He had abundant means, but as
many of his relations were even yet richer, his mind was bent: upon
outdoing them by gaining more. Enough is never what we have--
'Looking down on lives below them, men of little store are great;
Looking up to higher fortunes, hard to each man seems his fate.'
And is not wealth won by courage and enterprise?--
'As a bride, unwisely wedded, shuns the cold caress of eld,
So, from coward souls and slothful, Lakshmi's favors turn repelled.'
'Ease, ill-health, home-keeping, sleeping, woman-service, and content--
In the path that leads to greatness these be six obstructions sent.'
And wealth that increases not, diminishes--a little gain is so far
good--
'Seeing how the soorma wasteth, seeing how the ant-hill grows,
Little adding unto little--live, give, learn, as life-time goes.'
'Drops of water falling, falling, falling, brim the chatty o'er;
Wisdom comes in little lessons--little gains make largest store.'
Moved by these reflections Well-to-do loaded a cart with wares of all
kinds, yoked two bulls to it, named Lusty-life and Roarer, and started
for Kashmir to trade.
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