A RICH MAN ON RICHES.


THE following story, says The Wayside, is told of Jacob Ridgway, a wealthy citizen of Philadelphia who died many years ago, leaving a fortune of several million dollars." Mr. Ridgway," said a young man with whom he was conversing, "you are more to be envied than any gentleman I know."

"Why so? " responded Mr. Ridgway. 

"I am not aware of any cause for which I should be particularly envied."

"What, sir! "exclaimed the young man. 

"Are you not a millionaire? Think of the thousands your income brings you every month!"

"Well, what of that?" replied Mr. Ridgway. "All I get out of it is my food and clothes, and I can't eat more than one man's allowance, or wear more than one suit at a time. Pray, can't you do as much?"

"Ah, but," said the youth, "think of the hundreds of fine houses you own, and the rental they bring you!"

"What better am I off for that?" replied the rich man. "I can only live in one house at a time; as for the money I receive for rents, why, I can't eat it or wear it; I can only use it to buy other houses for other people to live in; they are the beneficiaries, not I."

"But you can buy splendid furniture and costly pictures, and fine carriages and horses in fact, anything you desire."

"And after I have bought them," responded Mr. Ridgway, "what then? I can only look at the furniture and pictures, and the poorest man who is not blind can do the same. I can ride no easier in a fine carriage than you can in an omnibus for five cents, without the trouble of attending to drivers, footmen, and hostlers; and as to anything I 'desire,' I can tell you, young man, that the less we desire in this world the happier we shall be. All my wealth cannot buy me a single day more of life cannot buy back my youth cannot purchase exemption from sickness and pain cannot procure me power to keep afar off the hour of death; and then, what will all avail when, in a few short years, I lie down in the grave and leave it all forever?  Young man, you have no cause to envy me."