FIRE.]
+
+It was an hour ere he returned. Meanwhile the fire raged furiously, and
+from her window, where she was safe from harm, Mrs. Aiken saw the large
+new factory, which the rich man had just erected, entirely consumed by
+the fierce, devouring element. All in vain was it that the intrepid
+firemen wrought almost miracles of daring, in their efforts to save the
+building. Story after story were successively wrapped in flames, until,
+at length, over fifty thousand dollars worth of property lay a heap of
+black and smouldering ruins.
+
+Wet to the skin, and covered with cinders, was Mr. Aiken when he
+returned to his humble abode, after having worked manfully, in his
+unselfish efforts to rescue a portion of his neighbour's property from
+destruction.
+
+"Poor Freeman! I pity him from my very heart!" was his generous,
+sympathising exclamation, as soon as he met his wife.
+
+"He is insured, is he not?" inquired Mrs. Aiken.
+
+"Partially. But even a full insurance would be a poor compensation for
+such a loss. In less than two weeks, this new factory, with all its
+perfect and beautiful machinery, would have been in operation. The
+price of goods is now high, and Mr. Freeman would have cleared a
+handsome sum of money on the first season's product of his mill. It is a
+terrible disappointment for him. I never saw a man so much disturbed."
+
+"Poor man! His sleep will not be so sound as yours, to-night, William."
+
+"Indeed it will not."
+
+"Nor, rich as he is, will he be as happy as you, to-morrow."
+
+"If I were as rich as he is," said Mr. Aiken, "I would not fret myself
+to death for this loss. I would, rather, be thankful for the wealth
+still left in my possession."
+
+Mrs. Aiken shook her head.
+
+"No, William, the same spirit that makes you restless and discontented
+now, would be with you, no matter how greatly improved might be your
+external condition. Mr. Freeman was once as poor as you are. Do you
+think him happier for his riches? Does he enjoy life more? Has wealth
+brought a greater freedom from care? Has it made his sleep sweeter?
+Far, very far from it. Riches have but increased the sources of
+discontent."
+
+"This is not a necessary consequence. If Mr. Freeman turn a blessing
+into a curse, that is a defect in his particular case."
+
+"And few, in this fallen and evil world, are free from this same defect,
+William. If wealth were sought for unselfish ends, then it would make
+its possessor happy. But how few so seek riches! It is here, believe me,
+that the evil lies."
+
+Mrs. Aiken spoke earnestly, and something of the truth that was in her
+mind, shed its beams upon the mind of her husband.
+
+"You remember," said she smiling, "the anecdote of the rich man of New
+York, who asked a person who gave utterance to words of envy towards
+himself--'Would you,' said he, 'take all the care and anxiety attendant
+upon the management of my large estates and extensive business
+operations, merely for your victuals and clothes?' 'No, indeed, I would
+not,' was the quick answer. '_I get no more_,' said the rich man,
+gravely. And it was the truth, William. They who get rich in this world,
+pass up through incessant toil and anxiety; and, while they _seem_ to
+enjoy all the good things of life, in reality enjoy but little. They get
+only their victuals and clothes. I have worked for many rich ladies, and
+I do not remember one who appeared to be happier than I am. And I am
+mistaken if your experience is not very much like my own."
+
+One evening, a few days after this time, Aiken came home from his work.
+As he entered the room where his wife and children sat, the former
+looked up to him with a cheerful smile of welcome, and the latter
+gathered around him, filling his ears with the music of their happy
+voices. The father drew an arm around one and another, and, as he sat in
+their midst, his heart swelled in his bosom, and warmed with a glow of
+happiness.
+
+Soon the evening meal was served--served by the hands of his wife--the
+good angel of his humble home. William Aiken, as he looked around upon
+his smiling children, and their true-hearted, even-tempered, cheerful
+mother, felt that he had many blessings for which he should be thankful.
+
+"I saw something, a little while ago, that I shall not soon forget,"
+said he, when alone with his wife.
+
+"What was that, William?"
+
+"I had occasion to call at the house of Mr. Elder, on some business, as
+I came home this evening. Mr. Elder is rich, and I have often envied
+him; but I shall do so no more. I found him in his sitting-room, alone,
+walking the floor with a troubled look on his face. He glanced at me
+with an impatient expression as I entered. I mentioned my business, when
+he said abruptly and rudely--
+
+"'I've no time to think of that now.'
+
+"As I was turning away, a door of the room opened, and Mrs. Elder and
+two children entered.
+
+"'I wish you would send those children up to the nursery,' he exclaimed,
+in a fretful half-angry voice. 'I'm in no humour to be troubled with
+them now.'
+
+"The look cast upon their father by those two innocent little children,
+as their mother pushed them from the room, I shall not soon forget. I
+remembered, as I left the house, that there had been a large failure in
+Market street, and that Mr. Elder was said to be the loser by some ten
+thousand dollars--less than a twentieth part of what he is worth. I am
+happier than he is to-night, Mary."
+
+"And happier you may ever be, William," returned his wife, "if you but
+stoop to the humble flowers that spring up along your pathway, and, like
+the bee, take the honey they contain. God knows what, in external
+things, is best for us; and he will make either poverty or riches,
+whichsoever comes, a blessing, if we are humble, patient and
+contented."
+
+
+
+
+DICK LAWSON AND THE YOUNG MOCKING-BIRD.
+
+
+"Dick!"
+
+"Sir."
+
+"I want a young mocking-bird. Can't you get me one?"
+
+"I d'no, sir."
+
+"Don't you think you could try?"
+
+"I d'no, sir. P'r'aps I might."
+
+"Well, see if you can't. I'll give you half a dollar for one."
+
+"Will you? Then I'll try."
+
+And off Dick started for the woods, without stopping for any further
+words on the subject.
+
+The two individuals introduced are a good-natured farmer in easy
+circumstances, and a bright boy, the son of a poor woman in the
+neighbourhood.
+
+As Dick Lawson was hurrying away for the woods, his mind all intent upon
+finding a nest of young mocking-birds, and despoiling it, he met a
+juvenile companion, named Henry Jones.
+
+"Come, Harry," said he, in an animated voice, "I want you to go with
+me."
+
+"Where are you going?" asked the friend.
+
+"I am going to look for a mocking-bird's nest."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"To get a young one. Mr. Acres said he would give me half a dollar for a
+young mocking-bird."
+
+"He did?"
+
+"Yes, he did so!" was the animated reply.
+
+"But don't he know that it's wrong to rob bird's nests!"
+
+"If it had been wrong, Harry, Mr. Acres wouldn't have asked me to get
+him a bird. He knows what is right and wrong, as well as anybody about
+here."
+
+"And so does Mr. Milman, our Sunday-school teacher; and he says that it
+is wicked to rob bird's nests. You know he has told us that a good many
+times."
+
+"But Mr. Acres knows what is right as well as Mr. Milman, and if it had
+been wrong, he'd never have asked me to get him a bird. And then, you
+know, he says he will give me half a dollar for a single one."
+
+"I wouldn't touch a bird's nest for ten dollars," rejoined Henry Jones,
+warmly.
+
+"I would then," replied Dick, from whose mind the promised reward had,
+for the time, completely dispelled every tender impression received both
+from his mother, who had been very careful of her child, and his teacher
+at the Sunday-school. "But come," he added, "you'll go with me, anyhow."
+
+"Not, if you are going to rob a bird's nest," firmly responded Henry.
+"It is wicked to do so."
+
+"Wicked! I don't see any thing so very wicked about it. Mr. Acres is a
+good man, so everybody says, and I know he wouldn't tell me to do a
+wicked thing."
+
+"I'm sure it is wicked," persevered Henry Jones, "for isn't it taking
+the poor little birds from their mother? Don't you think it would be
+wicked for some great giant to come and carry your little sister away
+off where you could never find her, and shut her up in a cage, and keep
+her there all her life?"
+
+"No, but birds are not little children. It's a very different thing. But
+you needn't talk, Harry; for it's no use. If you'll go along, you shall
+have half the money I get for the bird--if not, why, I'll go myself and
+keep the whole of it."
+
+"I wouldn't go with you for a hundred dollars," said Harry
+half-indignantly, turning away.
+
+"Then I'll go myself," was Dick Lawson's sneering reply, as he sprang
+forward and hurried off to the woods.
+
+He did not, however, feel very easy in mind, although he attempted first
+to whistle gayly, and then to sing. The remonstrance of Henry Jones had
+its effect in calling back previous better feelings, awakened by the
+precepts of a good mother and the instructions of a judicious
+Sabbath-school teacher. To oppose these, however, were the direct
+sanction of Mr. Acres, towards whom he had always been taught to look
+with respect, and the stimulating hope of a liberal reward. These were
+powerful incentives--but they could not hush the inward voice of
+disapprobation, that seemed to speak in a louder and sterner tone with
+every advancing step. Still, this voice, loud as it was, could not make
+him pause or hesitate. Onward he pursued his way, and soon entered the
+woods and old fields he had fixed in his mind as the scene of his
+operations.
+
+An hour's diligent search ended in the discovery of a nest, in which
+were two young ones, with the mother bird feeding them. This sight
+softened Dick's heart for a moment, but the strong desire, instantly
+awakened, to possess the prize for which he had been seeking, caused him
+to drive off the old bird, who commenced fluttering about the spot,
+uttering cries and showing signs of deep distress. These, although he
+could not help feeling them, did not cause him to desist. In a few
+moments he had one of the birds safely in his possession, with which he
+bounded off in great delight.
+
+"Well, Dick, have you got my bird?" said Mr. Acres, as Dick came puffing
+and blowing into his presence.
+
+"Yes, indeed!" returned Dick with a broad smile of pleasure, presenting
+the bird he had abstracted from its warm, soft nest.
+
+"You are a fine smart boy, Dick, and will make a man one of these days!"
+said Mr. Acres, patting Dick on the head encouragingly. Then, taking the
+bird, he toyed with it for a while fondly--fed it, and finally placed it
+in a cage. The promised half-dollar, which was promptly paid to the
+lad, made him feel rich. As he was about leaving the house of Mr. Acres,
+the latter called to him:
+
+"Look here, Dick, my fine fellow, don't you want a dog? Here's Rover,
+the very chap for you."
+
+"May I have Rover?" eagerly asked Dick, his eyes glistening with
+delight.
+
+"Yes. I've more dogs now than I want."
+
+"He fights well!" ejaculated Dick, surveying the dog proudly. As he did
+so, the animal, seeing himself noticed, walked up to Dick, and rubbed
+himself against the lad familiarly.
+
+"He'll whip any dog in the neighbourhood," said Mr. Acres.
+
+"And you'll give him to me?"
+
+"Oh, yes. I've got too many dogs now."
+
+"Here, Rover! Here, Rover! Here! Here! Here!" cried Dick in an animated
+tone, starting off. The dog followed quickly, and in a few moments both
+were out of sight.
+
+"A smart chap that," remarked Mr. Acres to himself, as Dick bounded
+away. "He'll make something before he dies, I'll warrant."
+
+The possession of the dog and half-dollar, especially the latter, were
+strongly objected to by Dick's mother.
+
+"How could you, my son, think of robbing a poor bird of her little young
+ones?" said she seriously and reprovingly.
+
+"But, mother, Mr. Acres wanted me to get him a bird, and of course I
+could not say 'no.' What would he have thought of me?"
+
+"You never should do wrong for any one."
+
+"But if it had been so very wrong, Mr. Acres never would have asked me
+to do it, I know," urged Dick.
+
+Mrs. Lawson would have compelled her son to take back the money he had
+received, if almost any other person in the village but Mr. Acres had
+been concerned. But he was well off, and influential; and, moreover, was
+her landlord; and, though she was behindhand with her rent, he never
+took the trouble to ask for it. The dog, too, would have been sent back
+if any one but Mr. Acres had given it to her son. As it was, she
+contented herself with merely reprimanding Dick for robbing the bird's
+nest, and enjoining on him not to be guilty of so cruel an act again.
+
+About three days after this event, Dick, accompanied by Rover--now his
+inseparable companion--met his young friend, Henry Jones, who had with
+him his father's large house-dog, Bose.
+
+"Whose dog is that?" asked Henry.
+
+"He's mine," replied Dick.
+
+"Yours!"
+
+"Be sure he is."
+
+"Why that is Mr. Acres's Rover."
+
+"Not now he isn't. Mr. Acres gave him to me."
+
+"What did he give him to you for?"
+
+"For getting him a young mocking-bird."
+
+"I thought he promised you half-a-dollar?"
+
+"So he did; and what is more, gave it to me, and Rover into the
+bargain."
+
+"Well, I wouldn't have robbed a bird's nest for a dozen Rovers," said
+Henry Jones, warmly.
+
+"Wouldn't you, indeed?" returned Dick, with a sneer.
+
+"No, I would not. It's wicked."
+
+"Oh, you're very pious! But Rover can whip your Bose, anyhow."
+
+"No, he can't, though," replied Henry quickly, who could not bear to
+hear his father's faithful and favourite old dog's courage called in
+question.
+
+"Yes, but he can, ten times a day. There, Rover! There,
+_sck!--sck!--sketch him_!" At the same time pushing Rover against Bose.
