Genesis 13:2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. The following story is told of Jacob Ridgeway, a wealthy citizen of Philadelphia, who died many years ago, leaving a fortune of five or six million dollars. "Mr. Ridgeway," said a young man with whom the millionaire was conversing, "you are more to be envied than any gentleman I know." "Why so?" responded Mr. Ridgeway; "I am not aware of any cause for which I should be particularly envied." "What, sir!" exclaimed the young man in astonishment. "Why you are a millionaire! Think of the thousands your income brings every month!" "Well, what of that?" replied Mr. Ridgeway. "All I get out of it is my victuals and clothes, and I can't eat more than one man's allowance and wear more than a suit at a time. Pray can't you do as much?" "Ah, but," said the youth, "think of the hundreds of fine houses you own, and the rentals they bring you." "What better am I off for that?" replied the rich man. "I can only live in one house at a time; as for the money I receive for rents, why I can't eat it or wear it; I can only use it to buy other houses for other people to live in; they are the beneficiaries, not I." "But you can buy splendid furniture, and costly pictures, and fine carriages and horses — in fact, anything you desire." "And after I have bought them," responded Mr. Ridgeway, "what then? I can only look at the furniture and pictures, and the poorest man, who is not blind, can do the same. I can ride no easier in a fine carriage than you can in an omnibus for five cents, without the trouble of attending to drivers, footmen, and ostlers; and as to anything I 'desire,' I can tell you, young man, that the less we desire in this world, the happier we shall be. All my wealth can't buy a single day more of life — cannot buy back my youth — cannot procure me power to keep afar off the hour of death; and then, what will all avail, when in a few short years at most, I lie down in the grave and leave it all forever? Young man, you have no cause to envy me." Parallel Verses KJV: And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.WEB: Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. |
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