But the sunshine is not always, neither is it good for a man that prosperity should endure for ever. Hitherto it had been well with me; for, save in the loss of Rebecca—and somehow I never could account her removal a loss, but only as a change by which she was a great gainer—I had not tasted of the bitterness of life: not that my cup was uniformly sweet and overflowing, but all things had a growth and progress with me. Carefulness sat on the doorstep of my threshold, and frugality blithened my dwelling.

No man ever thrives without nettling the malice or the envy of some of his neighbours: and accordingly, persons were not wanting, who regarded the custom of my grocery store with eyes askew. Among these were two cabinet-makers, on the opposite side of the street, carrying on a respectable business, and having in their employ ten or twelve journeymen and ‘prentices. They reckoned the number of my customers; they counted the casks of sugar I took in, and the chests of tea that were brought to me; and, having laid their heads together, they concluded it was a fine thing to be a grocer.

Accordingly, with the temptation of a great rent, they hired the house at the corner of Broadway, three doors above mine, over the head of a decent old Dutchman, who was well-known as the sexton of the Dutch church; gave up their own business; and fitting up the house in an elegant style, commenced the grocery business.

Their store, having the advantage of being at the corner, and opening upon Broadway, attracted away many of my customers: besides, they were men of substance, and they could afford to lay in a better assortment of goods than it was in my power to do; so they carried all before them. This, assuredly, was a great misfortune, and troubled me severely; for although it did not come in all its weight at once, the consequences were yet plain to be seen, and day after day my scales had less and less occupation.