+
+Both dogs growled low, and showed their teeth, but that was all.
+
+"Rover's afraid to touch him!" said Henry, a good deal excited.
+
+"No, he is not, though!" returned Dick, his face glowing with interest;
+and, lifting up the forefeet of Rover, he threw him full against old
+Bose, who received the onset with a deep growl and a strong impression
+of his teeth on Rover.
+
+This brought on the battle. Bose was nine or ten years old, and somewhat
+worn down by age and hard service, while Rover had numbered but two
+years, and was full of fire and vigor. Still the victory was not soon
+decided. During the fight, each of the boys entered into the spirit of
+the contest almost as much as the dogs. First one would interfere to
+secure for his favourite the victory, and then the other, until, at
+last, Dick struck Henry; and then they went at it likewise, and fought
+nearly as long, and certainly with as much desire to injure each other,
+as did the dogs themselves. The result was that both Henry and Bose had
+to yield, and then the parties separated, indulging against each other
+bitter and angry feelings. But with Dick there was an emotion of cruel
+delight at having triumphed over his friend. As he was crossing a
+field, on his way home, he met Mr. Acres.
+
+"Why, what's the matter with you and Rover?" the farmer asked.
+
+"Rover's had a fight," replied Dick.
+
+"Ah! Who with?"
+
+"Mr. Jones's Bose."
+
+"Well, which whipped?"
+
+"Rover, of course," replied Dick, with a smile of triumph; "and I can
+make him whip any thing."
+
+"You're a keen chap, Dick," said Mr. Acres, patting the boy on the head,
+"and are going to make a man one of these days, I see plainly enough. So
+Rover whipped. I knew there was prime stuff in him."
+
+"There isn't another such a fellow in these 'ere parts," was Dick's
+proud answer.
+
+"But _you_ look a little the worse for wear, as well as Rover. Have you
+been fighting, too?"
+
+Dick held down his head for a moment, and then looking up into Mr.
+Acres's face, said--
+
+"Yes, sir," in rather a sheepish way.
+
+"Ah! well, who have you been fighting with?"
+
+"With Harry Jones. He didn't want to give Rover fair play; and once,
+when he had Bose down, he kicked him."
+
+"And then you kicked him for kicking your dog?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"That was right. Never permit a friend to be imposed upon. And after
+that you had a regular fight?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Which whipped?"
+
+"I gave him a bloody nose; and shouldn't wonder if he had a black eye
+into the bargain. And what is more, made him cry 'enough.'"
+
+"That was right. Never fight but in a good cause, and then be sure to
+whip your man."
+
+"It'll take a smarter boy than Harry Jones to whip me," said Dick
+proudly.
+
+"And you think Rover can whip any thing about here?"
+
+"Yes, indeed. And I'm going to make him do it, too."
+
+"You'd better not try him against Markland's old Nero."
+
+"He'll whip him in ten minutes."
+
+"I'm not so sure of that. Nero is a great deal bigger and stronger."
+
+"I don't care if he is. I'm learning Rover a trick that'll make him whip
+a dog twice his size."
+
+"What is that?"
+
+Dick called Rover, and the dog came up to him wagging his tail.
+
+"Give us your paw," said the boy, in a tone of authority.
+
+The dog instantly lifted one of his forefeet, which Dick took in his
+hand, and began to squeeze gently at first, and then, by degrees, harder
+and harder, ejaculating all the while, in a quick distinct tone--"Leg
+him! leg him! leg him!" until the dog, from first indicating signs of
+pain, began to whine, and then to yell out as if in agony. At this, Dick
+dropped the foot, and looked up into the farmer's face.
+
+"Well, Dick, what does all that mean?" asked Mr. Acres.
+
+"I'm learning him to catch hold of the foot," replied the boy.
+
+"The mischief you are!"
+
+"Yes, sir. And when he's fairly up to it, he can whip any dog, if he's
+as big as an elephant."
+
+"But can you learn him?"
+
+"I made him catch Jones's Bose by the foot this morning, and it would
+have done your heart good to have heard him yell. If he isn't lame for a
+month, then I don't know any thing about it."
+
+"There's no fear of you, I see," was Mr. Acres's encouraging reply to
+this, again patting Dick on the head.
+
+In about two weeks from that time it was pretty well known through the
+neighbourhood that Dick Lawson had given out that he could make his
+Rover whip Markland's Nero, a noble animal that had never been matched
+by any dog around. Markland's son felt his pride in his dog touched at
+this, and challenged Dick to a battle. The time was set, and the place,
+a neighbouring field, chosen. Old and young seemed to take an interest
+in the matter, and when the time arrived, and Dick appeared on the
+ground with his dog, there were assembled, men and boys, at least one
+hundred persons, and among the rest, Mr. Acres, who began to feel
+somewhat drawn towards his protege Dick.
+
+[Illustration: CRUEL SPORT.]
+
+The two dogs were brought forward by the two lads, whose parents knew
+nothing of the affair, and by pushing them against, and throwing them
+upon each other, irritated and angered them until they finally went to
+work in real earnest, greatly to the delight of the lookers-on. Rover
+fought bravely, but he was evidently no match for his larger and
+stronger antagonist, who tore him savagely, while he seemed unable to
+penetrate Nero's thick yielding skin. The shouts that arose from the
+group around were all in favour of Nero, who was a general favourite--as
+he was one of those large, peaceable, benevolent fellows, belieing his
+name, whom all liked, while there was something of the churl and savage
+about Rover, that caused him to have but few friends.
+
+The contest had waged about ten minutes, fiercely, and Rover was
+evidently getting "worsted," when Dick, who had been constantly
+encouraging his dog, stooped close to his ear, and spoke something in a
+low, quick, energetic tone.
+
+Instantly Rover crouched down, and darting forward, seized the forepaw
+of Nero in his mouth, and commenced gnawing it eagerly. The noble
+animal, thus unexpectedly and basely assailed, found the pain to which
+he was suddenly subjected so great as to take away all power of
+resistance. He would not utter a cry, but sat down, and permitted the
+other dog to gnaw away at his tender foot without a single sign of
+suffering. As the cry of pain, the dog's "enough," was to terminate the
+battle, the fine fellow was permitted thus to suffer for several
+minutes, before the bystanders came forward and pulled Dick Lawson's dog
+off. Nero would have died before a sound could have been extorted from
+him.
+
+As Nero had not cried "enough," Bob Markland contended afterwards that
+his dog had not been whipped, to settle which difference of opinion he
+and Dick had several hard battles, in which the latter, like his dog,
+always came off the victor. The upshot of all these contests was, the
+expulsion of Dick from the Sabbath-school, into which he carried the
+bickerings engendered through the week. Another reason for his expulsion
+was the frequency with which he played truant, and of his having, in
+several instances, enticed other boys away from the school for the same
+purpose.
+
+Except Mr. Acres, nearly every man, woman and child in the
+neighbourhood sincerely disliked, and some actually hated Dick Lawson,
+for there was hardly a family some member of which had not been annoyed
+by him in one form or another. But Mr. Acres liked the spirit of the
+lad, as well as his thorough independence in regard to the opinion of
+others.
+
+This man, who had first thrown temptation into the lad's way, and
+encouraged him to persevere in a conduct which nearly all condemned, was
+not a wilfully bad man. By most people he was called a good-hearted,
+benevolent person. The truth was, he was not a wise man. When young, he
+had indulged in such amusements as catching young birds, fighting dogs
+and cocks, and attending horse-races, and all the exciting scenes to
+which he could get access. But none of these things corrupted him so far
+as to make him a decidedly bad man in the community. As he grew up, he
+gradually laid aside his boyish follies; saved up his money; bought
+himself a small farm, and, in time, became quite a substantial man, so
+far as worldly goods were concerned.
+
+Contrasted with himself were several lads whose parents had been
+exceedingly strict with them, and who had, as they grew up, shaken off
+the trammels of childhood and youth, run into wild extravagances of
+conduct, and some into wicked and vicious habits, from which they were
+never reclaimed. Comparing his own case with theirs, his short-sighted
+conclusion was that boys ought to be allowed as much freedom as
+possible, and this was why he encouraged Dick, who was an exceedingly
+bright lad, in the course he had been so willing to pursue. He knew
+nothing at all of the different hereditary tendencies to evil that exist
+in the mind. His observation had never led him to see how two persons,
+raised in precisely the same manner, would turn out very
+differently--the one proving a good, and the other a bad citizen. His
+knowledge of human nature, therefore, never for a moment caused him to
+suspect, that in encouraging a feeling of cruelty in Dick Lawson, he
+might be only putting blood upon the tongue of a young lion--that there
+might be in his mind hereditary tendencies to evil, which encouragement
+to rob a bird's nest, or to set two dogs to fighting, by one occupying
+his position and influence, might cause to become so active as to
+ultimately make him a curse to society.
+
+And such, in a year or two, Dick seemed becoming. He had in that time,
+although but fourteen years of age, got almost beyond his mother's
+control. His dog and himself were the terror of nearly all the dogs and
+boys in the neighbourhood, for both were surly, quarrelsome, and
+tyrannical. Even Mr. Acres had found it necessary to forbid him to
+appear on his premises. Rover having temporarily lamed, time after time,
+every one of his dogs, and Dick having twice beaten two of his black
+boys, farm-hands, because of some slight offence. To be revenged on him
+for this, he robbed a fine apricot-tree of all its fruit, both green
+and ripe, on the very night before Mr. Acres had promised to send a
+basket full, the first produced in the neighbourhood that spring, to a
+friend who was very much esteemed by him.
+
+Though he strongly suspected Dick, yet he had no proof of the fact, and
+so made no attempt to have him punished.
+
+Shortly after, the boy was apprenticed to a tanner and currier, a severe
+man, chosen as his master in the hope that his rigid discipline might do
+something towards reclaiming him. As the tanner had as many dogs as he
+wanted, he objected to the reception into his yard of Dick's ill-natured
+cur. But Dick told his mother that, unless Rover were allowed to go with
+him, he would not go to the trade selected for him. He was resolute in
+this, and at last Mrs. Lawson persuaded Mr. Skivers, the tanner, to take
+him, dog and all.
+
+In his new place he did not get along, except for a very short time,
+without trouble. At the end of the third month, for neglect of work,
+bad language, and insolence, but particularly for cruelties practised
+upon a dog that had gotten the mastery over Rover, Mr. Skivers gave him
+a most tremendous beating. Dick resisted, and fought with might and
+main, but he was but a boy, and in the hands of a strong and determined
+man. For a time this cowed Dick, but in the same ratio that his courage
+fell when he thought of resisting his master single-handed, rose his
+bitter hate against him. Skivers was a man who, if he had reason to
+dislike any one about him, could not let his feelings remain quiescent.
+He must be doing something all the while to let the victim of his
+displeasure feel that he was no favourite. Towards Dick, he therefore
+maintained the most offensive demeanour, and was constantly saying or
+doing something to chafe the boy's feelings. This was borne as patiently
+as possible, for he did not again wish to enter into a contention in
+which he must inevitably get severely beaten. Skivers was not long in
+perceiving that the way to punish Dick the most severely was to abuse
+his dog; and he, therefore, commenced a systematic process of worrying
+Rover. This Dick could illy bear. Every time his master would drive
+Rover from the yard, or throw sticks or stones at him, the boy would
+make a new and more bitter vow of retaliation in some form.
+
+One day, Rover and a large dog belonging to Skivers got into a fight
+about something. Dick's interest in his dog brought him at once to the
+scene of action. His master, seeing this, ordered him, in a harsh, angry
+tone, to clear out and mind his own business. As he did so, he took a
+large club, and commenced beating Rover in a most cruel manner. Dick
+could not stand this. His blood was up to fever heat in an instant.
+Seizing a long, heavy pole, used for turning and adjusting hides in the
+vats, he sprang towards Skivers, and giving it a rapid sweep, brought it
+with tremendous force against his head, knocking him into a vat
+half-full of a strong infusion of astringent bark, to the bottom of
+which he instantly sank.
+
+So incensed did the lad feel, that he made not the slightest attempt to
+extricate his master from a situation in which death must have
+inevitably ensued in a few minutes, but walked away to another part of
+the yard. Two or three journeymen, however, who witnessed the whole
+affair, were on the spot in a moment, and took out the body of Skivers.
+He was completely insensible. There was the bloody mark of a large wound
+on his head. A physician was immediately called, who bled him profusely.
+This brought him back to consciousness. In a day or two he was out
+again, and apparently as well as ever. In the mean time, both Dick and
+his inseparable companion, Rover, had disappeared, and gone no one knew
+whither. No effort was made to discover the place to which the boy had
+fled, as every one was too much rejoiced that he had left the village,
+to care about getting him back. About twelve months after, his mother
+died--her gray hairs brought down to the grave in sorrow. Year after
+year then passed away, and the memory of the lad was gradually effaced
+from the minds of all, or retained only among the dim recollections of
+the past.
+
+Mr. Acres, who had first placed temptation in the way of Dick Lawson,
+continued to prosper in all external things, and to hold his position of
+influence and respectability in the neighbourhood. He, perhaps, more
+than others, thought about the lad in whom he had once felt a good deal
+of pride and interest, as exhibiting a fair promise for the future. But
+he never felt exactly easy in mind when he did think of him. Something
+whispered that, perhaps, he had been to blame in encouraging his wild
+habits. But, then, how could he have dreamed, he would argue, that the
+boy had in him so strong a tendency to evil as the result had proved.
