16 [Senate, 



to be found'? There is no need of an audible answer. Look around. 

 Bright eyes and blooming cheeks, as well as strong arms and untiring 

 strength, tell us that earth's jfirst blessing is bestowed upon those who 

 labor upon her bosom. 



But health is often undervalued by its possessor, or only appreciated 

 when lost. Wealth, the more obvious and immediate reward of labor, 

 is the chief pursuit of the active. And here the farmer thinks he has 

 a right to complain. The merchant will sometimes make more in a 

 year than he can in a lifetime ; and it is not wonderful that he some- 

 times asks, would it not be better to leave small rewards, though regular 

 and certain, for the chance of obtaining greater^ To decide this 

 question, we must ask. What is the price he pays? What is the reward 

 he obtains'? 



What is the price he pays? To say nothing of his moral exposures, 

 in the great majority of cases, health of body and serenity of mind. 

 Follow such a one into the crowded streets, or the close workshop. 

 His strength for a time sustains him, but confinement and bad air soon 

 deprive him of his healthful energy, and disease and premature decay 

 become too often his portion. But supposing health can be preserved, 

 where is his serenity of mind. '' 



The risks attendant on rapid accumulation are always in proportion 

 to the chances of success. The farmer sows his seed, and has no 

 doubt but that the harvest will repay him. But he who embarks in 

 speculations that promise sudden and great wealth, knows that he may 

 be " sowing the wind, to reap the whirlwind." And the constant fear 

 of such a result embitters his days and renders his nights restless. 

 And if attained, success gives but little satisfaction. The higher the 

 rise, the wider the horizon ; the greater the accumulation, the more 

 exorbitant the desire. And this is not the extent of the evil. A total 

 want of independence is too often the result. Few men in our 

 community have those resources that will enable them to carry on 

 extensive operations on their own means. Almost all depend upon 

 borrowing, and "the borrower is a servant unto the lender." But 

 even if success should be the portion of the aspirant for riches, when 

 is he to attain to it? Does it come forward to meet him? Years of 

 anxiety may be repaid by wealth ; but how seldom is this the case. 

 More than ninety in every hundred, even in regular mercantile 

 pursuits, fail. There are but few capital prizes in this lottery. The 

 name of the fortunate holder may be seen at every corner, but where 



