Opening the text

The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2, No. 2, August, 1862: Devoted to Literature and National PolicyVarious

History

The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2, No. 2, August, 1862: Devoted to Literature and National Policy

Name: The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2, No. 2, August, 1862: Devoted to Literature and National Policy
Author: Various

Various

Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century -- Periodicals

'Besides, let the poorer classes of the world be consoled, assured
     that the labor-loving, frugal, industrious, and virtuous among them
     possess joys and happiness in this life which the rich know not and
     can not appreciate; so well convinced am I (after a long life and
     intercourse with my fellow-men of all classes) of the truth 'that
     the happiness of this life is altogether on the side of the
     virtuous and industrious poor,' that had I children, (which I have
     not,)' [how lively and sagacious the apprehension of the old
     millionaire lest some putative offspring might come forward to
     disturb his darling bequests!] 'and a fortune to leave behind me at
     death, I would bequeath, after a virtuous education, (to effect
     which nothing should be spared,) a very small amount to each,
     merely sufficient to excite them to habits of industry and
     frugality, and no more. As the poor man's friend, then, I recommend
     to him to honor and respect the virtuous rich, and to lay these
     observations to their heart and to store them up in their mind. And
     to the rich, I would say, (if they own feelings, and worthy of
     their regard,) 'Give them an occasional reflection.' Hoping
     thereby, that the world may advance in happiness, in virtue, and
     holiness.'

Lastly, the old man grows tender, sentimental, and poetic, He who for
forty years had never been seen or known to manifest a single emotion of
gentleness, of tender feeling or sentiment, of love of children, of
nature, or any domestic affection, in his last will desires to be held
in loving remembrance by the fresh young souls for whose benefit he
declares he has led his long career of toil, of self-sacrifice, and
devotion, to gain. The association of sweet flowers, sprinkled over a
green grave by the hands of innocent children, with the life and
character of one of the most intense, hard and severe devotees to Mammon
that ever lived, is a strange and incongruous one, but it was a picture
which appears to have been very distinctly sketched on the imagination
of John McBonogh, as will appear from the following clauses in his will:

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2, No. 2, August, 1862: Devoted to Literature and National PolicyVarious

History

The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2, No. 2, August, 1862: Devoted to Literature and National Policy

Various

Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century -- Periodicals

'Besides, let the poorer classes of the world be consoled, assured
     that the labor-loving, frugal, industrious, and virtuous among them
     possess joys and happiness in this life which the rich know not and
     can not appreciate; so well convinced am I (after a long life and
     intercourse with my fellow-men of all classes) of the truth 'that
     the happiness of this life is altogether on the side of the
     virtuous and industrious poor,' that had I children, (which I have
     not,)' [how lively and sagacious the apprehension of the old
     millionaire lest some putative offspring might come forward to
     disturb his darling bequests!] 'and a fortune to leave behind me at
     death, I would bequeath, after a virtuous education, (to effect
     which nothing should be spared,) a very small amount to each,
     merely sufficient to excite them to habits of industry and
     frugality, and no more. As the poor man's friend, then, I recommend
     to him to honor and respect the virtuous rich, and to lay these
     observations to their heart and to store them up in their mind. And
     to the rich, I would say, (if they own feelings, and worthy of
     their regard,) 'Give them an occasional reflection.' Hoping
     thereby, that the world may advance in happiness, in virtue, and
     holiness.'

Lastly, the old man grows tender, sentimental, and poetic, He who for
forty years had never been seen or known to manifest a single emotion of
gentleness, of tender feeling or sentiment, of love of children, of
nature, or any domestic affection, in his last will desires to be held
in loving remembrance by the fresh young souls for whose benefit he
declares he has led his long career of toil, of self-sacrifice, and
devotion, to gain. The association of sweet flowers, sprinkled over a
green grave by the hands of innocent children, with the life and
character of one of the most intense, hard and severe devotees to Mammon
that ever lived, is a strange and incongruous one, but it was a picture
which appears to have been very distinctly sketched on the imagination
of John McBonogh, as will appear from the following clauses in his will:

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2, No. 2, August, 1862: Devoted to Literature and National Policy

The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2, No. 2, August, 1862: Devoted to Literature and National Policy

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