Occupations > Frugal housewife

MODERATE FORTUNE. 169
conscious dignity of superior intelligence.
Good Heaven! what other reward can you
ask ? ‘ But is it not a reproach upon the
economy of Providence that such a one, who
is a mean, dirty fellow, should have amassed
wealth enough to buy half a nation! ’ Not in
the least. He made himself a mean, dirty
fellow, for that very end. He has paid his
health, his conscience, and his liberty for it.
Do you envy him his bargain ? Will you
hang your head in his presence, because he
outshines you in equipage and show ? Lift
up your brow with a noble confidence, and
say to yourself, ‘ I have not these things, it is
true ; but it is because I have not desired or
sought them ; it is because I possess some¬
thing better. I have chosen my lot! I am
content, and satisfied.’ The most character¬
istic mark of a great mind is to choose some
one object, which it considers important,
and pursue that object through life. If we
expect the purchase, we must pay the price.
“There is a pretty passage in one of
Lucian’s dialogues, where Jupiter complains
to Cupid, that though he has had so many
intrigues, he was never sincerely beloved.
‘In order to be loved,’ says Cupid, ‘you must
lay aside your aegis and your thunderbolts ;
you must curl and perfume your hair, and
place a garland on your head, and walk with
a soft step, and assume a winning, obse¬
quious deportment.’ ‘ But,’ replied Jupiter,