o accumulate to become a passion. On the
contrary, he diffused his wealth--not by direct gifts in charity, but by
affording everybody around him opportunity to get on and prosper, just
exactly as if the world was common to all, and as if all should be
allowed a fair chance to live in it!

You have no idea how the attempt to practise this principle enriched the
life and nature of Joel Burns.

[There are two Spirits--towering, gigantic Genii--who attend on man: one
the Absorbing, the other the Imparting, Spirit. Both are active,
energetic, untiring. The former, if it gains access to the soul,
commences at once to narrow and impoverish it; while the latter enlarges
and makes the soul rich. Herein is explained the old enigma which a
dying man is said to have uttered:

'What I kept, I've not;
What I gave, I've got.']

I have remarked that Burnsville was one of the largest towns in the
State. This was not only the case, but the immense manufactories in
'Slab City' made it much more prominent than any other, and brought it
into more direct communication with New York.

Hiram Meeker heard, from time to time, of all that Joel was doing. In
fact, impelled by a strong impulse, he took pains to ascertain what
progress he made from year to year. But Hiram could not, with all his
penetration, fathom a nature like that of Joel. It was always a puzzle
to him. For it was not given to a man, who had all his life harbored the
wicked Demon _Absorption_, to understand the excellency and happiness of
such a life.

But he watched Burnsville. Indeed, he was tempted to make some heavy
investments there when the railroad was constructed--of which event, as
the leading capitalist of the country, he had the earliest information.
He abandoned the idea, however, for he shrank from coming in contact
with his old employer.

So Joel Burns lived on his noble, God-given existence.

But, reader, if you think I am endeavoring to depict a faultless person,
you are much mistaken. Faultless is lifeless, when applied to human
beings. It is in the contest with our faults that the glory of our
humanity shines forth. It is this which binds our race together in one
great brotherhood. Pray, tell me what we could do with a faultless man
or woman. What have we in common with any such person? What sympathy
have we with either, or either with us?

Joel Burns was constitutionally ardent and energetic, not to say
impetuous. With such characteristics are a