man.

"Harry Ford," replied Henry, "died a few years ago in the poor-house."

"Died in the poor-house! How came that to pass?"

"He became very intemperate, and, of course, very poor; and, in his last
days, he was so abusive to his family, that they were obliged to send
him to the poor-house."

"Whom did he marry?"

"Jane Sullivan. You remember her?"

"Yes, very well; though I do not know that I have thought of her for
twenty years. I remember we used to sit near each other in school, and I
could never whisper to her without causing her to blush."

"She has led a very unhappy life. Harry's prospects were good when she
married him, but he soon joined an infidel club in the next town, and
his course was then rapidly downwards till it ended in the drunkard's
grave."

"Jane was a lovely girl; next to"--. It was in his mind to say--next to
Margaret Gray, she was the finest girl in school. "What has become of
James Rogers?"

"He lives in the southern part of the township. He is poor, and lives by
days' work. He has a large family, and has had a great deal of sickness
in it; but he is one of the happiest men I know. He is poor in this
world's goods, but is rich towards God."

"He appeared to be one of the most promising young men in the place,
when I left it."

"He was; and, for a while, he was very successful in the business in
which he was engaged, but a reverse overtook him, and he lost all. He
paid all his debts, and since then has been very poor."

"A hard case!"

"He has often expressed joy at his failure."

"Is he insane?"

"By no means. This failure was the means of securing a title to a more
enduring inheritance."

"Is Amy Brace living?"

"Yes. She is also poor. Her husband is a well-meaning, but most
inefficient man."

"All my old acquaintances seem to be poor."

"None have been prospered in this world as my brother has. There are
some who are comfortably well off, and a few who have an undoubted title
to the riches of eternity."

The rich man sighed deeply, but made no reply. After a long interval of
silence, he remarked--

"Life has been, to most of us, a very different thing from what we
expected."

"You have realized your expectations as to wealth."

"Yes; but if I had my life to live over again, I would not pay the price
at which I gained it. I have never been happy, but only preparing to be
so. Sickness has come, and death is coming! What has all my life been
worth? The few hour