The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-06-12
THAT HOLE IN THE POCKET.
BY JAMES 4. rERKINs.

1t is now about one year since my wife said
TO me one day, pray, Mr.. Slackwater, have you
got that half dollar about you that | gave YOU
this morning? felt in my WniStcoat pocket,
and felt in my breeches pocket, and turned
my purse inside CUT, but 1t was all empty spnce
which is very different from specie SO | said
70 Mrs. Slarkwater, l'vc lost it, my dear posi-
lively, there must he hole in my pociletn IN
sew it up said she.
An hour or two AFTER met Tom S,ehbns.-
'lloW did that ice-crea set'' said Tom. 1T
set said like the sun, glorously.' And rs
spoke, it flashed upon me that my missing hHi
dollar had paid for those ice creams; however,
held my peace, for Mrs. Slackwater sometimes
makes remarks; and even when she assured me
at break fast, next morning, that there no hole
in my pocket, what could | do but lift my brow
and say, All isn't there, realIyn
Before week had gone by, my wifi, who
like dutifuI hclpnatc, as she is, always gave
me her loose change to Keep, called for II twenty
i've cent piece that had been deposited in my
sub.treasury for safe keeping, 'Thcre was
poor woman at the door, she said, that she had
promised it 10, for certain well, wait mo.
menf,' cried; so pushed my inquiries first in
this direction then iii that and then in the other;
but vacancy returned horrid groan. ON my
soul' said i, thinking 1t best to show bold front
you must keep my pockets in better repair, Mrs
Sacllwater; this piece, with | know not how
many more, in lost, because some corner or seam
in NV plagty pockets is left open.
sAro you sure - said Mrs Slac<water.
Sure av that am. it's gone! totally gone =
NV wife dismissed her PROMISE, and them in her
quiet way asked me to change p,y Pantaloons he
fore went out, and to bar all argument, laid an
other pair on my knees
That evening, allow me to remark, gentlemen
Of the species, husband,' was very 10th to go
home 10 tea had half mint to bore some
bachelor friend and when hunger and habir, in
their unassuming manner one on each sale walk
ed me to my own door, the touch of the brass
knob made my blood ran cold. But do not
think Mrs Slackwater is tartar roy good friends
because thus shrunk from home /; the fact was,
that had called to mind the fate of the twenty
five cent piece. which had invested, rs larger
amounts are often invested, in smOke--that is to
say, cigars; and | feared to think Of her com.
nents on my pantaIoon's pockets.
These things went on for some months we
were poor to begin with, and grew poorer, or ut
any rate, no richer, fast. Times grew worse and
be trusted; the rags slipped from it in manner
almost incredible to relate. AZ an Irish song
says,
"And such was the fate Of poor Paddy O'Alore,
That his purse had the more rents us he had the
fewer
At length, one day, my wife came in with
subscription paper for the Orphans Asylum;
looked at 1t, and sighed, AMI picked my teeth,
and shook my head, and handed it back to her.
Ned Bowen said she, has put down ten dol
lars
THE more shame to him. replied, 'he can't
afford it, he can but just scrape along any how,
and in these hard times it amt right for him to
do it, My wife smiled in her sad way, and took
the paper back to him that brought it.
The next evening she asked me if | would go
with her and see the Bowens, and as had no
objections, started.
knew that Ned Bowen did small business
that would give him about 5000 year, and
thought it would be worthwhile TO see what that
sum would do in the way of housekeeping
We were admitted by Ned, and welcomed by
his wife, very neat little body of whom Mrs.
Slackwater had told me grea, deal, as they had
been schoolma,es. All was nice as wax, and
yet as substantial rs iron comfort was written
all over the room. The evening passed, some
how or other, though we had no refreshment,
an article which we never have ut home, but al
ways want when elsewhere, and returned to our
own establishment with mingled pleasure and
chagrn
What pity said to my wife, that Bowen
don't keep within his income
{ He does, she replied.
But how can he on SCOOP was my answer;