Litchfield enquirer., 1838-07-12
From the Providence Journal. THE HOLE IN THE POCKET.
SHOWING THE ADVANTAGE OF ECONOMY IN
 SMALL. THINGS.


 | SMALL. THINGS.
 IL is now about year since nay wife said to me one day, Pray, MT. SIackwa- ter, have you that half dollar about you that gave you this morning?" 1 felt in my brooches pocket, and turned my purse inside out, but it was all empty space which is very different from specie SO l said to Mrs. Slackwater, " I've lost it, my dear; positively there must be hole in nay pocket !'' "I'Il sew it up," said she.
 An hour or two after, met Tom Sleb- bins. How did that ice-cream set ?'' said Tom. ' It set," said !. "like the sun, gloriously." And, as spoke, it flashed upon me that my missing half dol- lar had paid for those ice-creams howev- CT, held my peace, for Mrs. Slackwater sometimes makes remarks and even when she assured me at breakfast next morning that there was no hole in my pocket, what could l do but lift my brow and say," Alb! 1! isn't there ? really!'' .
 Before week had gone by, my wife, who, like dutiful helpmate as she is, al- ways gave me her loose change to keep, called for a twenty-five cent piece that had been deposited in my treasury for safe keeping; there was poor woman at the door," she said, "that she'd promis- ed it to for certain" "Well, wait mo- ment," cried so pushed inquiries first in this direction, then in that, and then in the other; but :" vacancy returned hor- rid groan." "On my soul," said I, think ing it best to show bold front, "Y6u must keep my pockets in better repair, Mrs. Slackwater; this piece, with know not how many more, is lost, because some corner or seam in my plaguey pockets is left open."
 "Arc you sure 2'' said Mrs. Slackwater.
 !" Sure! aye, that I am, it's gone, total- ly gone ]" My wife dismissed her prom ise, and then. in her quiet way, asked me to change my pantaloons before went out, and to bar all argument laid another pair on my knees. That evening, allow me to remark, gen. tlemen of the species husband," I was very loath to go nome to tea; had half a mind to bore some bachelor friend and when hunger and habit, in their unassu- ming manner, one on each side, walked me up to my own door, the touch of the brass knob made my blood run cold. But do not think, Mrs. Slackwater is Tartar, my good friends, because thus shrink from home; the fact was, that had, while abroad, called to mind the fate of her 9 cent piece, which had invested in smoke that is to say, in cigars ;-and l feared to think of her comments on my panta- loon pockets. These things went on for some months we were poor to begin with, and grew poorer, or, at any rate, no richer fast.- Times grew worse and worse; my pocket leaked more and more even my pocket book was no longer to be trusted the rags slipped from it in manner most incredi- ble to relate-as an Irish song says,
 And such was the fate of poor Paddy OMore, '@ That purse had the more rens as he had the fewer
 At length one day my wife came in with a subscription paper for the Orphans Asy- lum. looked at it and sighed, and pick ed my teeth, and shook my head, and handed it back to her.
 | "Ned Bowen." said she, has put down ten dollars"
 "The more shame to him." I replied [" he can't afford it !; he can but just scrap' along any how, and in these times it ain right for him to do it." My wife smiled in her sad way, and took the paper back tt him that brought it.
 The next evening she asked me if
 would go with her and see the BOwens . and as I had no objections we started. } knew that Ned Bowen did small bu' siness that would give him about $6OO year, and 1 thought it would be wortl while to see wha: the sum would do in th'
 way of housekeeping. We were admit
 ted by Ned and welcomed by Ned's wife very neat little body, of whom Mrs } Slackwater had told me a great deal, a they had been schoolmates. All was , nice as wax, and yet as substantial as iron . comfort was written all over the roon'.-
 The evening passed some how or other , though we had no refreshment, an articl |. which we never have at home, but alway , want elsewhere, and returned to our owl establishment with mingled pleasure ant cbagrin. "Wbat a pity" said to my wife. " Una , Bowen don't keep within his income" |" He does," she replied.
 But how can he on $60O?" was my answer '" if he gives $lO to this charity and S5 to that, and lives so snug and com fortable too F
 Shall tell you P asked Mrs. Slack , water.
 Certainly. if you can.
 {" His wife," said my wife, finds it jus as easy to go wi.hou, 20 or 90 dollars wortl of ribboms and faces, as to buy them. They have no fruit but what ,l'ey raise and have , given them by country friends, whom they n repay by thousand little acts of kindness f They use no beer, which is not essential t' t his health, as it is to yours; and then h'
 buys no cigars, or ice cream, or apples