Transcribed from the 1837 Whipple and Damrell edition by DavidPrice,
by the authorof
“THREE EXPERIMENTS OF LIVING.”
And while they were eating and drinking, therecame a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four cornersof the house, and it fell upon them.
Third Edition.
BOSTON:
PUBLISHED BY WHIPPLE & DAMRELL,
No. 9 Cornhill.
newyork:—samuel colman,
No. 114 Fulton Street.
1837.
p. 2Enteredaccording to Act of Congress, in the year 1837, by
Whipple and Damrell,
In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court ofMassachusetts.
“Welcome,” said Mr. Draper, the rich merchant, tohis brother, who entered his counting-room one fine springmorning. “I am truly glad to see you—but whathas brought you to the city, at this busy country season,when ploughing and planting are its life and sinews?”
“A motive,” said Howard, smiling, “that I amsure will need no apology with you—business! Ihave acquired a few hundreds, which I wish to invest safely, andI want your advice.”
“When you say safely, I presume you mean to includeprofitably.”
p.4“Ay, profitably and safely.”
“I am just fitting out a ship for Canton; what do youthink of investing the sum in articles of foreignmerchandise?”
“I confess,” said Howard, “I have greatdistrust of winds and waves.”
“Suppose you invest it in Eastern lands? many have madefortunes in this way.”
“I am not seeking to make a fortune,” said Howard,quietly;—“my object is to secure something for myfamily in case of accident, and I only want to invest what I donot require for present use in a manner that will bring compoundinterest. I hope not to be obliged to take up the interestfor many years, but to be adding it to the principal, with suchsums as I may be able to spare from our dailyexertions.”
“I perceive, brother,” replied Mr. Draper, alittle scornfully, “you have not increased in worldlywisdom.”
“I have not been much in the way of it,” saidHoward.—“Mine is a still, peaceful life—I studythe changes of the atmosphere more than the science of worldlywisdom.”
p.5“We can get along, however, but poorly withoutit,” replied Mr. Draper; “the harmlessness of thedove is no match for the cunning of the serpent.”
“True,” said Howard; “but if you mean me bythe dove, there is no necessity for my venturing into the nest ofserpents. I am well aware that my habits of thinking andmodes of life are tame and dull, compared to your projects andsuccess;—but we are differently constituted, and while Ihonor your spirit and enterprise, and do justice to the honestand intelligent business men of your city, I am contented with myown lot, which is that of a farmer, whose object is to earn acompetency from his native soil, or, in other words, fromploughing and planting. I have no desire for speculation,no courage for it; neither do I think, with a family like mine, Ihave a right to risk my property.”
“There you are wrong; every body has a right to do as hepleases with his own property.”
“To be honest, then,” replied Howard, “Ihave none that I call exclusively my o