Page:The Poor Rich Man, and the Rich Poor Man.djvu/186

178 virtues), are not only in the highest sense treasures, they are money to you. In the labouring class, property is a sign of good morals. In this country nobody sinks into deep poverty—slumps through, as your grandfather says, except by some vice, directly or indirectly. There are, perhaps, a few exceptions; I have known one, and but one. Come here, Ruth; is my sermon tiring you?"

"No, indeed, father, I always like your preaching; but I was thinking."

"Of what, Ruth?"

"That the scholars at our school don't know Mr. Beckwith; if they did, they would not call rich people so hateful."

"Children are excellent judges."

"But, father, their folks tell them."

"Observe for yourselves, my children, and don't trust to what others tell you. If you make good use of your bodily eyes, and the eyes of your mind, you will see that Providence has bound the rich and the poor by one chain. Their interests are the same; the prosperity of one is the prosperity of all. The fountains are with the rich, but they are no better than a stagnant pool till they flow in streams to the labouring people. The enterprise and success of the merchant give us employment and rich rewards for our labour. We are dependant on them, but they are quite as dependant on us. If there were none of these hateful rich people, Ruth, who, think you, would build hospitals, and provide asylums for orphans, and for the deaf and dumb, and the blind?"

"I never thought of that, father!"