“Throw the money into the sea!” cried Mrs. Dale indignantly; “all the gold in the world is not worth the peace, and union, and love of a family!”
“Oh!” said the butler, “one can’t be much in life without seeing how very often money matters break that peace, and union, and love. The purse on one side, the heart on the other, depend on’t the purse wins the day.”
“There’s some truth in that,” observed the cook. “My last place was with three old ladies who lived very well and comfortably together, never separated for a day, till some one died and unluckily left them a large fortune to spend. Then they began to find out that their wills could never agree. Miss Jemima liked town, Miss Jessie the country, Miss Martha was all for the sea-side. One must travel this way for health, another that way for amusement;—before six months were over they were all divided, the establishment was broken up; and so I came here.”
“Ah!” cried Mrs. Dale sadly, “fortune isn’t always sent as a blessing; and where a bad use is made of it, it turns in the end to a curse! There are folk, I daresay, envying my poor lady, thinking that because she has a fine house, fine estate, fine carriage, she must be a happy woman. But well I know that—unless she be much changed from what she was as a child—she would gladly give them all up to see her son a steady, sensible, God-fearing man, and to be happy with her brothers again!”
Jenny having finished her cold meat, now rose and left the house—left it with ideas how changed from those with which she had entered it! The feeling of envy was changed for the feeling of pity; and the young girl, as with light step she made her way towards the home where she was sure of kind smiles and a pleasant welcome, thought how much happier was her own lot than that of the lady of fortune. Even the robe of rich green velvet had lost its attractions for Jenny—was it more beautiful than the fresh turf over which she sped with so light a heart? Her back being now turned to the wind, Jenny no longer felt its keenness; while a brilliant sun was shedding warmth and cheerfulness around. Jenny did not forget to look in the hedges for violets for her little brother. “I daresay,” thought she, as she stooped to pluck one from beneath the large green leaves, “I daresay that this sweet little flower will give my Tommy as much pleasure as the rich man’s son ever found in his gilded toys. How foolish was I to wish for wealth! Who knows what effect it might have upon me! Mother is right—the best blessings are as free to the poor as to the rich—sunshine for the eyes, love in the home, and a good hope of heaven for the heart! Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith!”
Ne’er will I sigh for wealth,
Such wealth as coffers can hold:
Contentment, union, and health,
Are not to be bought for gold
The costly treasures I prize