ONE of the worthiest and wealthiest
ironmasters in the West of Scotland once travelled in a railway carriage
with two young hopefuls, the bulk of whose conversation was the
felicity of the rich, and their desire to be of the lucky and happy
number. At length, one wishing to make known the moderation of his wishes,
complacently remarked:
"Well, for my part I should be
perfectly happy if I had a thousand a year."
"Na, ye wadna," unceremoniously
interjected the possessor of millions.
"Well, if I had two thousands," said
young hopeful, doubling his desire.
"Na, ye wadna," was again the
response; which caused the young wisher after riches to go on adding to
the amount of his aspirations, and ever receiving the same response until
a pretty considerable sum total had been reached; on which the millionaire
vouchsafed his experience in these words:
"I ha’e tried them a’, and a great
deal mair, and I’m no happy yet. Indeed, my young friends, I’m no sae
happy noo as whan I was workin’ at the forge, wi’ my shirt-sleeves tucked
up, for auchty punds a year !"
