“I have had applications,” continued Mr. Draper, “for the whole estate as it stands; but really, it is such a source of pleasure to my wife to have her garden and her shrubbery, that I have not listened to them.”
“Thank you,” said Mrs. Draper.
“I am doubtful, however, whether I am doing right to let so much property remain idle and useless.”
“Not useless, brother,” said Howard, “if it gives so much enjoyment to your family. What can you do with money but purchase happiness in some form or other? The benevolent purchase it by relieving the wants of others, and are blessed in blessing; nor can I see why money may not as wisely be expended in the purchase of a fine house and garden, as by investing it in stocks, or ships and cargoes.”
“Simply because the one is dead property, and brings no interest; the other is constantly accumulating.”
“Is there no such thing as being rich enough?” said Howard. “Are we to be always striving to acquire, and never sitting quietly down to enjoy?”
“No one can look forward to that time more earnestly than I do,” said Mr. Draper. “Every wise man will fix upon a certain sum, that his reason and experience tell him will be sufficient for his expenditures; and then he ought to retire from business, and hazard no more.—Now, Howard, as I must hurry through dinner, we may as well improve our time. I promised to aid you in the disposition of your surplus money. As you have a dread of adventure, and do not like to run any risk, I will take it myself, and give you compound interest.”
Howard expressed his thanks. “You owe me none; it will be a matter of convenience to me to have the use of this additional money. I only feel some compunction in deriving that profit from it which you might yourself reap. However, as I take the risk, and you take none, it is according to your own plan;—and now I must be off; I have already overrun my time,” said he, looking at his watch. “If possible, I shall be at home early, but it is a busy season; two East India cargoes have just arrived, and several consignments of cotton from the south; all are pressing upon us.”
“My brother,” said Howard, as he disappeared, “is the same active, enterprising man he always was. I rejoice to hear, however, that he has set some limits to his desire for wealth.”
“Our desires grow proportionably to our increase of wealth, I believe,” said Mrs. Draper. “When we began life, your brother said, if he was ever worth a hundred thousand dollars, he would retire from business; he now allows himself to be worth much more than that amount, and yet you perceive our homestead becomes too valuable for our own use, because it can be converted to money. All this, however, would be nothing, if I did not see this eager pursuit of gain robbing him of the pleasures of domestic life, of the recreation every father ought to allow himself to receive from the innocent conversation and sports of his children. He cannot spare time for travel—to become acquainted with the beautiful views of our own country. To you, who knew him, as I did, full of high and noble perceptions, this is a melancholy change.”