The Virginian

From the New York Mirror.

OLD JACOBS.

Read Luke, Chapter XII. Verse XX. Selected but altered.

"Thanks to my lucky stars!" exclaimed old Jacobs, standing near a lofty mountain, and looking with infinite complacency at the property which he had purchased at the Tontine Coffee House. Thanks to my lucky stars! I am worth one hundred thousand dollars!"

I am worth at least one hundred thousand dollars! said he. "fairly scraped together! I think I will buy a ship for Jack: Tom shall be a counsellor; Patty, yes Patty shall marry the English Ambassador.

'I am worth one hundred thousand dollars! I was just sixty-five last Christmas. I am yet hale and strong. Go to; I'll withdraw from the bustle of the world, and the busy hum of the exchange. I'll retire and enjoy myself.'

Good!" continued old Jacobs, manfully pursuing up the mountain's side. 'Good! I am worth at least one hundred thousand dollars! Aye, here I'll build me a warm mansion--there I'll plant my orchard--on this side, I will have my summer house--ay round yonder angle, we'll run up a stable-- and here I will dig the ice house. What! must I have all those unsightly wooden houses blocking my view! No matter, I can purchase them of my brother merchant Mr. Hicks, and then every one of them shall come down?'

'Consider, sir, for a moment,' observed old Jacobs' land agent, 'consider: what will those poor people do, if you pull down their huts?' Do--do! let them do as they can; tis no concern of mine. And, hark ye, Mr. agent; do you see that mill, which makes such a noisy clack? do you see, I say, how its wheels obstruct the stream which waters my grounds? Come no words! that shall come down too.'

So sagely determined old Jacobs; and he went home pleased with the project of his brain. He supped heartily--he took his hot punch--cracked his jokes--smoked four cigars--and went to bed.

A fit of apoplexy came on suddenly at night, and--and old Jacobs never more awoke.

The 'unsightly wooden houses' there still stand: and their inhabitants continue their avocations.--But old Jacobs, who was 'worth at least one hundred thousand dollars,' moulders in the city church yard; and his name is forgotten upon the exchange.

ENEAS.