was to assist me in the attainment of my moderate wishes.

After proceeding up the north street, I reached the gate, and saw the
marble columns glittering through the trees. Having wiped the dust from
my shoes with my pocket-handkerchief, and readjusted my cravat, I rang
the bell--offering up at the same time a silent prayer. The door flew
open, and the porter sent in my name. I had soon the honor to be invited
into the park, where Mr. John was walking with a few friends. I
recognized him at once by his corpulency and self- complacent air. He
received me very well--just as a rich man receives a poor devil; and
turning to me, took my letter. "Oh, from my brother! it is a long time
since I heard from him: is he well?--Yonder," he went on,--turning to
the company, and pointing to a distant hill--"yonder is the site of the
new building." He broke the seal without discontinuing the conversation,
which turned upon riches. "The man," he said, "who does not possess at
least a million is a poor wretch." "Oh, how true!" I exclaimed, in the
fulness of my heart. He seemed pleased at this, and replied with a
smile: "Stop here, my dear friend; afterwards I shall, perhaps, have
time to tell you what I think of this," pointing to the letter, which
he then put into his pocket, and turned round to the company, offering
his arm to a young lady: his example was followed by the other
gentlemen, each politely escorting a lady; and the whole party proceeded
towards a little hill thickly planted with blooming roses.

I followed without troubling any one, for none took the least further
notice of me. The party was in high spirits--lounging about and
jesting--speaking sometimes of trifling matters very seriously, and of
serious matters as triflingly--and exercising their wit in particular
to great advantage on their absent friends and their affairs. I was too
ignorant of what they were talking about to understand much of it, and