THE BACHELORS. "One impulse of a vernal wood THE knowledge of human nature cannot be acquired by simply surveying the mass of mankind. We must study the characters of individuals, and draw our general inferences from a careful examination of the whole details. By such a process we shall find that the laws of nature and the commands of heaven are in harmony, and cannot be opposed with impunity. The heart that is cased in flint to the common observer, often beats with an irregular motion, and has its aches, that are ill-concealed under the mask of indifference. JOHN THOMPSON, HENRY GILBERT, and MONTJOY TILESTON RUSSELL, were nearly of the same age-born in the same city-educated in the elementary branches of know. ledge in the same school-and graduated from college in the same class. They were bright boys-emulous of distinction—and held, if not an equal rank with each other, surely a high one in their class. In the course of obtaining their education, they were constantly associated together, and a strong friendship grew up between them, which they fondly believed that nothing but death could destroy. They agreed to settle in their native city. Thompson studied the law-Gilbert, physic-and Russell entered the counting room of his father, and prepared himself to become a merchant-one acquainted with the history and geography of nations, with the nature and amount of their products and commerce. After a few years, he became a partner in the house of which his father was the head, and was considered as an active, intelligent young merchant. The lawyer and doctor began business under good auspices, particularly the former. He was well read, sagacious, and full of confidence. He studied his causes well, and was in general very successful-for he would not condescend to be a tool against his judgment for any one. The doctor was learned in his profession, and refined in his manners. He would not use a harsh word to the humblest patient, nor flatter the most exalted. If he did not advance so rapidly as many dashing young men have done, still it may be said, that what he gained, he never lost. His delicacy was only surpassed by his firmness-and that never had a particle of asperity in it. These young gentlemen had made it a rule with themselves to meet once a week, to enjoy a banquet of conversation; and to which feast, like Scarron's, each guest brought his own dish. This habit was kept up for several years with great constancy, and to their mutual advantage. Sometimes a few friends were admitted to join this trio-and this was considered a great favor. At a time between the embargo of 1807 and the war of 1812, the prices of merchandize underwent many fluctuations, in the successive shocks given to commerce by the numerous acts of national legislation. At a time when new changes were anticipated, the young merchant was not at his weekly supper as usual. The other two went out to find him. He was still at his desk, but engaged to be with them in the course of an hour or two. When he arrived he told them that he anticipated that great changes were about to take place in the prices-current, and that he had prevailed upon a young man who had just come into possession of a great estate, to venture an hundred thousand dollars to be used by him at half profits. He dwelt so long on the subject, and gave such satisfactory reasons for his belief of great gains, that his friends were convinced that he had a splendid prospect before him; and after some further preliminary remarks, the professional gentlemen prepared to put something into the speculation. This, Russell agreed to take, upon conditions that they should receive all the profits-saying, that if he was successful, he should make enough out of what he now had of his own and of others, and that he would not trade for his own benefit on the money of his friends. The lawyer and doctor, by pledging their bank stock and mortgaging some paternal real estate, raised fifteen thousand dollars each. This was done forthwith, and the money was put into the hands of their friend the merchant. Some weeks elapsed before the waters began to move. The first purchase made by Russell was of all the spices, drugs, and coffee he could find at fair prices. The next, was to enter into contracts, which were made binding, for an immense quantity of distilled spirits, at numerous distilleries. This being done, he repaired to the city of New York, to watch the operation of the great speculators in Wall street. This was managed so adroitly, that his views were not suspected until he was well acquainted with the signs of the flood from the first rise until it would return to its neap. He then left that city for his own. All his transactions were carried on without bustle, and succeeded to his wishes. At a supper on one of their usual nights of meeting, Russell assured his friends that each of them were now worth an hundred thousand dollars in addition to their former fortunes; and that he had been equally successful himself, but that he should now discontinue his exertions-believing that speculation had reached its height. The professional men were delighted with the news, and earnestly desired their mercantile friend to cease his operations;—they did not wish for more. Elated with success, they pushed round the bottle, until they were all a little flushed with wine and the thoughts of their prosperity. At this crisis, one of them proposed that they should adopt a plan of life that would insure them the title of "THE IMMORTAL THREE." "Name it !-name it!" were heard from the other two. "Then," 66 66 said he, "let us make up our minds to live bachelors until we go to our graves." Agreed!-agreed!" was the response-and, before the clock struck twelve that night, they had signed a paper, (of which each took a copy,) that -he should forfeit the pledge of honor which held them together, whoever might enter the bonds of matrimony, or suffer any woman to call him husband. They then talked over the course of life they intended to pursue. “I,” said the lawyer, "will forthwith close my professional business, or, at least, as soon as possible-buy me a farm, and become an agriculturist, a horticulturist-and my chief delight shall be in a garden. In viewing nature and her delightful products I will spend my days; and repose, when I choose, on a bed of flowers."-"I," said the doctor, "will never again administer a tincture, or a pill, or grasp the amputating knife. I will retire from corporal and mental miseries, and confine myself to philosophical research. The microscope, the developements of chemistry, and the pure mathematics, shall delight me by day, and the still greater wonders of the telescope by night."-The merchant pondered for awhile, but at last shaped his course. My fame shall be that of a traveller," said he; "I will emulate Mandeville, 66 a gem The surpass Bruce, and rival Ledyard. I will hunt the chamois on the Alps-shoot the condor on the Andes-and drink at the sources of the Mississippi and the Nile. I will engrave my name on the top of the highest Pyramid-and bring up from the deepest cavern in the mines of Golconda." The genius of revelry was the ascendant of this midnight hour; and when the morning sun arose, each was ready to shed tears at his rash pledge-but neither would be foremost in acknowledging his folly and recanting his error. lawyer was the first to set about performing his part. He bought a large, fine farm, well wooded and watered, of an excellent soil-and commenced his labors. He laid out his grounds on the inost approved methods-and, by dams, sluices, &c. prepared to irrigate a greater portion of his fields. He collected a rare stock of cattle, and kept them under the full force of feed. His farm soon became a pattern one-and all in the neighborhood were his imitators, as far as they could be. His poultry-yard swarmed with every species of domestic fowl that ever made a supper for Lucullus, or was ever eaten with curry at the feast of an Asiatic satrap. Every day in the year he could command from his own premises all the luxuries of life-in which he took more pleasure in seeing than in devouring. He supplied the sick with an hundred little dainties from his field or larder, and his wine was a cordial ready to flow when the village physician prescribed it for any of his poor patients. His fields were the object of admiration-but it was on his garden that he spent the most of his time, and where he exercised his highest faculties. The copious stream which ran through his grounds was made to pass in three channels-being separated before they entered the walls of the garden. Trees were planted on the banks of each current, excepting in the proper places for bridges and openings. |