True Riches; Or, Wealth Without Wings

oes your wife say?" S

on the return of h

y, so far as she is concern

d you say

take the child, under the

red dollars a year, to f

he is twelve

make a new arrangement. Very well. I'm glad you have decided to take the child. It won't cost you si

At any rate, we are willing to

y sign this little agreement to t

er from his desk, whi

intenance of the child until she is twelve years of age, and you to the payment therefo

. You see, I have prepared duplicates: one for y

placed upon each of the

he signatures. Each, then, took a copy. Thus

ce; particularly, as no reason that he could give would satisfy the merchant-difficulties growing out of this new relation as the personal guardian of little Fanny Elder. The signing of a regular contract for the payment of a c

d he not promised Mr. Melleville and his wife to do this, it would certainly have been postponed for the present; perhaps altogether

sper, that I shall

er by surprise. "What is the meaning of this? You

he wished, if possible, to avoid. A few days before he would not have scrupled at the broadest equivocation, or even at a direct falsehood. But there had been a birth of better principl

purpose, Edward. Are you goi

e. Taking it for granted that no motive but a pecuniary one

trious, prompt, and cheerful in performing your duties. These are qualities not always to be obtained. I do not, therefore, wish to par

important an advance in his income, set against a reduction of the present amount, was a

he. "I did not expect this. In the

, your salary will be increased t

n of higher principles, was to be sorely tried. Gold was in one scale, and the

ing home that evening, she saw that a change had taken place-

ut leaving him," he remark

e say?" inq

not wish

ourse, he is governed merely by a s

fty dollars," said Edward, in a voice that left his wi

for such services as he requires. Loss of self-respect, loss of honour, loss of the immorta

ted his love of money, temporarily quiescent. He saw in such an increase a great temporal good; a

tion to deal unfairly with his customers. My duty will be done, when I sell to them all I can at a fair profit. If

your conscience void of offence before God and man? Think of his character and requirements-think of the kind of service you have, in too many instances, rendered him-and then say whether it wi

d have me reje

stant's hesita

other side, Edith. Only four hundred dollar

, and a disquiet mind, compared to a few hundreds, and sweet peace? If you remain with Jasper, an unhappy spirit will surely steal into our dwelling-if you take, for the pr

f captious, yet unbending will. If she opposed her husband in any thing, it was on the ground of its non-agreement with just principles; and she always sustained her positions with the clearest and most dire

. "But it is difficult for me to unclasp my hand to let fall therefrom the natural good which I can see and

" said Edith, in reply to thi

ys found them so

s sought for as an end-that is not the natural good for which the many are striving. It is the mental enjoyment

, undoubtedl

my husband! Turn yourself away from this world's false allurements, and seek with me the true riches. Whatever may be your lot in life-I care not how poor and humble-I shall walk erect and cheerful by your side if you have been able to keep a conscience void of offence; but if this be not so, and you bring to me gold and treasure without stint, my head will lie bowed upon my bosom, and my hear

d with admiring affection into the bright and glowing fac

my influence as an external pressure. If I have seemed to use persuasion, it has not been to force you ov

hat you are right. But, the offer of a present

eal from me your inmost thoughts. You say tha

ely acknowl

approves what

ul

d to accept of four hundred dollars from Mr. Melleville,

oes,

not act under influence from me-for then the act will not be freely your own-but, as a truly rational, and,

," was the young man'

udden, trembling eagerness, an

sent place, and retu

ps of Edith, as she threw herself in unres