A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder James De Mille

108
"I was born," said he, "in the most enviable of positions. My father
and mother were among the poorest in the land. Both died when I was a
child, and I never saw them. I grew up in the open fields and public
caverns, along with the most esteemed paupers. But, unfortunately for
me, there was something wanting in my natural disposition. I loved
death, of course, and poverty, too, very strongly; but I did not have
that eager and energetic passion which is so desirable, nor was I
watchful enough over my blessed estate of poverty. Surrounded as I was
by those who were only too ready to take advantage of my ignorance or
want of vigilance, I soon fell into evil ways, and gradually, in spite
of myself, I found wealth pouring in upon me. Designing men succeeded
in winning my consent to receive their possessions; and so I gradually
fell away from that lofty position in which I was born. I grew richer
and richer. My friends warned me, but in vain. I was too weak to
resist; in fact, I lacked moral fibre, and had never learned how to
say 'No.' So I went on, descending lower and lower in the scale of
being. I became a capitalist, an Athon, a general officer, and finally
Kohen.
"At length, on one eventful day, I learned that one of my associates
had by a long course of reckless folly become the richest man in all
the country. He had become Athon, Melek, and at last Kohen Gadol. It
was a terrible shock, but I trust a salutary one. I at once resolved
to reform. That resolution I have steadily kept, and have at least
saved myself from descending any lower. It is true, I can hardly hope
to become what I once was. It is only too easy to grow rich; and, you
know, poverty once forfeited can never return except in rare
instances. I have, however, succeeded in getting rid of most of my
wealth, chiefly through the fortunate advent of Almah and afterward of
yourself. This, I confess, has been my salvation. Neither of you had
any scruples about accepting what was bestowed, and so I did not feel
as though I was doing you any wrong in giving you all I had in the
world. Most of the people of this city have taken advantage of your
extraordinary indifference to wealth, and have made themselves paupers
at your expense. I had already become your slave, and had received the
promise of being elevated to the rank of scullion in the cavern of the
Mista Kosek. But now, since this event of your love for Almah, I
hope to gain far more. I am almost certain of being made a pauper, and
I think I can almost venture to hope some day for the honor of a
public death."