Sometimes life is perfect look at me ( Archived) (4)

I recall, some time ago, a friend, whose fortunes-both social and financial- had suffered bitter grievance, leaving him bereft of all sources by which could sustain himself. However, during his life he had familiarised himself with esteemed works in 19th literature and, as a result, acquired novels of significant antiquarian value- though, in his collecting of such works, it was through cherishment rather than the future consideration of their financial value. In short, he relished every word which those historical personages had penned and considered himself as but a mere caretaker of such treasures. Sharing his home, at that time, were two cats; orphaned and cast to the gutter in their frailty by human cruelty. Driven by that primal need to nurture, which exists in all humans-even though, at times, repressed or deliberately stifled - his thoughts of their continued existence surpassed that of his own. There was no hesitance in his actions to forsake the literary treasures for their welfare. However, once rarity of objects appear for gain by those who seek to profit from another's misfortune, so appears deviousness and the desire to swindle. Thus, these words written with such care, hand-bound with marbled insets and leather covers were passed to a scurrilous rogue for a pittance. It was this pittance that provided sustenance to his house companions for an additional month. During that month, it was related to me by those who had observed his demeanour, that never was there a happier man to be found!

Perhaps in all of this it may be observed that what ultimately brings us the most happiness is that we are defined by who or what we protect and that fortunes are only fleeting...