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It is a source of genuine delight to me； who am of a kindly nature
enough； according to my own reckoning； to watch the good woman； and
see what looks of pride and affection she bestows upon her Benjamin；
and how； in spite of herself； the maternal feeling betrays its
influence in her dispensations of those delicacies which are the
exceptional element in our entertainments。 I will not say that
Benjamin's mess； like his Scripture namesake's； is five times as
large as that of any of the others； for this would imply either an
economical distribution to the guests in general or heaping the poor
young man's plate in a way that would spoil the appetite of an
Esquimau； but you may be sure he fares well if anybody does； and I
would have you understand that our Landlady knows what is what as
well as who is who。
I begin really to entertain very sanguine expectations of young
Doctor Benjamin Franklin。 He has lately been treating a patient of
whose good…will may prove of great importance to him。 The Capitalist
hurt one of his fingers somehow or other； and requested our young
doctor to take a look at it。 The young doctor asked nothing better
than to take charge of the case； which proved more serious than might
have been at first expected； and kept him in attendance more than a
week。 There was one very odd thing about it。 The Capitalist seemed
to have an idea that he was like to be ruined in the matter of
bandages；small strips of worn linen which any old woman could have
spared him from her rag…bag； but which； with that strange perversity
which long habits of economy give to a good many elderly people； he
seemed to think were as precious as if they had been turned into
paper and stamped with promises to pay in thousands； from the
national treasury。 It was impossible to get this whim out of him；
and the young doctor had tact enough to humor him in it。 All this
did not look very promising for the state of mind in which the
patient was like to receive his bill for attendance when that should
be presented。 Doctor Benjamin was man enough； however； to come up to
the mark； and sent him in such an account as it was becoming to send
a man of ample means who had been diligently and skilfully cared for。
He looked forward with some uncertainty as to how it would be
received。 Perhaps his patient would try to beat him down； and Doctor
Benjamin made up his mind to have the whole or nothing。 Perhaps he
would pay the whole amount； but with a look； and possibly a word；
that would make every dollar of it burn like a blister。
Doctor Benjamin's conjectures were not unnatural； but quite remote
from the actual fact。 As soon as his patient had got entirely well；
the young physician sent in his bill。 The Capitalist requested him
to step into his room with him； and paid the full charge in the
handsomest and most gratifying way； thanking him for his skill and
attention； and assuring him that he had had great satisfaction in
submitting himself to such competent hands； and should certainly
apply to him again in case he should have any occasion for a medical
adviser。 We must not be too sagacious in judging people by the
little excrescences of their character。 Ex pede Herculem may often
prove safe enough； but ex verruca Tullium is liable to mislead a
hasty judge of his fellow…men。
I have studied the people called misers and thought a good deal about
them。 In former years I used to keep a little gold by me in order to
ascertain for myself exactly the amount of pleasure to be got out of
handling it； this being the traditional delight of the old…fashioned
miser。 It is by no means to be despised。 Three or four hundred
dollars in double…eagles will do very well to experiment on。 There
is something very agreeable in the yellow gleam； very musical in the
metallic clink； very satisfying in the singular weight； and very
stimulating in the feeling that all the world over these same yellow
disks are the master…keys that let one in wherever he wants to go；
the servants that bring him pretty nearly everything he wants； except
virtue；and a good deal of what passes for that。 I confess； then；
to an honest liking for the splendors and the specific gravity and
the manifold potentiality of the royal metal； and I understand； after
a certain imperfect fashion； the delight that an old ragged wretch；
starving himself in a crazy hovel； takes in stuffing guineas into old
stockings and filling earthen pots with sovereigns； and every now and
then visiting his hoards and fingering the fat pieces； and thinking
ever all that they represent of earthly and angelic and diabolic
energy。 A miser pouring out his guineas into his palm and bathing
his shrivelled and trembling hands in the yellow heaps before him； is
not the prosaic being we are in the habit of thinking him。 He is a
dreamer； almost a poet。 You and I read a novel or a poem to help our
imaginations to build up palaces； and transport us into the emotional
states and the felicitous conditions of the ideal characters pictured
in the book we are reading。 But think of him and the significance of
the symbols he is handling as compared with the empty syllables and
words we are using to build our aerial edifices with！ In this hand
he holds the smile of beauty and in that the dagger of revenge。 The
contents of that old glove will buy him the willing service of many
an adroit sinner； and with what that coarse sack contains he can
purchase the prayers of holy men for all succeeding time。 In this
chest is a castle in Spain； a real one； and not only in Spain； but
anywhere he will choose to have it。 If he would know what is the
liberality of judgment of any of the straiter sects； he has only to
hand over that box of rouleaux to the trustees of one of its
educational institutions for the endowment of two or three
professorships。 If he would dream of being remembered by coming
generations； what monument so enduring as a college building that
shall bear his name； and even when its solid masonry shall crumble
give place to another still charged with the same sacred duty of
perpetuating his remembrance。 Who was Sir Matthew Holworthy； that
his name is a household word on the lips of thousands of scholars；
and will be centuries hence； as that of Walter de Merton； dead six
hundred years ago； is to…day at Oxford？ Who was Mistress Holden；
that she should be blessed among women by having her name spoken
gratefully and the little edifice she caused to be erected preserved
as her monument from generation to generation？ All these
possibilities； the lust of the eye； the lust of the flesh； the pride
of life； the tears of grateful orphans by the gallon； the prayers of
Westminster Assembly's Catechism divines by the thousand； the masses
of priests by the century；all these things； and more if more there
be that the imagination of a lover of gold is likely to range over；
the miser hears and sees and feels and hugs and enjoys as he paddles
with his lean hands among the sliding； shining； ringing； innocent…
looking bits of yellow metal； toying with them as the lion…tamer
handles the great carnivorous monster； whose might and whose terrors
are child's play to the latent forces and power of harm…doing of the
glittering counters played with in the great game between angels and
devils。
I have seen a good deal of misers； and I think I understand them as
well as most persons do。 But the Capitalist's economy in rags and
his liberality to the young doctor are very oddly contrasted with
each other。 I should not be surprised at any time to hear that he
had endowed a scholarship or professorship or built a college
dormitory； in spite of his curious parsimony in old linen。
I do not know where our Young Astronomer got the notions that he
expresses so freely in the lines that follow。 I think the statement
is true； however； which I see in one of the most popular
Cyclopaedias； that 〃the non…clerical mind in all ages is disposed to
look favorably upon the doctrine of the universal restoration to
holiness and happiness of all fallen intelligences； whether human or
angelic。〃 Certainly； most of the poets who have reached the heart of
men； since Burns dropped the tear for poor 〃auld Nickie…ben〃 that
softened the stony…hearted theology of Scotland； have had 〃non…
clerical〃 minds； and I suppose our young friend is in his humble way
an optimist like them。 What he says in verse is very much the same
thing as what is said in prose in all companies； and thought by a
great many who are thankful to anybody that will say it for them；
not a few clerical as wall as 〃non…clerical 〃 persons among them。
WIND…CLOUDS AND STAR…DRIFTS。
V
What am I but the creature Thou hast made？
What have I save the blessings Thou hast lent？
What hope I but Thy mercy and Thy love？
Who but myself shall cloud my soul with fear？
Whose hand protect me from myself but Thine？
I claim the rights of weakness； I； the babe；
Call on my sire to shield me from the ills
That still beset my path； not trying me
With snares beyond my wisdom or my strength；
He knowing I shall use them to my harm；
And find a tenfold misery in the sense
Th