our family."

"No one can look forward to it more eagerly than I do," replied Mr.
Draper; "but you can little understand the difficulty of withdrawing from
business. However, I fully mean to do it, when I have secured to my wife
and children an inheritance."

Howard smiled.

"O," said Mr. Draper, in reply to the smile, "you must not suppose my
wants can be measured by yours. Your farm supplies you with the
materials of life, and you get them at a cheap rate."

"I give for them what you give," said Howard, "time,--and a little
more,--I give manual labor; you know I belong to the working class. In
this money-making day, men despise small gains, and yet my own experience
tells me they are sufficient for happiness. Great wealth can add but
little to our enjoyments; domestic happiness, you will allow, is cheaply
bought, as far as money is concerned, and riches cannot add a great deal
to our corporeal enjoyment. The pleasures of sense are wisely limited to
narrow boundaries; the epicure has no prolonged gratification in eating;
though he may wish for the throat of the crane, he cannot obtain it;
neither does he enjoy his expensive delicacies more than the day-laborer
does his simple fare. Of all the sources of happiness in this world,
overgrown wealth has the least that is real; and from my own observation,
I should think it the most unproductive source of satisfaction to the
possessor. I have heard of many very wealthy men that have tormented
themselves with the fear of coming to actual want, but I never heard of
one man in moderate circumstances that was afflicted with this
monomania."

"You talk like a philosopher," said Mr. Draper, laughing, "who means to
live all his life in his tub. However, I assure you that I do not intend
always to pursue this course of hurry and business; in a very short time,
I expect to agree with you that I am _rich enough_; now, my only desire
is to hasten that period, that I may devote myself to my family."

"Is it possible," said Howard, "that this incessant toil is to purchase a
blessing which is already within your grasp! At least I hope you mean to
devote yourself to your family now, for a few days."

"I regret to say," said Mr. Draper, "that I must be off early to-morrow
morning. But I am thinking, as my wife and children enjoy the country so
much, that it is an object for me to purchase a snug little place where
they may pass the summer. Do you know of any such near you?