True Riches; Or, Wealth Without Wings

"True Riches; Or, Wealth Without Wings" by T. S. Arthur is a story set in the 1800's that shows us two kinds of wealth, what we own and what we value. Edward Claire works for Leonard Jasper, a not so honest businessman, and Edward sees how easy it is to get rich by doing bad things. His wife, Edith, is loving and always does what's right, which makes Edward think about what's really important. As Edward tries to do well at work, he struggles with whether he should be like Jasper or listen to his own heart and Edith's good example. The story also brings in a little girl named Fanny, who doesn't have parents, and Edward and Edith need to decide if they should take her in, which makes them think even more about what it means to be truly rich. This shows us how tricky it can be to choose between getting more stuff or being a good person.