146 A WAY TO BE HAPPY.

 

“How you for the better, Mr. Steele!”

“T have gone into business.”

“T hope no misfortune has overtaken

ou ?”

“T have lost more than half my proper-
ty, but I trust this will not prove in the
end a misfortune.”

“Really, Mr. Steele, I am pained to on
that reverses have driven you to the neces-
sity of going into business.”

“While I am more than half inclined to
say that I am glad of it. I led for years a
useless life, most of the time a burden to
myself. I was a drone in the social hive;
I added nothing to the common stock; 1
was of no use to any one. But now my
labours not only benefit myself, but the
community at large. My mind is interested
all the day; I no longer feel listlessness ;
the time never hangs heavy upon my
hands. I have, as a German writer has
said, ‘ fire-proof perennial enjoyments, called
employments.’”

“You speak warmly, Mr. Steele.”