+He had once been just as fond as Dick had shown himself to be of
+bird's-nesting, dog-fighting, &c., but then, as soon as he had sown a
+few wild oats, he sobered down into a steady and thrifty farmer of
+regular habits. And he of course expected to see Dick Lawson do the
+same.
+
+"And who knows but that he has?" he would sometimes say, in an effort at
+self-consolation.
+
+It was some five or six years from the time Dick left the village, that
+Mr. Acres was awakened one night from sleep by a dream that some one had
+opened the door of the chamber where he slept. So distinct was the
+impression on his mind that some one had entered, that he lay perfectly
+still, with his eyes peering into the darkness around, in order to
+detect the presence of any one, should the impression on his mind really
+be true. He had lain thus, with every sense acutely active, for only a
+moment or two, when a sound, as of a stealthy footstep, came distinctly
+upon his ear, and at the same moment, a dark body seemed to move before
+his eyes, as if crossing the room towards that part of it where stood a
+large secretary, in which was usually contained considerable sums of
+money.
+
+Mr. Acres was a brave man, but thus suddenly awakened from sleep to find
+himself placed in such an emergency, made him tremble. He continued to
+lie very still, straining his eyes upon the dark moving object intently,
+until the figure of a man became perfectly distinct. The robber, for
+such the intruder evidently was, had now reached the secretary, where he
+stood for a few moments, quietly endeavouring to open it. Finding it
+locked, he moved off, and passed around the room, feeling every chair
+and table that came in his way. This Mr. Acres could now distinctly
+perceive, as his eyes had become used to the feeble light reflected from
+the starry sky without. At last his hands came in contact with a chair
+upon which the farmer had laid his clothes on disrobing himself for bed.
+These seemed to be the objects of his search, for he paused with a quick
+eager movement, and commenced searching the ample pockets of a large
+waistcoat. The slight jingle of the farmer's bunch of keys soon
+explained the movement. Before the robber had fairly gotten back to the
+secretary, Mr. Acres's courage had returned, and with it no small share
+of indignation. He rose up silently, but, unfortunately, as his foot
+touched the floor, it came in contact with a chair, which was thrown
+over with a loud noise. Before he could reach a large cane, for which he
+was making, a heavy blow from the robber laid him senseless.
+
+When again conscious, Mr. Acres found himself still in total darkness.
+On attempting to move, there was an instant, almost intolerable pain in
+his head, as if from a violent blow. On lifting his hand and placing it
+upon the spot where the pain seemed most severe, it came in contact
+with a cold, slimy mass of what he at once knew to be blood. His first
+effort to rise was accompanied by a feeling of faintness, that caused
+him to stretch himself again upon the floor, where he lay for some time
+endeavouring to collect his scattered senses. After he had fully
+comprehended the meaning of his alarming situation, he made another and
+more successful effort to rise. Sitting up in the middle of the room,
+and straining his eyes into the darkness, he began to see more and more
+distinctly each moment. He was soon satisfied that he was alone. It did
+not take long after this to arouse the whole house. An examination
+resulted in ascertaining the fact that his secretary had been robbed of
+five hundred dollars in gold.
+
+By daylight, the whole neighbourhood was aroused, and some twenty or
+thirty men were in hot pursuit of the robber, who was arrested about
+twenty miles away from the village and brought back. The money taken
+from the secretary of Mr. Acres, was found upon his person, and fully
+identified. The man proved to be quite young, seeming to have passed but
+recently beyond the limit of minority. But even young as he was, there
+was a look of cruel and hardened villany about him, and an expression of
+settled defiance of all consequences. He gave his name as Frederick
+Hildich. A brief examination resulted in his committal to await the
+result of a trial for burglary at the next court.
+
+The day of trial at length came. The action of the court was brief, as
+no defence was set up, and the proof of the crime clear and to the
+point. During the progress of the trial, the prisoner seemed to take
+little interest in what was going on around him, but sat in the bar,
+with his head down, seemingly lost in deep abstraction of mind. At the
+conclusion of the proceedings, when the court asked what he had to say
+why the sentence of the law should not be pronounced upon him, the
+prisoner slowly arose to his feet, lifted his head, glanced calmly
+around for a few moments, until his eyes rested upon Mr. Acres, whom he
+regarded for some time with a fixed, penetrating, and meaning look.
+Then, turning to the Bench, he said in a firm, distinct voice:
+
+"YOUR HONOUR--Although I have nothing to urge against the execution of
+the laws by which I am condemned, I would yet crave the privilege of
+making a few remarks, which may, perhaps, be useful. The principal
+witness against me is Mr. Acres,--and upon his testimony, mainly, so far
+as positive proof goes, I am convicted of a crime, the commission of
+which I have no particular reason for wishing to deny. But, if I have
+wronged him, how far more deeply has he wronged me. If I have robbed him
+of a few paltry dollars, he has robbed me of that which he can never
+restore, either here or hereafter. In a word, your honour, I stand here,
+in the presence of this court, and the people of this town, and charge
+upon that man (pointing to Acres) the cause of my present condition. My
+real name is Richard Lawson!"
+
+As he said this, the prisoner's voice failed him, and he paused for a
+few moments, overcome with emotion. A universal exclamation of surprise
+passed through the court-room, and there was scarcely an individual
+present who did not wonder why he had not discovered this fact for
+himself long before. For, sure enough, it was Dick Lawson, and no one
+else, who stood there humbled under the iron hand of the law. As for Mr.
+Acres, he became instantly pale and agitated--and when the prisoner
+again looked up and fixed his eyes upon him, his own fell to the floor,
+as if he were conscience-stricken.
+
+"To that man," resumed the individual, at the bar, pointing steadily
+toward the farmer, "as I just said, am I indebted for my ruin. A wild,
+but innocent boy, he first led me into conscious wrong, by tempting me
+with money to rob a bird's nest. The young mocking-bird was procured for
+him, but at the expense of a violated conscience; for a voice within me
+spoke loudly against the act of cruelty about to be practised upon the
+mother-bird and her young. But I stifled that inward monitor, and
+stilled the voice that urged me to depart not from the path of
+innocence. I saw that the act was a cruel one, and felt that it was a
+cruel one--but to be asked to do even a wrong act by a man to whom I
+looked up, as I then did to Mr. Acres, was to rob the wrong act of more
+than half of its apparent evil--and so I performed the cruel deed, small
+as it was, deliberately. From the moment I took the young bird in my
+hand, all my scruples were gone, and after that it was one of my
+greatest pleasures to rob birds' nests, and to kill the older birds with
+stones. My dog Rover, who is no doubt as well remembered as myself, was
+given me by Mr. Acres, and I was, moreover, encouraged by that
+individual to make Rover fight, and to fight myself, whenever it came in
+the way. Had he discouraged this in me; had he told me that fighting was
+wrong, his precept for good would have been as powerful as his precept
+for evil. He was kind to me, and had gained my entire confidence, and
+could have made almost any thing of me. My cruel, tyrannizing temper,
+thus encouraged, grew rapidly, until at last I took no delight in any
+good. Finally expelled from the Sabbath-school, and persecuted for my
+ill-behaviour and annoyance of almost every one, I became reckless, and
+finally left this neighbourhood. Five or six years of evil brought me at
+last into a strait. I could not gain even a common livelihood. I must
+starve or beg. In this state I thought of my corrupter--of the man who
+had been the cause of my wretchedness, and I resolved that he should, at
+least, pay some small penalty for what he had done. In a word, I
+resolved to rob him--and did so. And now I stand here to await the
+sentence of the law for this crime."
+
+The prisoner then suffered his head to fall upon his bosom, and sank
+slowly into the seat from which he had arisen. A profound and oppressive
+silence reigned through the court-room, broken at last by the judge, who
+said--
+
+"Richard Lawson, _alias_ Frederick Hildich, stand up, and receive the
+sentence of the law."
+
+The prisoner arose, and looked the judge steadily in the face, while a
+sentence of imprisonment in the penitentiary for three years was
+pronounced upon him in a voice of assumed sternness.
+
+When the unfortunate man was removed by an officer, the crowd slowly
+withdrew, conversing in low, subdued voices, and Mr. Acres turned his
+step homeward, the unhappiest man of all who had stood that day in the
+presence of offended justice.
+
+And here we must leave the parties most concerned in the events of our
+brief story--Richard Lawson to fill up the term of his imprisonment in
+the penitentiary; and Mr. Acres to muse, in painful abstraction, over
+the ruin his thoughtlessness had wrought--the ruin of an immortal
+soul--the corruption of a fellow creature, born to become an angel of
+heaven, but changed by his agency into a fit subject for the abodes of
+evil spirits in hell.
+
+
+
+
+THE MEANS OF ENJOYMENT.
+
+
+One of the most successful merchants of his day was Mr. Alexander. In
+trade he had amassed a large fortune, and now, in the sixtieth year of
+his age, he concluded that it was time to cease getting and begin the
+work of enjoying. Wealth had always been regarded by him as a means of
+happiness; but, so fully had his mind been occupied in business, that,
+until the present time, he had never felt himself at leisure to make a
+right use of the means in his hands.
+
+So Mr. Alexander retired from business in favour of his son and
+son-in-law. And now was to come the reward of his long years of
+labour. Now were to come repose, enjoyment, and the calm delights of
+which he had so often dreamed. But it so happened, that the current of
+thought and affection which had flowed on so long and steadily, was
+little disposed to widen into a placid lake. The retired merchant must
+yet have some occupation. His had been a life of purposes, and plans for
+their accomplishment: and he could not change the nature of this life.
+His heart was still the seat of desire, and his thought obeyed,
+instinctively, the heart's affection.
+
+So Mr. Alexander used a portion of his wealth in various ways, in order
+to satisfy the ever-active desire of his heart for something beyond what
+he had in possession. But, it so happened, that the moment an end was
+gained--the moment the bright ideal became a fixed and present fact, its
+power to delight the mind was gone.
+
+Mr. Alexander had some taste for the arts. Many fine pictures already
+hung upon his walls. Knowing this, a certain picture-broker threw
+himself in his way, and, by adroit management and skilful flattery,
+succeeded in turning the pent-up and struggling current of the old
+gentleman's feelings and thoughts in this direction. The picture-dealer
+soon found that he had opened a new and profitable mine. Mr. Alexander
+had only to see a fine work of art to desire its possession; and to
+desire was to have. It was not long before his house was a gallery of
+pictures.
+
+Was he any happier? Did these pictures afford him a pure and perennial
+source of enjoyment? No; for, in reality, Mr. Alexander's taste for the
+arts was not a passion of his mind. He did not love the beautiful for
+its own sake. The delight he experienced when he looked upon a fine
+painting was mainly the desire of possession; and satiety soon followed
+possession.
+
+One morning Mr. Alexander repaired alone to his library, where, on the
+day before, had been placed a new painting, recently imported by his
+friend the picture-dealer. It was exquisite as a work of art, and the
+biddings for it had been high. But he succeeded in securing it for the
+sum of two thousand dollars. Before he was certain of getting this
+picture, Mr. Alexander would linger before it, and study out its
+beauties with a delighted appreciation. Nothing in his collection was
+deemed comparable therewith. Strangely enough, after it was hung upon
+the walls of his library, he did not stand before it for as long a space
+as five minutes; and then his thoughts were not upon its beauties.
+During the evening that followed, the mind of Mr. Alexander was less in
+repose than usual. After having completed his purchase of the picture,
+he had overheard two persons, who were considered good judges of art,
+speaking of its defects, which were minutely indicated. They likewise
+gave it as their opinion that the painting was not worth a thousand
+dollars. This was throwing cold water on his enthusiasm. It seemed as
+if a veil had suddenly been drawn from before his eyes. Now, with a
+clearer vision, he could see faults, where before every defect was
+thrown into shadow by an all-obscuring beauty.
+
+On the next morning, as we have said, Mr. Alexander entered his library,
+to take another look at his purchase. He did not feel very happy. Many
+thousands of dollars had he spent in order to secure the means of
+self-gratification; but the end was not yet gained.
+
+A glance at the new picture sufficed, and then Mr. Alexander turned from
+it with an involuntary sigh. Was it to look at other pictures? No. He
+crossed his hands behind him, bent his eyes upon the floor, and, for the
+period of half an hour, walked slowly backwards and forwards in his
+library. There was a pressure on his feelings--he knew not why; a sense
+of disappointment and dissatisfaction.
+
+No purpose was in the mind of Mr. Alexander when he turned from his
+library, and, drawing on his overcoat, passed forth to the street. It
+was a bleak winter morning, and the muffled passengers hurried shivering
+on their way.
+
+[Illustration: "OH! I WISH I HAD A DOLLAR."]
+
+"Oh! I wish I had a dollar."
+
+These words, in the voice of a child, and spoken with impressive
+earnestness, fell suddenly upon the ears of Mr. Alexander, as he moved
+along the pavement. Something in the tone reached the old man's
+feelings, and he partly turned himself to look at the speaker. She was a
+little girl, not over eleven years of age, and in company with a lad
+some year or two older. Both were coarsely clad.
