A WAYSIDE SHRINE 319 



The mantelpiece bears this inscription: 



"DEDICATED TO THE 



DIGNITY OF HUSBANDRY, THE CULTIVATION OF THE 



HEART, THE JOYS OF FRIENDSHIP, AND 



GOOD WILL AMONG MEN." 



It is all in delightful contrast to the conventional 

 business office, and here the Secretary sometimes 

 sits and dreams. Here, and at the Club, he seeks 

 as best he may to lead men to forget at times the 

 lure of gold, and devote an occasional hour, at 

 least, to thoughts of things outside the counting- 

 room or market-place. He has proved the truth 

 that mere financial gains have been reaped, many a 

 time and oft, like TAM O'SHANTER'S joys, "ower dear" 

 at too great a sacrifice of health and happiness. 



Oh, yes, I know! Sentiment, they say, butters 

 nobody's bread; but my good friend, if ye are a 

 stranger to it and inclined to call it weakness, 

 hearken to this, my admonition ! You may yet live 

 to see the day when your heart will feed upon it 

 fondly, and find in its proper exercise a sweeter 

 solace than was ever drawn by living man from 

 bonds or mortgages. I am sure that if some of us 

 had a little less of the one in our make-up we 

 might have acquired more of the other forms of 

 wealth; but, speaking for myself, I am content. 



