p. 524 | Not to Be Envied by A. L. Noble

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 27, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 33.

Not to Be Envied.

By A. L. Noble

"How those three little chaps do enjoy playing together!" said John Evans to his wife one day, as he stood watching his Ned play ball with Charley Willard and Edgar Perry.

"Yes," returned Mrs. Evans, soberly; "they are all on an equality to-night, but ten or fifteen years from now how will it be? Then Charley Willard will be worth his thousands, and our Ned will be his shoe-maker may be."

"If he is, I hope he will make the best boots in the market."

"Think of that little fellow being heir to a quarter of a million," continued Ned's mother, gazing at Charley wistfully.

"Mary, I am honestly glad for Ned's sake that I am a poor man. I would not have my boy, while a boy, heir expectant to any such an amount for all his future is worth."

"Nonsense, John."

"Well, Mary, if we live, you remember what I say, and ten or fifteen years from now see if I am right. I believe the poor man's boy has a better chance than the rich man's son."

"Chance of what?"

"A chance to achieve real success, through industry, economy, and self-control; a better chance to keep a sound body, good brain, and honest heart—a better chance, in short, to secure true manliness."

"You talk like an old fogy, John."

The next week Ned wanted a ball of his own, and began to tell how Charley Willard bought everything he wished just when he wanted it.

"Earn it yourself, my boy, then you will have strength to throw it higher than if it had dropped into your hand," said his father. And that was always the way after that. What Ned had he must work for, what Charley wanted he had for the asking. Soon it was a question of costlier things than balls. Both boys wanted a pony and new school-books. Ned could not have the pony, so he took the books and studied them well. Charley could have both, but the pony was the most entertaining, so he let the books alone.

When the boys were eighteen, one was very popular, and naturally it was the one whose pocket-book always held enough to treat a crowd to whatever fun was going. Ned had friends, but their sports had to be inexpensive. They skated instead of driving fast horses; they spent their evenings in one another's homes, or at lectures, while Charley's comrades could afford theaters and saloons. Of course it came to be principle, and there was a time when Ned, with twice Charley's money, would not have had Charley's tastes; but after all, in the beginning, money made the difference. Ned from a little boy knew he must earn his in the big crowded world if ever he had any place worth having. Charley grew each day to realize that he possessed everything that gold could buy, or the means to acquire it. Ned did not like shoe-making, so he studied law. Charley "read" it too, but first he traveled around the world and saw what there was "to be seen."

The Evanses forgot his existence, until one day Ned—who was a man of wealth and influence—Ned, now "Judge Evans," said to his mother: "Poor Charley Willard! do you remember him?"

"Why of course I do! What of him?"

"He died to-day of apoplexy, brought on by fast living and hard drinking. Poor fellow! he had too much money; everything came to him without work, and life was all play to him."

"Yes; if he had fought his way up as you had to fight yours, Ned, he would not have wasted his strength and his manhood," said Ned's mother, forgetting entirely that night, years before, when she had thought Charley very fortunate.—A. L. Noble, in Banner.