278 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



chid and vexed, till she also chid and vexed her- 

 self into her grave : and so the wealth of these 

 poor rich people was cursed into a punishment, 

 because they wanted meek and thankful hearts ; 

 for those only can make us happy. I knew a 

 man that had health and riches, and several 

 houses, all beautiful and ready furnished, and 

 would often trouble himself and family to be re- 

 moving from one house to another ; and being 

 asked by a friend why he removed so often from 

 one house to another, replied, " It was to find 

 content in some one of them." But his friend, 

 knowing his temper, told him, if he would find 

 content in any of his houses, he must leave him- 

 self behind him ; for content will never dwell 

 but in a meek and quiet soul. And this may 

 appear, if we read and consider what our Saviour 

 says in Saint Matthew's Gospel ; for he there says, 

 "Blessed be the merciful, for they shall obtain 

 mercy. Blessed be the pure in heart, for they shall 

 see God. Blessed be the poor in spirit, for theirs 

 is the kingdom of heaven." And, "Blessed 

 be the meek, for they shall possess the earth." 

 Not that the meek shall not also obtain mercy, 

 and see God, and be comforted, and at last come 

 to the kingdom of heaven ; but in the mean time 

 he, and he only, possesses the earth as he goes 

 toward that kingdom of heaven, by being humble 

 and cheerful, and content with what his good 

 God has allotted him. He has no turbulent, re- 

 pining, vexatious thoughts, that he deserves bet- 



