The Wedding-Ring Finger.—The origin of wearing the wedding-ring upon the fourth finger of the left hand has been much disputed even from very ancient times. A Latin writer of the fifth century gives the following matter-of-fact reason. The fourth finger was chosen, he says, “as being least used of any, as being guarded on either side, and having in most this peculiar feature, that it cannot be extended alone and by itself, but will in all its movements be accompanied by some finger placed on either side.”
They did not get his Fortune.
One of the great benefactors of the City of Bristol in bygone days was Mr. John Whitson, a merchant of that place, who by his life afforded a pleasing example of the success which in general accompanies diligence and honesty.
The following anecdote told of him is worth repeating:—
As he was one day busy in his office he overheard his nephews talking loudly in another room, and found the subject of their discourse turn upon himself and the great fortune they would inherit at his death. They declared they would spend it like men of fashion, in pleasurable and expensive pursuits.
The good old gentleman upon this burst in upon them, and with honest indignation said that since he had heard from their own mouths their resolution with respect to his fortune, they should now hear his. He had long been a witness, he told them, of the abandoned course of life into which they were plunging themselves, and had often remonstrated to no purpose against it. They now stood self-convicted, and to prevent the infamy which they might entail upon him, themselves and the public by such irregular excesses, he was resolved to put it entirely out of their power.
He accordingly made his will immediately afterwards, and after the death of his wife left the whole of his money to charitable purposes.
Courage.
If courage is gone, then all is gone!
’Twere better that thou hadst never been born.