+
+"What would you do with a dollar, sis?" replied the boy.
+
+"I'd buy brother William a pair of nice gloves, and a comforter, and a
+pair of rubber shoes. That's what I'd do with it. He has to go away so
+early, in the cold, every morning; and he's 'most perished, I know,
+sometimes. Last night his feet were soaking with wet. His shoes are not
+good; and mother says she hasn't money to buy him a new pair just now.
+Oh, I wish I had a dollar!"
+
+Instinctively Mr. Alexander's hand was in his pocket, and a moment
+after, a round, bright silver dollar glittered in that of the girl.
+
+But little farther did Mr. Alexander extend his walk. As if by magic,
+the hue of his feelings had changed. The pressure on his heart was gone,
+and its fuller pulses sent the blood bounding and frolicking along every
+expanding artery. He thought not of pictures nor possessions. All else
+was obscured by the bright face of the child, as she lifted to his her
+innocent eyes, brimming with grateful tears.
+
+One dollar spent unselfishly brought more real pleasure than thousands
+parted with in the pursuit of merely selfish gratification. And the
+pleasure did not fade with the hour, nor the day. That one truly
+benevolent act, impulsive as it had been, touched a sealed spring of
+enjoyment, and the waters that gushed instantly forth continued to flow
+unceasingly.
+
+Homeward the old man returned, and again he entered his library. Choice
+works of art were all around him, purchased as a means of enjoyment.
+They had cost thousands,--yet did not afford him a tithe of the pleasure
+he had secured by the expenditure of a single dollar. He could turn from
+them with a feeling of satiety; not so from the image of the happy child
+whose earnestly expressed wish he had gratified.
+
+And not alone on the pleasure of the child did the thoughts of Mr.
+Alexander linger. There came before his imagination another picture. He
+saw a poorly furnished room, in which were an humble, toiling widow, and
+her children. It is keen and frosty without; and her eldest boy has just
+come home from his work, shivering with cold. While he is warming
+himself by the fire, his little sister presents him with the comforter,
+the thick gloves, and the overshoes, which his benevolence had enabled
+her to buy. What surprise and pleasure beam in the lad's face! How happy
+looks the sister! How full of a subdued and thankful pleasure is the
+mother's countenance!
+
+And for weeks and months did Mr. Alexander gaze, at times, upon this
+picture, and always with a warmth and lightness of heart unfelt when
+other images arose in his mind and obscured it.
+
+And for a single dollar was all this obtained, while thousands and
+thousands were spent in the fruitless effort to buy happiness.
+
+Strange as it may seem, Mr. Alexander did not profit by this
+lesson--grew no wiser by this experience. The love of self was too
+strong for him to seek the good of others--to bless both himself and his
+fellows by a wise and generous use of the ample means which Providence
+had given into his hands. He still buys pictures and works of art, but
+the picture in his imagination, which cost but a single dollar, is
+gazed at with a far purer and higher pleasure than he receives from his
+entire gallery of paintings and statues.
+
+If Mr. Alexander will not drink from the sweet spring of true delight
+that has gushed forth at his feet, and in whose clear waters the sun of
+heavenly love is mirrored, we hoped that others, wiser than he, will
+bend to its overflowing brim, and take of its treasures freely. Some one
+has beautifully said--"We only possess what we have bestowed." Something
+of the meaning of this will be understood by such of our young readers
+as have perused this story thoughtfully. Benevolent actions ever bring
+their own reward. Far more happiness is gained in seeking to bless
+others, than ever comes from efforts to secure merely our own good. God,
+who is infinitely good and wise, and from whom comes all true happiness,
+is ever seeking to bless others. If we would truly enjoy life, we must
+be like Him.
+
+
+
+
+MAN'S JUDGMENT.
+
+
+"I wouldn't give much for his chance of heaven!" was the remark of a
+man, whose coarse, well-worn garments contrasted strongly with the dark,
+rich broadcloth of the person to whom he referred. In the tones of the
+individual who uttered this sentence was a clearly apparent satisfaction
+at the thought of his rich neighbour's doubtful chance of admission into
+heaven. It was on the Sabbath, and both had just passed forth from the
+sacred edifice, to which each had that morning gone up for the avowed
+object of worship.
+
+"Why do you say that?" asked the friend to whom the remark was
+addressed.
+
+"You know the Scriptures," was the confident answer. "'How hardly shall
+they who have riches enter the kingdom of heaven.'"
+
+"You believe, then, that the mere fact of possessing riches will keep a
+man out of heaven?"
+
+"No; I wouldn't just like to say that. But, riches harden the heart, and
+make men unfit for heaven."
+
+"I doubt if riches harden the heart more than poverty," was replied.
+
+"How can you say so?" was warmly objected. "Isn't the promise everywhere
+to the poor? To whom was the gospel sent?"
+
+"The rich and poor spoken of in the word of God," said the friend, "do
+not, it is plain, mean simply those in the world who possess natural
+riches, or who are in natural poverty. Remember, that the Bible is a
+revelation of heavenly truth, for man's eternal salvation; and that its
+teachings must have primary regard to what is spiritual, and refer to
+man's internal state rather than to his mere worldly condition.
+Remember, that the Lord, while on earth, said, _Blessed are the poor in
+spirit_, (not the poor in this world's goods,) _for theirs is the
+kingdom of heaven_. And we may, without violence to even the letter of
+the word, conclude that when He speaks of its being hard for the rich to
+enter the kingdom of heaven, that only the proud in spirit, those who
+rested self-confident on the riches of their worldly and natural wisdom,
+were meant. That it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of
+a needle than for such rich men to enter heaven, is plain from our
+Lord's words when he set a child in the midst of his disciples, and told
+them that, unless they became as that little child, they could not enter
+the kingdom of heaven. Not externally and naturally as that child, for
+that was impossible; but poor in spirit, teachable, and innocent as a
+child."
+
+The first speaker, whose name was Maxwell, tossed his head, and slightly
+curled his lip as he replied--
+
+"I believe just what the Bible says. As for your forced meanings, I
+never go to them. A plain matter-of-fact man, I understand what is
+written in a plain, matter-of-fact way. The Bible says that they who
+have riches shall hardly enter the kingdom of heaven. And I can see how
+true the saying is. As for Clinton, of whom I spoke just now, I repeat
+that I wouldn't give much for his chance. It is well that there is a
+just God in heaven, and that there will come a day of retribution. The
+Diveses have their good things in this life; but our turn will come
+afterwards. We sha'n't be always poor. Lazarus went, a beggar, from the
+rich man's door, and was received into Abraham's bosom."
+
+"What has made you so bitter against Clinton, just now?" inquired the
+friend.
+
+"I'm not bitter against him in particular--I speak of rich men as a
+class. They are all selfish, unfeeling, and oppressive. Look at the good
+Clinton might do, as a steward of God's bounty, if he chose. He might
+make our wilderness blossom as the rose. But settlement-day will come,
+ere long, and then a sorry account of his stewardship will he have to
+render."
+
+"How do you know that the account will not be approved in heaven?" was
+asked in a quiet voice.
+
+"Approved? How do I know?" ejaculated Maxwell, impatiently. "Any man can
+see that he is an unfaithful, hard-hearted, and oppressive steward."
+
+"Has he oppressed you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Ah! I was not aware of that. I didn't know that you had any claims upon
+him as an almoner of heaven."
+
+"My claims are those of common humanity. But you shall know all, and
+judge for yourself. I am a poor man"----
+
+"Well"----
+
+"With a wife and four children, whom I love as tenderly as Clinton, or
+any other purse-proud oppressor of the poor can possibly love his wife
+and children. They are dependent for daily bread upon my daily labour.
+With the sweat of my brow, I keep hunger from my door, and cold from
+entering therein."
+
+"An independent man," said the other.
+
+"Yes, an independent man; as independent as any nabob in the land."
+
+"Do let the nabobs alone," was smilingly answered to this. "If you are
+independent, why care for them? Why permit yourself to be fretted
+because others are blessed by Providence with a greater abundance of
+worldly goods? There is danger, in this thing, of going beyond the
+nabobs, and arraigning the wisdom of Him who setteth up whom he will,
+and whose bounty feeds even the young ravens. So go on with your story.
+What is the crime that Mr. Clinton has committed against you and
+humanity?"
+
+"I am a poor man, as I said."
+
+"I know you are; a hard-working, industrious, but poor man."
+
+"And as such, entitled to some consideration."
+
+"Entitled to a fair return for your labour, in all cases."
+
+"Of course I am; and to some favour, in the distribution of employment,
+when I present equal capacity with those who are less needy than
+myself."
+
+"What do you mean by that?"
+
+"A plain story makes all plain. Well: you are aware that Mr. Clinton is
+about building a new dam for his mills?"
+
+"I am."
+
+"And that he asked for proposals?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I tried to get the contract."
+
+"You!" There was more surprise in this ejaculation than the friend had
+meant to convey.
+
+"Certainly! Why not?" was petulantly remarked.
+
+"Of course you had a perfect right to do so?"
+
+"Of course I had; and of course my bid, though the lowest, was thrown
+out, and the bid of Jackson, who manages to monopolize every thing in
+the village, taken. He and Clinton are leagued together, and the offer
+for proposals was only a sham."
+
+"That's assuming a good deal, friend Maxwell."
+
+"No, it isn't. It's the truth, and nothing else but the truth. He's the
+jackal, and Clinton's the lion."
+
+"You speak without reflection," said the friend, mildly.
+
+"I'm not blind. I see how things are worked."
+
+"You say your bid was lower than Jackson's? How do you know this? I
+thought his bid was not publicly known."
+
+"I knew it; and, in fact, knew what it was to be before I sent in my
+proposals, and was, therefore, able to go below it. The truth is, I
+managed, between you and I, to find out just what every man was going to
+bid, and then struck a mark below them all, to make sure of the job. I
+wanted a chance, and was determined to have it at all hazards."
+
+"I hardly think your mode of procedure was fair," said the friend; "but
+waiving that, could you have made any thing by the job, at your
+bidding?"
+
+"Oh, yes, I'd have made something--more, a good deal, than I can make by
+day's work. The fact is, I set my heart on that job as a stepping stone
+to contract work; and am bitterly disappointed at its loss. Much good
+may it do both Jackson and Clinton. I shouldn't be much sorry to see the
+new dam swept away by the next freshet."
+
+"Why, Maxwell! This is not the spirit of a Christian man. Envy,
+malice--these are what the Bible condemns in the plainest terms; and for
+these sins, the poor have quite as much to answer for as the rich--and
+perhaps more. If you go from church on the Sabbath with no better
+thoughts than these, I fear you are quite as far from the Kingdom of
+Heaven as you have supposed Mr. Clinton to be."
+
+"Good day," said Maxwell, turning off abruptly from his friend, and
+taking a path that led by a nearer course than the one in which they
+were walking, to his home.
+
+A few weeks later, the person with whom Maxwell thus conversed, had
+occasion to transact some business with Mr. Clinton. He had rendered him
+a bill for work done, and called to receive payment.
+
+"You've made a mistake in your bill, Mr. Lee," said Clinton.
+
+"Ah? Are you certain?"
+
+"You can examine for yourself. I find an error of twenty dollars in the
+additions."
+
+"Then you only owe me sixty dollars?" said Lee, with a disappointment in
+his tones that he could not conceal.
+
+"Rather say that I owe you a hundred, for the mistake is in your favour.
+The first column in the bill adds up fifty, instead of thirty dollars."
+
+"Let me examine it." Lee took the bill, and added up the column three
+times before he felt entirely satisfied. Then he said,
+
+"So it does! Well, I should never have been the wiser if you had only
+paid me the eighty dollars called for by the bill. You might have
+retained your advantage with perfect safety."
+
+Lee said this on the impulse of the moment. He instantly saw a change in
+Mr. Clinton's countenance, as if he were slightly offended.
+
+"Oh, no; not with safety," was gravely replied.
+
+"I never should have found it out."
+
+"But there is coming a day, with every man, when the secrets of his
+heart will stand revealed. If not now, it would then appear that I had
+wronged you out of twenty dollars."
+
+"True! true! But all men don't think of this."
+
+"No one is more fully aware of that than I am. It is for me, however, to
+live in the present so as not to burden my future with shame and
+repentance. Knowingly, Mr. Lee, I would not wrong any man out of a
+single dollar. I may err, and do err, like other men; for, to err is
+human."
+
+After the expression of such sentiments, Lee felt curious to know what
+Mr. Clinton thought of, and how he felt towards Maxwell. So he said,
+after referring to the new mill-dam in the process of erection--
+
+"You didn't take the lowest bid for its construction."
+
+"I took the lowest competent bid."
+
+"Then you do not think Maxwell competent to do the work?"
+
+"I do not think him a man to be trusted, and, therefore, would not have
+given him the contract for such a piece of work at any price. You are
+aware that the giving way of that dam would almost inevitably involve a
+serious loss of life and property among the poor people who live along
+the course of the stream below. I must regard their safety before any
+pecuniary advantage to myself; and have given Mr. Jackson, who has the
+contract, positive instructions to exceed his estimates, if necessary,
+in order to put the question of safety beyond a doubt. I know him to be
+a man whom I can trust. But I have no confidence in Maxwell."
