WEALTH OR NO WEALTH.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 43, 27 July 1878, Page 3

WEALTH OR NO WEALTH.

The pernicious sentiment prevails thai large wealth is ucecssun to make people happy. It is this grasping after an excess of wealth, instead of being content with moderate success iu business, that is the fruitful cans.- of much of the misery to he seen on every hand. The truth is, the happy and the mo I tilth successful man is one who has ael rfui pure.contentc I, religious!)' arl; who, while lie attends dilligontly to his calling, discharges, also, his duties to the w rid he lives iu as well as to self and family. And wo may add that he is the sm l'ul and happy man who, if reverses overtake him and grim p ivevty looks in at his door, still maintains cheerfulness and contentment. To such a soul the worl 1 has nothing that is poor, hut everythin 4 that is rich, to offer. Certainly that which worldlings call poverty is not the worst that can hj. fall a man. From the depths of what they call sorrow an i abasement, a better soiil arises purified mid invincible. Thomas t'arlyle say.-,—" We should learn to regard poverty, pain, and nil evil, nut what thev seem to be. bill what tin v 1 a!lv are." And Jean Paul Uichte-, who knew from experience what he thus talked about, once cxtiUitigly exche-ne I -' What is poverty ? Andw' . ,s !he man that whines und'-r it >. T ; e- vilu wh : eh 11 - . A\ A L'S ... i.-l-c a- l■ ■_ .[ y, xi'..j tie' ears of a maid. 'it, and y.-u bang j.'Wels in the woun 1." Aguin'he 'ijs- " Fvil is ilk" .1 nightmaf . the in-taiil von begin to at rive with it, i ibesti'- vnur-s-lf, it'has already vam-h.d." And ye: so p?ior as to b» i.i (lunger, f .-.farviu - ■ Tie. prisoner's allowance.'' S'lVshe, -1 bread and wat •>•; bib ! have op.lv the latter." Th mas <'urivle savs of hint :- " lie stood like a ruck" ami l' the b.-atin-of continual teinp-sts. in th-.-.s, his bar! tiials. whatever was noblest in hi . :,:,;;: came out ill still ,-heer clearness. It ihere that he learne 1 to dis.iuguish what is impcridiahle in man from what itransient and earthly : nn 1 to [ ri/e lie latter, were it kings' crowns and eon.uier- ');>' triumphal chariots, but as tin 1 wrappings of the jewel. A 1 fty, in |.Mrnr;!':l ■'.••■■:, i|, ~. lie-;.,,., ~-,-,;„ ,- ~ -es.ion of him. And the vu! -world bull as to what it e mid give him an,! what it could withhold from him. v. 1 in bis eyes l m i a small matt, r. t; :■: ■>-■ I, bar.l to widia'sv generous nature s:i"h fortune. Y"i is one such man, )n-.,-l in! 1 mauho id amid these stern, ! ruthtellintlueiices, worth,a th usaud other men who have never known wan:/' .lean lV.ll Uichtcr, at one time, rnnt.-' I cannot help saying t , poverty, ' Weieoaie. so thou came not at quite too hitea time Wealth bears heavier on talent than p iverty. Under gold mountains an 1 thrones who knows how many a spiritual giant may die crushed down and buried !" True men draw from poverty and suffering great benefits. They acquire tinder them not only herculean strength, hut th ■ softest tenderness of soul. They have hearts vibrating to all the tinest thrills of mercy ; .a deep, loving sympathy with all created things. Poverty rightly iniproved, is often a precious grace from heaven. Often it is a most important fin tor in producing true Christian gr. utness.—Exchange.