True Riches; Or, Wealth Without Wings

osed a small account-book, over which he had been poring, pencil in hand, for some

a young man, clerk to the dealer, a

rs, Edward. It's the best

sense," remarked the young m

he spoke, in the manner of one who is particularly well pleased with himself. "I mad

e you sold that piece of velvet to Harland's wif

o fall extensively; and, to put a good face on the matter, told her that it cost within a fraction of what I asked to make the importation-remarkin

bought

vet at seventy-five cents a yard less t

de two dollars and a half

ely tha

ad six

of fifteen dollars. That will do, I'm thin

t. But, M

hat, E

is character? Won't it make for you a bad reputation,

time is worth something. It tells me this-that a bold face, a smooth tongue, and an easy conscience are worth more in our business than any other qualities. With these you may do as you list. They tell far

te. Something in the words of Mr. Jasper had fixed his thought, and

yes, which had been resti

s sales must reach ver

estimate," replied Jasper; "and that

rscription, "Leonard Jasper, Esq." The merchant cut the red tape with which it was tied, broke the seal, and opening t

mph! What possessed him to trouble me with this business? I've no time to play executor to an estate, the whole proceeds of which would hardly fill my trousers' pocket. He was a thriftless fello

ing up his hat, said to his clerk-"You may shut the store,

retired, and wende

. His first act was to close the window-shutters and do

thing would have been apparent to an observer-they did not run in a quiet stream. Something disturbed their current, for his brow was knit, his compressed lips had a disturbed motion, and his hands moved about at times unea

the sum. He's bound to get rich; that's plain. Fifty dollars in a single day! Leonard Jasper, you're a shrewd one. I shall have to l

the principles from which the merchant acted, and, for the moment, causing his whole nature to revolt against them. But t

ch he was the sole occupant. He felt that he was alone, that no human eye could note a single movement. Of the all-seeing Eye he thoug

d turning the leaves of one of them in a way that showed only a half-formed purpose. There was an impulse to somethin

ction of his mind. He is still struggling in temptation, a

ew moments he stood in an attitude of the most profound attention. But the trial was not repeated. How audibly, to his own

r a friend passing by, who wished for a few words of pleasant gossip. At any other time Claire would have stepped quickly and with undisturbed expectation

to the occasional suppression of his brea

ted in a place of safety; and, yet unrecovered from his mood of abstraction, the clerk left the store, and took his way homeward. From that hour Edward Claire was to be the subject of a fierce temptation. He had admitted an evil suggestion, and had warmed it in the earth of his mind, even to germination. Already a delicate root had penetrated the soil, and was extracting food therefrom. Oh! why did he not instantly pluck

nother personage, who will claim, to

led to-her bosom. She was fair-faced and sunny-haired; and in her blue eyes lay, in calm beauty, sweet tokens of a pure and loving heart. How tenderly she looked down, now and then, upon the slumbering cherub whose winning ways and m

d in the passage below. A brief time, and then the room-door opened, and Edward Claire came in. Wha

ith a gentler pressure, the whit

dith, looking into the face of her husband

asion in his tone and manner; "we h

g chamber, laid it gently in its crib. Then returning, she made the tea-the kettle

sked, however, no direct question touching this change; but regarded what he did say with clo

hat interrogatively, while they still sat at the table

tion. "The fact is, he is going to get rich. Do you know t

tone that showed no surprise or

ek-days in the year, gives the handsome sum of fifteen thousand d

d meant to betray. His young wife lifted her eyes to his f

e enough, and more than enough, to make us happy. Natural riches have no power to fill the he

d dollars a year is but a meagre sum. What does it procure for us? Only these two rooms and

has come over you?

have no ambition to see my wife

o your mind. Let us be content with what God in his wisdom provides, assured that it is best for us. In envying the good of another, we destroy our own good. There is a higher wealth than gold, Edward; and it supplies higher wants. There are riches without wings; they lie scattered about our feet; we may fill ou

ural demands. They build no houses; they provide not for increasing wants. We cann

ife was not understood by her husband.

ts were of richer material, and our rooms filled with costlier furniture? O no! If not contented with such things as Providence gives us to-day, we shall not find con

d with the small salary he pays me. My services are, I know, of greater

gs, and she did not wish to prolong it. Claire already regret

hey had joined hands at the altar, nearly two years before, had they passed so embarrassed and really unhappy an even