+
+"A good reason why you declined giving him the job."
+
+"I think so."
+
+"Maxwell was greatly disappointed."
+
+"I know he has spoken very hard against me. But that avails nothing. My
+principle of action is to do right, and let others think and say what
+they please. No man is my judge. Maxwell is not, probably, aware that I
+know him thoroughly, and that I have thrown as much in his way as I
+could safely do. He is not, of course, aware, that one of my sons
+overheard him, in reference to this very mill-dam, say--'I'm bound to
+have that contract whether or no. I have learned the lowest bid, and
+have put in a bid still lower.' 'How did you learn this?' was asked of
+him. 'No matter,' he answered, 'I have learned it.' 'You can't go lower
+and build the dam safely,' was said. To which he replied--'I can build
+the dam, and make a good profit. As to the safety, I'll leave that in
+the hands of Providence. He'll take care of the poor people below.' Mr.
+Lee! I felt an inward shudder when this was repeated to me. I could not
+have believed the man so void of common honesty and common humanity. Was
+I not right to withhold from him such a contract?"
+
+"You would have been no better than Maxwell, if you had given it to
+him," was answered. "And yet, this same man speaks against the rich, and
+thinks their chance of heaven a poor one."
+
+"Simply because they are rich."
+
+"Or, it might with more truth be said, because they will not yield to
+his covetous and envious spirit. He is not content with the equivalent
+society renders back to him for the benefit he confers, but wants to
+share what of right belongs to others."
+
+"That spirit I have often seen him manifest," was replied. "Well, if
+simple riches are a bar to man's entrance into heaven, how much more so
+are discontent, envy, malice, hatred, and a selfish disregard for the
+rights and well-being of others. The rich have their temptations, and so
+have the poor, and neither will enter heaven, unless they overcome in
+temptation, and receive a purified love of their neighbour. This at
+least is my doctrine."
+
+"Of the two, I would rather take Clinton's chance of heaven," said Lee
+to himself, as he went musing away, "even if he is a rich man."
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: ANOTHER DEBT PAID.]
+
+WHAT FIVE DOLLARS PAID.
+
+
+Mr. Herriot was sitting in his office, one day, when a lad entered, and
+handed him a small slip of paper. It was a bill for five dollars, due to
+his shoemaker, a poor man who lived in the next square.
+
+"Tell Mr. Grant that I will settle this soon. It isn't just convenient
+to-day."
+
+The boy retired.
+
+Now, Mr. Herriot had a five-dollar bill in his pocket; but, he felt as
+if he couldn't part with it. He didn't like to be entirely out of money.
+So, acting from this impulse, he had sent the boy away. Very still sat
+Mr. Herriot for the next five minutes; yet his thoughts were busy. He
+was not altogether satisfied with himself. The shoemaker was a poor man,
+and needed his money as soon as earned--he was not unadvised of this
+fact.
+
+"I wish I had sent him the five dollars," said Mr. Herriot, at length,
+half-audibly. "He wants it worse than I do."
+
+He mused still further.
+
+"The fact is," he at length exclaimed, starting up, "it is Grant's
+money, and not mine; and what is more, he shall have it."
+
+So saying, Herriot took up his hat and left his office.
+
+"Did you get the money, Charles," said Grant, as his boy entered the
+shop. There was a good deal of earnestness in the shoemaker's tones.
+
+"No, sir," replied the lad.
+
+"Didn't get the money!"
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"Wasn't Mr. Herriot in?"
+
+"Yes, sir; but he said it wasn't convenient to-day."
+
+"Oh, dear! I'm sorry!" came from the shoemaker, in a depressed voice.
+
+A woman was sitting in Grant's shop when the boy came in; she had now
+risen, and was leaning on the counter; a look of disappointment was in
+her face.
+
+"It can't be helped, Mrs. Lee," said Grant. "I was sure of getting the
+money from him. He never disappointed me before. Call in to-morrow, and
+I will try and have it for you."
+
+The woman looked troubled as well as disappointed. Slowly she turned
+away and left the shop. A few minutes after her departure, Herriot came
+in, and, after some words of apology, paid the bill.
+
+"Run and get this note changed into silver for me," said the shoemaker
+to his boy, the moment his customer had departed.
+
+"Now," said he, so soon as the silver was placed in his hands, "take two
+dollars to Mrs. Lee, and three to Mr. Weaver across the street. Tell Mr.
+Weaver that I am obliged to him for having loaned me the money this
+morning, and sorry that I hadn't as much in the house when he sent for
+it an hour ago."
+
+"I wish I had it, Mrs. Elder. But, I assure you that I have not," said
+Mr. Weaver, the tailor. "I paid out the last dollar just before you came
+in. But call in to-morrow, and you shall have the money to a certainty."
+
+"But what I am to do to-day? I haven't a cent to bless myself with; and
+I owe so much at the grocer's, where I deal, that he won't trust me for
+any thing more."
+
+The tailor looked troubled, and the woman lingered. Just at this moment
+the shoemaker's boy entered.
+
+"Here are the three dollars Mr. Grant borrowed of you this morning,"
+said the lad. "He says he's sorry he hadn't the money when you sent for
+it awhile ago."
+
+How the faces of the tailor and his needlewoman brightened instantly, as
+if a gleam of sunshine had penetrated the room.
+
+"Here is just the money I owe you," said the former, in a cheerful
+voice, and he handed the woman the three dollars he had received. A
+moment after and he was alone, but with the glad face of the poor woman,
+whose need he had been able to supply, distinct before him.
+
+Of the three dollars received by the needlewoman two went to the grocer,
+on account of her debt to him, half a dollar was paid to an old and
+needy coloured woman who had earned it by scrubbing, and who was waiting
+for Mrs. Weaver's return from the tailor's to get her due, and thus be
+able to provide an evening's and a morning's meal for herself and
+children. The other half-dollar was paid to the baker when he called
+towards evening to leave the accustomed loaf. Thus the poor needlewoman
+had been able to discharge four debts, and, at the same time
+re-establish her credit with the grocer and baker, from whom came the
+largest portion of the food consumed in her little family.
+
+And now let us follow Mrs. Lee. On her arrival at home empty-handed,
+from her visit to the shoemaker, who owed her two dollars for work, she
+found a young girl, in whose pale face were many marks of suffering and
+care, awaiting her return.
+
+The girl's countenance brightened as she came in; but there was no
+answering brightness in the countenance of Mrs. Lee, who immediately
+said--
+
+"I'm very sorry, Harriet, but Mr. Grant put me off until to-morrow. He
+said he hadn't a dollar in the house."
+
+The girl's disappointment was very great, for the smile she had forced
+into life instantly faded, and was succeeded by a look of deep distress.
+
+"Do you want the money very badly?" asked Mrs. Lee, in a low,
+half-choked voice, for the sudden change in the girl's manner had
+affected her.
+
+"Oh, yes, ma'am, very badly. I left Mary wrapped up in my thick shawl,
+and a blanket wound all around her feet to keep them warm; but she was
+coughing dreadfully from the cold air of the room."
+
+"Haven't you a fire?" asked Mrs. Lee, in a quick, surprised tone.
+
+"We have no coal. It was to buy coal that I wanted the money."
+
+Mrs. Lee struck her hands together, and an expression of pain was about
+passing her lips, when the door of the room opened, and the shoemaker's
+boy came in.
+
+"Here are two dollars. Mr. Grant sent them."
+
+"God bless Mr. Grant!" The exclamation from Mrs. Lee was involuntary.
+
+On the part of Harriet, to whom one dollar was due, a gush of silent
+tears marked the effect this timely supply of money produced. She
+received her portion, and, without trusting her voice with words,
+hurried away to supply the pressing want at home.
+
+A few doors from the residence of Mrs. Lee lived a man who, some months
+before, had become involved in trouble with an evil-disposed person, and
+been forced to defend himself by means of the law. He had employed Mr.
+Herriot to do what was requisite in the case, for which service the
+charge was five dollars. The bill had been rendered a few days before,
+and the man, who was poor, felt very anxious to pay it. He had the money
+all made up to within a dollar. That dollar Mrs. Lee owed him, and she
+had promised to give it to him during this day. For hours he had waited,
+expecting her to come in; but now had nearly given her up. There was
+another little bill of three dollars which had been sent in to him, and
+he had just concluded to go and pay that, when Mrs. Lee called with the
+balance of the money, one dollar, which she had received from the
+shoemaker, Grant.
+
+Half an hour later, and the pocket-book of Mr. Herriot was no longer
+empty. His client had called and paid his bill. The five dollars had
+come back to him.
+
+
+
+
+LOOK AT T'OTHER SIDE.
+
+
+"I don't like Mr. Monto at all," said Mr. Jones.
+
+"Nor I," replied Mrs. Mayberry.
+
+"Take him for better or worse," added Mr. Lee, "and I think he is the
+strangest and most inconsistent man I ever saw."
+
+"Inconsistent!" resumed Mr. Jones. "He is worse than inconsistent.
+Inconsistencies may be pardoned, as constitutional defects and
+peculiarities of character. But he is worse than inconsistent, as I
+said."
+
+"Yes, that he is," chimed in Mrs. Mayberry. "What do you think I heard
+of him last week?"
+
+"What?" said Mr. Jones.
+
+"Yes, what did you hear?" asked Mrs. Lee.
+
+"You know Mr. Barker?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"There isn't a more gentlemanly man living than Mr. Barker."
+
+"Well, what of him?"
+
+"He was in Mr. Monto's store one day last week, and happened to say
+something the little man did not like, when he fired up and insulted him
+most grossly."
+
+"Indeed!"
+
+"Yes. Mr. Barker told me himself. He said he was never more hurt in his
+life."
+
+"He left the store, of course."
+
+"Oh, yes. He turned on his heel and walked out, and says he will never
+darken the door of Monto's store again."
+
+"It is too bad, this habit of insulting people which Monto has. I know
+several persons who are hot as fire against him."
+
+"If there were nothing worse about him than that," said Mr. Jones, "I
+would be glad. His conduct towards the young man he raised was
+unpardonable."
+
+"What was that? I never heard about it," remarked Mr. Lee.
+
+"He had a young man whom he had raised from a lad, and who, it is said,
+was always faithful to his interests. Toward the last he became wild,
+having fallen into bad company. If Monto had been patient and forbearing
+toward him, the young man might have been reclaimed from his error; but
+his irascibility and impatience with every thing that did not go by
+square and rule, caused him to deal harshly with faults that needed a
+milder corrective. The young man, of course, grew worse. At last he got
+himself into a difficulty, and was arrested. Bail was demanded for his
+appearance to stand a trial for misconduct and breach of law. Monto was
+sent for to go his bail; but he heartlessly refused, and the poor fellow
+was thrown into prison, where he lay four months, and was then, after a
+trial, dismissed with a reprimand from the court. Feeling himself
+disgraced by confinement in a jail, he enlisted in the army as soon as
+he got free, and has gone off to the Indian country in the West. Isn't
+it melancholy? The ruin of that young man lies at Monto's door. His
+blood is on the skirts of his garments!"
+
+"Dreadful to think of! Isn't it?" said Mrs. Mayberry. "Just imagine my
+son or your son thus cruelly dealt by! A fiend in human shape couldn't
+have done more!"
+
+"It'll come back upon him one of these days. I believe in retribution.
+No man can do such things with impunity," added Mr. Lee. "Mark my words
+for it--Monto will repent of this, as well as a good many other acts of
+his life, before he dies."
+
+"He's the meanest man I ever saw," said Mr. Jones. "I don't believe he
+ever gave a dollar for charitable purposes in his life."
+
+"You may possibly err, there," remarked a fourth in the company, who had
+not before spoken.
+
+"I should like to see the man, Mr. Berry, who can point to a benevolent
+act of Monto's," returned Mr. Jones in a decided voice.
+
+"Perhaps," said Mr. Berry, "if we were as willing to look at the other
+side of men's characters, we should not entertain the poor opinion of
+them we do. If we were to look as closely at the good as we do at the
+bad, we might find, perhaps, as much to praise as we do to blame. When I
+was a boy, I had a penny given to me, and was about buying a large,
+seemingly fine apple, when my brother said in a warning voice, 'Look at
+t'other side.' I did look, and found it rotten. When I became a man, I
+remembered the lesson, and determined that I would not be deceived by
+fair appearances of character, but would be careful to look at t'other
+side for blemishes. I saw enough of these, even in the best, to sicken
+me with mankind. A few years passed, and I was glad to change my habit
+of observation. I began to look at the other and brighter side. The
+result surprised and pleased me. I found more good in men than I had
+supposed. Even in the worst there were some redeeming qualities."
+
+"You will find few in Monto," said Mr. Lee.
+
+"Do you see that man on the other side of the street?" asked Mr. Berry.
+
+"Who? Miller?"
+
+"Yes; that's the one I mean. I'll call him over, if you have no
+objection, and ask him a question or two. I think he can say something
+bearing on the subject of our present discourse."
+
+The man was called, and he came over and entered the store of Mr. Jones,
+where the conversation happened to occur.
