Tales and Novels — Volume 02 eBook

Many who have hundreds and thousands are miserable, because they still desire more; or rather because they know not what they would have.  For instance, Mr. Hopkins, the rich Mr. Hopkins, who had scraped together in about fifteen years above twenty thousand, some said thirty thousand pounds, had never been happy for a single day, either whilst he was making this fortune or when he had made it; for he was of an avaricious, discontented temper.  The more he had, the more he desired.  He could not bear the prosperity of his neighbours; and if his envy made him industrious, yet it at the same time rendered him miserable.  Though he was what the world calls a remarkably fortunate man, yet the feelings of his own mind prevented him from enjoying his success.  He had no wife, no children, to share his wealth.  He would not marry, because a wife is expensive; and children are worse than taxes.  His whole soul was absorbed in the love of gain.  He denied himself not only the comforts but the common necessaries of life.  He was alone in the world.  He was conscious that no human being loved him.  He read his history in the eyes of all his neighbours.

It was known that he had risen upon the ruin of others; and the higher he had risen, the more conspicuous became the faults of his character.  Whenever any man grew negligent of his affairs, or by misfortune was reduced to distress, Hopkins was at hand to take advantage of his necessities.  His first approaches were always made under the semblance of friendship; but his victims soon repented their imprudent confidence when they felt themselves in his power.  Unrestrained by a sense of honour or the feelings of humanity, he felt no scruple in pursuing his interest to the very verge of what the law would call fraud.  Even his own relations complained that he duped them without scruple; and none but strangers to his character, or persons compelled by necessity, would have any dealings with this man.  Of what advantage to him, or to any one else, were the thousands he had accumulated?

It may be said that such beings are necessary in society; that their industry is productive; and that, therefore, they ought to be preferred to the idle, unproductive members of the community:  but wealth and happiness are not the same things.  Perhaps, at some future period, enlightened politicians may think the happiness of nations more important than their wealth.  In this point of view, they would consider all the members of society, who are productive of happiness, as neither useless nor despicable; and, on the contrary, they would contemn and discourage those who merely accumulate money, without enjoying or dispensing happiness.  But some centuries must probably elapse before such a philosophic race of politicians can arise.  In the mean time, let us go on with our story.

CHAPTER III.