University of Virginia Library

No set of fools require less commiseration than those at present under our review; for, notwithstanding the hourly proofs of the insufficiency of age in every instance which requires animal, and too frequently, mental exertion, we find the impulse of folly counteract each sober dictate of reason; as if by rushing into excess, we were to invigorate the system; and, by dissipating in youth, we hoarded up for age. There is, however, a medium between that over wariness which contaminates the mind with avarice, and the prodigality which beggars him who dissipates; for it has afforded matter for much disquisition, which of the two is most prejudicial, the penurious man, or the spendthrift: and, notwithstanding the ills resulting from the latter, it is, nevertheless, a received opinion, that the former is most inimical to the interests and well being of society. It is the province of every man to remember, that if a duration of life be granted him, he must, of necessity, become old; and that his youthful powers are not only accorded to him for the present enjoyment, but to ward against the evils of want in future: for he who is incapable of assisting either himself or others, will find but a cold reception from the world; and, like the drone in the hive, be turned adrift, as unworthy the protection of the industrious and the frugal. I shall now relate a fact respecting another species of fools, who may be classed under this head, and whose history was as follows.

A man, finding himself possessed of so many hundred pounds, when at the age of forty, took it into his head that he should just live to attain his 64th year; and, under this conviction, he calculated how much would be sufficient for his annual expenditure; which having accomplished, he divided and subdivided his gold into the number of portions, making his last farthing to be gone on the completion of the stipulated age of 64. Now, it so happened, that he not only lived to the above period, but fulfilled his 73d year; consequently, for the last nine years of his existence, being left pennyless, he had recourse to charity; and was never known to fail in attending on London bridge, which was his place of stand, where he appeared with a placard on his breast, whereon he had written these words, “Wrong in my calculation.” Which inscription, on account of its singularity, used to attract the attention of passengers, who, on hearing this story from the lips of the self-convicted fool, used to drop their mite, and profit by the instruction.