+
+"Good morning, Miller! How are you to-day?" said Mr. Berry.
+
+"Good morning! You've quite a party here. All friends, I see."
+
+"We seem to have met by one of those happy accidents that sometimes
+occur. How are you getting along now, Miller? You've been through some
+pretty tight places, I believe."
+
+"Yes; and, thanks to a good Providence! I am through them with a whole
+skin."
+
+"Cause for congratulation, certainly. We meet with some hard rubs in our
+journey through life."
+
+"Indeed we do. Adverse circumstances try us severely, and try our
+friends also. It has been so in my case. I thought I had a good many
+friends, until trouble came; but, as you know, there were few to stand
+by me when I most needed support."
+
+"But you met with friends?"
+
+"Yes, friends in need, who are friends indeed."
+
+"And they were among those who had made no professions, and upon whom
+you did not feel that you had any claims?"
+
+"Exactly so. This was particularly the case in one instance. Through
+losses, mistakes, and from errors on account of which I do not attempt
+to excuse myself, my business became embarrassed. What little real
+estate I had was thrown into market and sacrificed, but this did not
+meet my necessities. In the hope of weathering the storm, I removed from
+the handsome store I occupied into one at half the rent, reduced all
+expenses both in my business and family, but still I was not able,
+without the most untiring exertions, to meet my payments. More than half
+my time I was on the street, engaged in temporary expedients to raise
+money. I was harassed to death, and in daily dread of failure. In this
+unhappy posture of my affairs, I tried to get some permanent assistance
+from friends who were able enough to afford it, and who knew me well.
+But they were all afraid to risk any thing.
+
+"One day I had been out from nine o'clock until two, using my best
+efforts to obtain sufficient money to meet my notes. I had a thousand
+dollars to pay, and could only thus far raise five hundred. Everywhere
+that I could think of going I went, but no one would help me through my
+difficulty. Dispirited and alarmed at the perilous position of my
+affairs, I returned to my store, in order to sit down and reflect for a
+few minutes. I thought over all my business acquaintance, but there were
+none upon whom I had not already called, that I felt free to ask for the
+loan of money. Things seemed desperate. Something must be done, or I
+would be ruined. Already the finger of time was past the mark of two. In
+less than an hour my paper would be dishonoured, unless I could in some
+way command the sum of five hundred dollars. I thought, and thought,
+until I felt stupid. At last a man whom I had never liked much came up
+before my mind. I had some little acquaintance with him, and knew, or
+supposed, that he had money. The idea of going to him I would not at
+first entertain. But things were desperate. At last I started up,
+determined to see this man.
+
+"'He can but refuse me,' I murmured to myself.
+
+"'It is past two o'clock,' said I abruptly, as I met him standing at his
+counter, 'and I am still five hundred dollars short. Can you lend me
+that sum for a few days?'
+
+"I expected him to say 'no.' What was my surprise then to hear him
+reply--
+
+"'I can, and with pleasure.'
+
+"I could hardly believe my ears. But by the assistance of my eyes, when
+he put a check for the amount I had asked for into my hands, I was fully
+assured that he was in earnest. I don't know that I ever stopped to
+thank him, so overjoyed was I at such unexpected and cheerfully tendered
+relief. Three or four days afterward I took him the money he had loaned
+me.
+
+"'Keep it longer, if you desire to do so. I have no present use for it,'
+said he.
+
+"I hardly knew whether to take him at his word or not. But necessity is
+an eloquent pleader.
+
+"'If you can spare it as well as not, it will be an accommodation. My
+payments are heavy in the next ten days,' I replied.
+
+"'Retain the use of it and welcome,' said he kindly. After a pause, he
+inquired how I was getting along, and did it with so much sincerity
+that I was tempted to state frankly the position of my affairs, and did
+so. He listened with a good deal of interest, and afterward asked many
+questions as to the nature and profits of my business. I concealed
+nothing from him in favour or against myself as a business-man.
+
+"'You must be sustained, Mr. Miller,' said he. 'I have a few thousand
+dollars uninvested, that I will keep free for six months or so. As far
+as you need assistance in meeting your payments, I will afford it. Pay
+no more exorbitant interests; waste no more time in running about after
+money; but put all your thoughts and energies down to your business, and
+twelve months from to-day will see you freed from embarrassment.'
+
+"And he was right."
+
+"He was certainly a noble fellow," said Mr. Jones. "Pity there were not
+more like him!"
+
+"That it is," remarked Mrs. Mayberry.
+
+"He belongs to another grade of beings than your Montos."
+
+"Who?" Miller spoke quickly.
+
+"We were talking of Monto when I called you," said Mr. Berry. "Our
+friends have a very poor opinion of him."
+
+"Of Mr. Monto? Why, it is of him that I just now spoke."
+
+"Of Monto!" ejaculated Lee.
+
+"Certainly. He it was who so generously befriended me."
+
+"Impossible!" ejaculated Mrs. Mayberry.
+
+"Not at all, for it is true. I never was more mistaken in any one in my
+life than in Mr. Monto. He has his faults and defects of character, as
+all men have. He is irascible and impatient, and makes in consequence a
+great many enemies."
+
+"He was certainly kind to you, Mr. Miller," said Mrs. Mayberry. "But
+still, I don't believe in him. Look at the way he treated that poor
+young man whom he raised from a boy. That stamps his character. That
+shows him to be cruel and vindictive."
+
+"There is another side to that story, without doubt," remarked Mr.
+Berry.
+
+"That there is," said Miller; "and suppose we look at it. Monto knew
+that young man much better than you or I, or any of us. He had borne
+with his irregular habits and evil conduct for years, as well as a man
+of his peculiar temperament could bear with them."
+
+"A precious kind of forbearance it was, no doubt. It isn't in him to
+bear with any one," broke in Mr. Jones.
+
+"Will you censure a man for what he can't help?" asked Mr. Miller.
+
+"I don't know that we should," was replied.
+
+"It is clear that we ought not; for to do so would be for us to ask of
+him an impossibility, and censure him for not performing it. Mr. Monto
+is a man, as we all know, of exceedingly impatient temper. Keep that in
+view. He takes this boy when quite young, and educates him as well as
+teaches him his business. Before he is of age he abuses the confidence
+reposed in him by his benefactor, neglects his business, associates with
+vicious companions, and purloins his money. Still Monto bears with him,
+in the hope that he will change. But he grows worse and worse; and at
+length, after a long series of peculations at home, gets into a
+difficulty, and is sent to jail to await the judgment of the law in his
+case. I happened to be in Mr. Monto's store when he was sent for to bail
+the young man out.
+
+"'No,' he said firmly to the messenger, 'he is much better in prison
+than out.'
+
+"The man went away, and Monto, turning to me, said--
+
+"'That, Mr. Miller, is the most painful thing I have done in my whole
+life. But to have acted otherwise would have been wrong. Kind
+admonition, stern reproof, angry expostulation, all have failed with
+this young man, in whom I cannot help feeling a strong interest. I will
+now leave him to the consequences of his own acts, and to the, I hope,
+salutary results of his own reflections. If these fail to reform him,
+there is no hope.' This was the spirit in which it was done. He did not
+attend court when the trial came on, but he had a messenger there, who
+kept him constantly advised of the proceedings. The acquittal gave him
+great pleasure, and he expected the young man would return to him,
+changed and penitent. He was, alas! grievously mistaken. The enlistment
+hurt him exceedingly. I could perceive that his voice was unsteady when
+he spoke of it. If he erred in his conduct, it was an error of judgment.
+He meant to do good. But I do not believe he erred. In my opinion, the
+young man is fit only for the grade he now occupies, and he is better
+off where he is."
+
+"There is good in every one," said Mr. Berry, when Miller ceased
+speaking; "and we will find it, if we look at the other side."
+
+"No truer word than that was ever spoken," returned Mr. Miller. "Yes,
+there is good in every one; and more good than evil in Monto, you may
+all be assured."
+
+The censurers of Monto approved the words by a marked and half-mortified
+silence.
+
+Yes, there is good in every one; there is another side. Let us look for
+this good rather than for what is evil, and we will think better of
+mankind than we are now disposed to do.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: THIN SHOES.]
+
+THIN SHOES.
+
+
+"Why, Lizzy, dear!" exclaimed Uncle Thomas, to his pretty niece, Miss
+Walton, as she stepped upon the pavement from her mother's dwelling, one
+morning in midwinter--"You are not going in this trim?"
+
+"In what trim?" said Lizzy, glancing first at her gloves, then upon her
+dress, and then placing her hand upon her neck and bosom to feel if all
+was right there. "Is any thing wrong with my dress, uncle?"
+
+"Just look at your feet."
+
+"At my feet!" And Lizzy's eyes fell to the ground. "I don't see any
+thing the matter with them."
+
+"Why, child, you have nothing on your feet but paper-soled French
+lasting boots."
+
+"They have thick soles, uncle."
+
+"Thick! If you call them thick, you will have to find a new term for
+thinness. Go right back, and put on your leather boots."
+
+"Leather boots!" Lizzy's voice and countenance showed an undisguised
+amazement.
+
+"Yes, leather boots. You certainly wouldn't think of going out on a day
+like this without having your feet well protected with leather boots."
+
+"Leather boots! Why, Uncle Thomas!"--and the musical laugh of Miss
+Walton echoed on the air--"who ever heard of such a thing?"
+
+Uncle Thomas glanced involuntarily down at his own thick, double-soled,
+calfskin understandings.
+
+"Boots like them!" exclaimed the merry girl, laughing again.
+
+"But come along, my good uncle," she added more seriously, drawing her
+arm within his, and attempting to move away. "We'll have all the
+neighbourhood staring at us. You can't be in earnest, I'm sure, about my
+wearing clumsy leather boots. Nancy, the Irish cook, has a pair; but
+I"----
+
+"And pray, Lizzy," returned the old gentleman, as he yielded to the
+impulse given him by his niece, and moved down the street beside
+her--"are you so much heartier than Nancy, so much stouter and stronger,
+that you can bear exposure to damp and even wet pavements, in thin
+shoes, while she will not venture out unless with feet well protected by
+leather boots?"
+
+"My shoes are not thin, uncle," persisted Lizzy. "They have thick
+soles."
+
+"Not thin! Thick soles! Look at mine."
+
+Lizzy laughed aloud, as she glanced down at her uncle's heavy boots, at
+the thought of having her delicate feet encased in leather.
+
+"Look at mine!" repeated Uncle Thomas. "And am I so much more delicate
+than you are?"
+
+But Miss Walton replied to all this serious remonstrance of her uncle
+(who was on a visit from a neighbouring town) with laughing evasion.
+
+A week of very severe weather had filled the gutters and blocked the
+crossings with ice. To this had succeeded rain, but not of long enough
+continuance to free the streets from their icy encumbrance. A clear,
+warm day for the season followed; and it was on this day that Miss
+Walton and her uncle went out for the purpose of calling on a friend or
+two, and then visiting the Art-Union Gallery.
+
+Uncle Thomas Walton was the brother of Lizzy's father. The latter died
+some few years before, of pulmonary consumption. Lizzy, both in
+appearance and bodily constitution, resembled her father. She was now in
+her nineteenth year, her veins full of young life, and her spirits as
+buoyant as the opening spring. It was just four years since the last
+visit of Uncle Thomas to the city--four years since he had looked upon
+the fair face of his beautiful niece. Greatly had she changed in that
+time. When last he kissed her blushing cheek, she was a half-grown
+school-girl--now she burst upon him a lovely and accomplished young
+woman.
+
+But Uncle Thomas did not fail to observe in his niece certain signs,
+that he understood too well as indications of a frail and susceptible
+constitution. Two lovely sisters, who had grown up by his side, their
+charms expanding like summer's sweetest flowers, had, all at once,
+drooped, faded, withered, and died. Long years had they been at rest;
+but their memory was still green in his heart. When he looked upon the
+pure face of his niece, it seemed to Uncle Thomas as if a long-lost
+sister were restored to him in the freshness and beauty of her young and
+happy life ere the breath of the destroyer was upon her. No wonder that
+he felt concern when he thought of the past. No wonder that he made
+remonstrance against her exposure, in thin shoes, to cold and damp
+pavements. But Lizzy had no fear. She understood not how fatal a
+predisposition lurked in her bosom.
+
+The calls were made; the Art-Union Gallery visited, and then Uncle
+Thomas and his niece returned home. But the enjoyment of the former had
+only been partial; for he could think of little else, and see little
+else, besides Lizzy's thin shoes and the damp pavements.
+
+The difficulty of crossing the streets, without stepping into the water,
+was very great; and, in spite of every precaution, Lizzy's feet dipped
+several times into little pools of ice-water, that instantly penetrated
+the light materials of which her shoes were made. In consequence, she
+had a slight hoarseness by the time she reached home, and Uncle Thomas
+noticed that the colour on her cheeks was very much heightened.
+
+"Now go and change your shoes and stockings, immediately," said he, as
+soon as they entered the house. "Your feet must be thoroughly
+saturated."
+
+"Oh no, indeed they are not," replied Lizzy. "At the most, they are only
+a little damp."
+
+"A little damp!" said the old gentleman, seriously. "The grass waves
+over many a fair young girl, who, but for damp feet, would now be a
+source of joy to her friends."
+
+"Why, uncle, how strangely you talk!" exclaimed Lizzy, becoming a little
+serious in turn. Just then Mrs. Walton came in.
+
+"Do, sister," said the old gentleman, "see that this thoughtless girl of
+yours changes her wet stockings and shoes immediately. She smiles at my
+concern."
+
+"Why, Lizzy dear," interposed Mrs. Walton, "how can you be so imprudent!
+Go and put on dry stockings at once."
+
+Lizzy obeyed, and as she left the room, her uncle said--
+
+"How can you permit that girl to go upon the street, in midwinter, with
+shoes almost as thin as paper."
+
+"Her shoes have thick soles," replied Mrs. Walton. "You certainly don't
+think that I would let her wear thin shoes on a day like this."
+
+Uncle Thomas was confounded. Thick shoes! French lasting, and soles of
+the thickness of half-a-dollar!
+
+"She ought to have leather boots, sister," said the old gentleman
+earnestly. "Stout leather boots. Nothing less can be called a protection
+for the feet in damp, wintry weather."
+
+"Leather boots!"
+
+Mrs. Walton seemed little less surprised than her daughter had been at
+the same suggestion.
+
+"It is a damp, cold day," said Uncle Thomas.
+
+"True, but Lizzy was warmly clad. I am very particular on this point,
+knowing the delicacy of her constitution. She never goes out in
+winter-time without her furs."
+
+"Furs for the neck and hands, and lasting shoes and thin cotton
+stockings for the feet!"
+
+"Thick-soled boots," said Mrs. Walton, quickly.
+
+"There are thick-soled boots."
+
+And the old gentleman thrust out both of his feet, well clad in heavy
+calfskin.
+
+Mrs. Walton could not keep from laughing, as the image of her daughter's
+feet, thus encased, presented itself to her mind.
+
+"Perhaps," said Uncle Thomas, just a little captiously, "Lizzy has a
+stronger constitution than I have, and can bear a great deal more. For
+my part, I would almost as lief take a small dose of poison as go out,
+on a day like this, with nothing on my feet but thin cotton stockings
+and lasting shoes."
+
+"Boots," interposed Mrs. Walton.
+
+"I call them boots," said the old gentleman, glancing down again at his
+stout double-soled calfskins.
+
+But it was of no avail that Uncle Thomas entered his protest against
+thin shoes, when, in the estimation of city ladies, they were "thick."
+And so, in due time, he saw his error and gave up the argument.
+
+When Lizzy came down from her room, her colour was still high--much
+higher than usual, and her voice, as she spoke, was a very little
+veiled. But she was in fine spirits, and talked away merrily. Uncle
+Thomas did not, however, fail to observe that every little while she
+cleared her throat with a low _h-h-em_; and he knew that this was
+occasioned by an increased secretion of mucus by the lining membrane of
+the throat, consequent upon slight inflammation. The cause he attributed
+to thin shoes and wet feet; and he was not far wrong. The warm boa and
+muff were not sufficient safeguards for the throat when the feet were
+exposed to cold and wet.
+
+That evening, at tea-time, Mr. Walton observed that Lizzy eat scarcely
+any thing, and that her face was a little pale. He also noted an
+expression that indicated either mental or bodily suffering--not
+severe, but enough to make itself visible.
+
+"Are you not well?" he asked.
+
+"Oh yes, very well," was the quick reply.
+
+"You are fatigued, then?"
+
+"A little."
+
+"Go early to bed. A night's sleep will restore all."
+
+Mr. Walton said this, rather because he hoped than believed that it
+would be so.
+
+"Oh yes. A night's rest is all I want," replied Lizzy.
+
+But she erred in this.
+
+"Where is Lizzy?" asked Mr. Walton, on meeting his sister-in-law at the
+breakfast-table on the next morning. The face of the latter wore a sober
+expression.
+
+"Not very well, I am sorry to say," was the answer.
+
+"What ails her?"
+
+"She has taken a bad cold; I hardly know how--perhaps from getting her
+feet wet yesterday; and is so hoarse this morning that she can scarcely
+speak above a whisper."
+
+"I feared as much," was the old gentleman's reply. "Have you sent for
+your doctor?"
+
+"Not yet."
+
+"Then do so immediately. A constitution like her's will not bear the
+shock of a bad cold, unless it is met instantly by appropriate
+remedies."
+
+In due time the family physician came. He looked serious when he saw the
+condition of his patient.
+
+"To what are you indebted for this?" he asked.
+
+"To thin shoes," was the prompt reply of the uncle, who was present.
+
+"I have warned you against this more than once," said the doctor, in a
+tone of gentle reproof.
+
+"Oh, no; brother is mistaken," spoke up Mrs. Walton. "She wore
+thick-soled shoes. But the streets, as you know, were very wet
+yesterday, and it was impossible to keep the feet dry."
+
+"If she had worn good, stout, sensible leather boots, as she ought to
+have done, the water would never have touched her feet," said Mr.
+Walton.
+
+"You had on your gums?" remarked the physician, turning to Lizzy.
+
+"They are so clumsy and unsightly--I never like to wear them," answered
+the patient, in a husky whisper, and then she coughed hoarsely.
+
+The doctor made no reply to this, but looked more serious.
+
+Medicine was prescribed and taken; and, for two weeks, the physician was
+in daily attendance. The inflammation first attacked Lizzy's
+throat--descended and lingered along the bronchial tubes, and finally
+fixed itself upon her lungs. From this dangerous place it was not
+dislodged, as an acute disease, until certain constitutional
+predispositions had been aroused into activity. In fact, the latent
+seeds of that fatal disease, known as consumption, were at this time
+vivified. Dormant they might have lain for years--perhaps through
+life--if all exciting causes had been shunned. Alas! the principle of
+vitality was now awakened.
+
+Slowly, very slowly, did strength return to the body of Miss Walton. Not
+until the spring opened was she permitted to go forth into the open air.
+Then her pale cheek, and slow, feeble steps, showed too plainly the
+fearful shock her system had received.
+
+A week or two after his remonstrance with his niece about her thin
+shoes, Mr. Walton returned home. Several letters received by him during
+the winter advised him of the state of Lizzy's health. In the spring her
+mother wrote to him--
+
+"Lizzy is much better. The warm weather, I trust, will completely
+restore her."
+
+But the old gentleman knew better. He had been a deeply interested party
+in a case like her's before. He _knew_ that summer, with its warm and
+fragrant airs, would not bring back the bloom to her cheeks. In July
+came another epistle.
+
+"The hot weather is so debilitating for Lizzy, that I am about taking
+her to the sea-shore."
+
+Uncle Thomas sighed as he read this, permitted the letter to droop from
+before his eyes, and sat for some time gazing upon vacancy. Far back his
+thoughts had wandered, and before the eyes of his mind was the frail,
+fading form of a beloved sister, who had, years before, left her place
+and her mission upon the earth, and passed up higher.
+
+"The doctor says that I must go South with Lizzy," wrote Mrs. Walton
+early in December, "and spend the winter. We leave for Charleston next
+Tuesday, and may pass over to Havana."
+
+Uncle Thomas sighed as before, and then became lost in a sad reverie. He
+had been to Havana with both of his sisters. The warm South had been of
+use to them. It prolonged, but did not save their lives.
+
+And so the months passed on--the seasons came and went--but health,
+alas! returned not to the veins of the lovely girl.
+
+It was an autumn day, nearly two years after that fatal cold, taken in
+consequence of wearing thin shoes, that Mr. Walton received a letter
+sealed with a black seal.
+
+"As I feared," he murmured, in a low, sad voice, gazing
+half-abstractedly upon the missive. He knew too well its contents. "Dear
+child! I saw this from the beginning."
+
+And the old man's eyes became dim with moisture.
+
+He had not erred in his conjecture. Lizzy Walton was dead.
+
+
+
+
+THE UNRULY MEMBER.
+
+
+"In trouble again, I find! Ah, Flora! That restless little tongue of
+yours is a sad transgressor. Why will you not learn to be more careful?
+Why do you not place a guard upon your lips, as well as upon your
+actions?"
+
+"So I do, aunt, when I think myself in the company of tattlers and
+mischief-makers."
+
+"I do not think Mary Lee either a tattler or a mischief-maker," replied
+the aunt gravely.
+
+"Then why did she run off to Ellen Gray, and tell her what I had said?"
+
+"She might have done so from far different motives than those you are
+inclined to attribute to her," said Mrs. Marion, the aunt of Flora Mere.
+"And from my knowledge of her character, I feel very sure that her
+conduct in this has been governed by a strict regard to right
+principles."
+
+"But what possible end could she have had in view in repeating to Ellen
+my thoughtlessly spoken words? It could do her no good."
+
+"There she is at the door now," Mrs. Marion replied, glancing out of the
+window. "We will ask the question direct, as soon as Betty has admitted
+her."
+
+The blood mounted to Flora's cheeks as her aunt said this, and her own
+eyes caught a glimpse of the young lady whose conduct she had been so
+strongly condemning. The aunt and her niece sat silent until Mary Lee
+entered.
+
+Here we will take the opportunity to mention the cause of the unpleasant
+state of affairs between Flora and her young friend. On the day before,
+while in company with Mary Lee, and one or two other of her
+acquaintances, she very thoughtlessly and not exactly in the right
+spirit, repeated some remarks she had heard about Ellen Gray that
+reflected upon her rather unfavourably. Mary Lee at once attempted to
+vindicate her friend, but Flora maintained that the allegations were
+certainly true, for she had them from an undoubted source. Mary asked
+that source, but she declined mentioning it, on the ground that she did
+not wish to violate the confidence reposed in her by the individual who
+related the facts she had repeated.
+
+"It would, perhaps, be better not to mention any thing of this kind,"
+said Mary Lee, "unless the author be given, and full liberty, at the
+same time, to make the most free inquiries as to the truth of what is
+alleged."
+
+"And get up to your ears in hot water," returned Flora, tossing her
+head.
+
+"Even that would be better than to let any one suffer from an untrue
+statement."
+
+"Ah! But suppose it should be true?"
+
+"Let the guilt rest upon the right head--where it ought to rest. But
+save the innocent from unjust allegations. That is my doctrine."
+
+"A very good doctrine, no doubt," Flora returned; "if you can act it
+out."
+
+Here the subject was dropped. On the next morning, Mary Lee called in to
+see her young friend Ellen Gray. After conversing for a short time she
+said--
+
+"I heard, yesterday, Ellen, that at Mrs. Harvey's party, you acted
+towards Mr. Evelyn with much discourtesy of manner, besides actually
+telling an untruth."
+
+"I am unconscious of having done either the one or the other of these,"
+Ellen replied, in a quiet tone.
+
+"I believed you innocent," said Mary, with a brightening countenance.
+"But what ground is there for the idle, ill-natured gossip that has got
+on the wind?"
+
+"Not much, if any. I declined dancing with Evelyn, as I had a perfect
+right to do."
+
+"Did you tell him you were engaged for the next cotillion?"
+
+"No, certainly not, for I had no engagement then."
+
+"It is said that when he asked you to dance, you excused yourself on the
+plea that you were already engaged."
+
+"Who says this?"
+
+"Flora Mere."
+
+"How does she know?"
+
+"That I cannot tell. She declined giving her authority."
+
+"Then, of course, I must believe her the author of the fabrication."
+
+"No--that does not certainly follow. I do not believe Flora would be
+guilty of such a thing. But, like too many, she is ready to believe
+another capable of doing almost any thing that may happen to be alleged.
+And like the same class of persons, too ready to repeat what she has
+heard, no matter how injuriously it may affect the subject of the
+allegation--while a false principle of honour prevents the open
+declaration of the source from which the information has been derived."
+
+"Be that as it may, I shall see Flora Mere at once, and ask her for the
+authority upon which the statement rests."
+
+"It was to give you an opportunity of doing this, that I have come and
+freely told what I heard."
+
+"Thank you, Mary. I wish all the world were as frank and as
+conscientious as you are. I shall, of course, mention from whom I
+derived my information."
+
+"You are at perfect liberty to do so. I try never to say or do any thing
+that requires concealment."
+
+It was, perhaps, an hour afterward, that Flora Mere was surprised by a
+visit from Ellen Gray. She had an instinctive consciousness of the cause
+of this visit, which made the blood mount to her face, as she took the
+hand of her friend. She was not long in doubt.
+
+"Flora," said Ellen, a few minutes after she had entered. "Mary Lee came
+in to see me this morning, and mentioned that you had made statements
+about me which are not true--as that I refused to dance with Mr. Evelyn
+under the plea of a prior engagement, when, in fact, no such engagement
+existed."
+
+"I think Mary Lee had very little to do!" Flora returned petulantly, the
+colour deepening on her face and brow, "to tattle about what she hears
+in company."
+
+"But reflect," said Ellen, mildly, "that the charge against me was one
+of falsehood--no light charge--and that Mary had every reason to believe
+me incapable of uttering what was not true. And further, remember, that
+you declined giving your informant, so as to place it in her power to
+ascertain upon what basis the statement rested. Reverse the case.
+Suppose I had heard that you had done some wrong act; and, instead of
+carefully satisfying myself whether it were really so or not, were to
+begin circulating the story wherever I went. Would you not deem her a
+true friend, who, instead of joining in the general condemnation, were
+to come to you and put into your power to vindicate your character?
+Certainly you would. Just in the relation which that true friend would,
+under the imagined circumstances, stand to you, now stands Mary Lee to
+me. She has put into my power to arrest a report which I find is
+circulating to my injury. It is true that I declined dancing with Mr.
+Evelyn. But it is not true that I stated to him that I was engaged. I
+was not engaged, and to have said that I was, would have been to have
+told a deliberate falsehood. May I, then, ask you from what source you
+derived your information?"
+
+Flora cast her eyes upon the floor, and sat silent for some time. Her
+pride struggled hard with her sense of justice. At length she said,
+looking up, and breathing heavily--
+
+"I would rather not mention my informant, Ellen. It will only make
+difficulty. You will go to her, and then there will be trouble. I think
+you had better let the matter rest where it is. I do not, now, believe
+what I heard. The person who told me, was, no doubt, mistaken."
+
+"But, Flora, that would not be right. You have already repeated what you
+heard so publicly, that it is possible at least fifty persons now
+believe me guilty of having spoken an untruth. You should have reflected
+beforehand. Now it is too late to let the matter drop. My character is
+at stake, and I am bound to vindicate it. This I shall have to do in
+such a manner as to fully clear myself from the charge. The consequence
+will be, as you may at once perceive, that upon you will rest the burden
+of having originated a false charge against me. Then, if not now, you
+will feel it your duty to give the name of your friend. This, you had
+much better do at once. No doubt she has been led into a mistake by a
+too hasty judgment of my acts, but half understood. She may have
+observed Mr. Evelyn ask me to dance, and have naturally inferred that I
+declined on the ground of a previous engagement. This being in her mind,
+she may have too hastily concluded, when she soon afterwards saw me
+accept another offer, that I had not spoken the truth at the time I
+refused to dance with Evelyn. All this can easily be explained, and the
+matter put to rest."
+
+Flora hesitated for a short time, and then said--
+
+"It was Araminta Thomas who told me."
+
+"Thank you for this information. Will you now go with me to see
+Araminta?"
+
+"I would rather not," Flora returned.
+
+"I think it would be better for you to do so, Flora," urged Ellen. But
+she could not be persuaded.
+
+"I must then go alone," said Ellen, rising and bidding Flora good
+morning.
+
+In a little while she was at the house of Araminta Thomas. Ellen entered
+at once upon the business of her visit, by stating what she had heard.
+Araminta looked confused, but denied saying that Ellen had actually
+told Evelyn she was engaged for the next cotillion.
+
+"Then what did you say?" mildly asked Ellen.
+
+"I said," replied Araminta, "that I saw you decline Evelyn's offer for
+your hand."
+
+"But did not say that I told him I was engaged?"
+
+"_Not positively_; I only _inferred_, as was natural, that you declined
+on that ground."
+
+"Was your communication to Flora mere inferential?"
+
+"It was."
+
+"But she says you told her that you heard me say I was engaged."
+
+"In that she is mistaken. I inferred that your refusal to dance was for
+the reason stated. But I did not _know_ that it was, and, therefore only
+gave my own impression."
+
+"Which Flora has taken for the truth, and so repeated."
+
+"On my authority?"
+
+"Yes. After having been pressed by me very closely."
+
+"In that she was wrong. But I suppose I was as wrong in giving an
+impression which might not be a true one, as she has been in giving my
+impressions as actual facts, and making me responsible for them. But
+will you, as matters have taken this serious and unexpected turn, give
+me the exact truth. I will then, so far as in my power lies, endeavour
+to correct what I have done."
+
+"Most cheerfully. You know as well as I do, that Evelyn has not acted in
+some things with that honour and integrity that becomes a gentleman?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"It was on this ground that I declined. He asked me if I was engaged in
+the next set? I said no. He then proffered his hand, which I declined.
+In a little while after, and while sitting beside you, a gentleman
+wished to have me as a partner. I accepted his invitation. This is the
+simple truth."
+
+"And so it seems," said Araminta with a sober face, "that while you were
+rebuking vice, and standing up with dignified, virtuous firmness in the
+cause of our sex, I was misjudging you. And not only that, was so far
+influenced by an improper spirit as to impart to others my wrong
+impressions to your injury. Alas! poor, weak human nature! I feel
+rebuked and humbled. More for what I thought than for what I said, for
+out of the heart proceedeth evil thoughts. If I had not had something
+wrong here, I would not have been so ready to misjudge you. But all that
+I can do to repair the wrong, I am ready to do."
+
+"All I ask is, that you correct Flora, and take some little care, that,
+where she has imparted a wrong impression, the true one is given in its
+place."
+
+"That I will do with all my heart," Araminta replied. "I will see Flora
+this very hour."
+
+"Do so, and you shall have not only my thanks, but my esteem and love.
+We are all liable to do wrong. But to confess and repair the wrong we
+have done, as far as we can, is noble. In so doing, power is given us to
+conquer in all the temptations that may assail us."
+
+As soon as Ellen had retired, Araminta went out and called upon Flora.
+She found her troubled and mortified at the turn matters had taken. She
+tried to excuse herself for what she had done, and insisted, at first,
+that Araminta had actually stated all she had said of Ellen Gray's
+conduct. But this point she soon had to give up. Araminta was too
+positive, and her own memory a little too clear on the subject. In fact,
+when the whole truth came fully to the light, it was very apparent, that
+if there were any falsehood in the matter, she was the most guilty.
+Certain it was, that Ellen Gray was innocent, in every particular, of
+the charge that had been made against her.
+
+Mrs. Marion knew nothing of all this, until the day after Ellen Gray had
+called upon Flora. Then her niece, whose troubled looks had not escaped
+her notice, gave a relation of what had occurred. It was in reply to
+this that the opening remarks of our story were made. When Mary Lee came
+in, as the reader has seen, Flora received her coldly. Mrs. Marion, on
+the contrary, welcomed her with genuine cordiality.
+
+"I am glad to see you, Mary," she said--"and particularly at this time.
+It seems there has been a misunderstanding among you young ladies, and
+that Flora is not altogether pleased with the part you have taken."
+
+"It is to see her in regard to that very matter that I am here this
+morning," Mary said. "I know she blames me for having told Ellen Lee
+what I did. But in that I acted conscientiously. I did to another as I
+would have another do to me. I acted towards Ellen as I would act
+towards Flora, were I to hear any one making statements that were
+calculated to injure her. The result, I think, should satisfy Flora that
+I was right in doing what I have done. Ellen, it now appears, was
+entirely innocent of the charge made against her--as I knew she must be.
+Araminta Thomas, to whom the report has been traced, regrets extremely,
+that upon her hasty inferences, so serious a matter has grown up. She
+acknowledged that she only _inferred_ that Ellen told an untruth. Flora
+took this inference for a direct assertion, and thence came the charge
+of falsehood against Ellen Gray. Has not, then, the result proved that
+the course I took was the only right one? Does it not show that I would
+have been guilty of a great wrong, if, to save the feelings of any one,
+I had left an innocent person to bear the imputation of wrong?"
+
+"It certainly does, Mary. And Flora cannot but see it in the same
+light."
+
+"And she will, surely, forgive me the pain I have occasioned her,"
+resumed Mary, "seeing that I had no selfish end to gain in what I did,
+but was moved only by the desire to vindicate injured innocence."
+
+This appeal softened Flora's feelings toward Mary Lee. She saw that she
+was wrong, and that Mary was right. Mary had been governed by a
+high-minded regard for right. Pride soon yielded.
+
+"Mary," said she, taking her hand, while the tears came into her eyes,
+"I confess that I have been wrong, and you right. I shall not soon
+forget this lesson. Forgive the unkind thought I have had of you, and
+say to Ellen, from me, that I do most sincerely regret the part I have
+taken in this matter."
+
+"Will I ever learn to be guarded in my remarks!" Flora said, to her
+aunt, after Mary had left them. "This is the third time I have been
+called to account for speaking of others, within the last few months."
+
+"Never, I suppose," Mrs. Marion replied, "until you learn to guard your
+thoughts as well as your words. If, like Mary Lee, you were less
+disposed to give credence to every disparaging report circulated about
+others, you would need no guard placed over your tongue. It is from the
+abundance of the heart that the mouth speaketh. _A good man, out of the
+good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth good things: and an evil man,
+out of the evil treasure, bringeth forth evil things._ Try and keep this
+in mind. If you are more ready to believe an evil than a good report of
+others, be sure that all is not right with you, and more especially, if
+you feel an inward pleasure in convicting them of wrong. A truly good
+mind is always grieved at improper conduct in others, and ever seeks to
+palliate, rather than to judge with severity. It gives but slow credence
+to evil reports. Truly regard the good of all around you, and there will
+be no need of placing a bridle on your tongue."
+
+
+
+
+THE RICH AND THE POOR.
+
+
+A hot and sultry summer had passed away, and autumn was verging on
+toward its cooler months, with their long and quiet evenings.
+Occasionally a colder day than usual made a fire in the grate necessary
+and drew closer together the happy family of Mr. Barton in their evening
+circle. It was pleasant to all, thus to feel the warm fire again, and to
+see its deep glow reflected from loving faces.
+
+"How good the fire feels!" said James, holding up his small hands to
+receive its heat, and smiling as he looked upon it.
+
+"I think I love the winter best after all," remarked William. "It is so
+pleasant to sit round the fire, and feel its warmth upon our hands and
+face. Home feels more like home. Don't you think so, father?"
+
+"The change of season is always pleasant," replied Mr. Barton. "Have you
+never noticed that, my son?"
+
+"Oh yes! I always say, when spring comes, 'I am glad that it is spring.'
+And in summer-time, when fruit and flowers are so plenty, I say, 'I am
+glad it is summer.' And then I am glad again when the doors and windows
+can be closed, and we can all gather around the fire as we do now in
+autumn. In winter, when the snow begins to fall, I feel that it is
+pleasant to see the light flakes flying about gayly in the air."
+
+"But I always think then," said Mary, the gentle, loving-hearted Mary,
+"of the poor children who have no warm clothing, nor good fires, as we
+have. I wish, sometimes, that it were always warm, for their sakes."
+
+"And yet, my dear, the Lord knows what is best," remarked Mr. Barton,
+looking into Mary's sympathizing face. "The Bible says He is good to
+all, and kind even to the unthankful."
+
+"I know it does; and it also says, that He pitieth us even as a father
+pitieth his children. But, I can't help thinking, sometimes, that there
+is a great deal of suffering in the world."
+
+"And so there is, Mary, a great deal of dreadful suffering, the reason
+for which we sometimes find it very hard to understand. But one thing we
+know, and this is, that it is all from man, and not from God; and that
+God permits it for some good purpose--not to punish people; for the Lord
+never punishes any one merely for the sake of punishment, but suffers
+evil and sin to punish for the sake of reformation. You remember what I
+read to you about the Divine Providence on last Sunday evening?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"What did I say the Divine Providence regarded?"
+
+"Eternal ends," replied Mary.
+
+"Do you remember what I then told you was meant by eternal ends?"
+
+"Whatsoever had reference to man's salvation in heaven."
+
+"Yes, that is what I said. A great many people believe that the Lord's
+Providence, which is over us all, even to the smallest things, has
+reference to our worldly well-doing. I remember when a boy, hearing a
+man pray, regularly, in his family, every day, and a part of his prayer
+always was, that the Lord would increase his basket and his store."
+
+"What did he mean by that?" asked James, who was listening very
+attentively to his father, and trying to understand all he said.
+
+"Why, that the Lord would make him rich."
+
+"Did the Lord make him rich?" asked Mary.
+
+"No, my daughter, the Lord knew that to make him rich would be the worst
+thing for him, for it might be the means of destroying his soul."
+
+"Then it is best for some to be rich and some poor?" said William.
+
+"Undoubtedly it is, or all would be rich in this world's goods, and have
+every comfort and luxury that earth could afford them. For the goodness
+of the Lord would seek to bless every one in good things for the body as
+well as good things for the mind, if the former blessings could be given
+without injury to the latter. But where they cannot, they are always
+withheld."
+
+"But all rich people are not good people," remarked William. "I think
+they are, generally, more unfeeling and selfish than poor people. I have
+often heard it said so; and that there was very little chance of rich
+people's going to heaven."
+
+"I know this is said, but it is a great mistake. Poor people are, as a
+general thing, just as unfeeling and selfish as rich people, and stand
+no better chance of heaven. So far as poverty or riches are concerned,
+there is an overruling Providence regarding each, and this, as I before
+remarked, looks to the salvation of souls in heaven."
+
+"Then it isn't because one man is better than another, that he is
+permitted to get rich, or has money left to him?"
+
+"Not by any means, William," replied the father. "No man's state can be
+judged of by his external condition: for the external condition that is
+good for one, may be very bad for another. Ever bear this in mind, as
+you pass through life, and learn, no matter in what external condition
+the Lord places you, therewith to be content."
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHO ARE HAPPIEST? AND OTHER
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