Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-07-05
MISCELLANY.
MARK MERIDEN.
BY MRS. II. r. Il. STOWE.

Come, Mark Merden dont't settle down into
an old grandmother before your tme-u pretty
wife's a pretty thing, Mark, and pretty house is
pretty thing-but hang it !-one must have a lit
tie of life
Mark Meriden stood at his desk, giving n last
look at his books, while Ben Stafford, the rogu-
ish, the merry, the song singing the Ben OF all
Bcns, was thus urging on him the claims of pro-
jected frolic that evening Now Ben was precise
" the messenger for such an embassy-there was
fun r the twinkle Of his blue eye, and world OF
waggery in the turn of his head, and n pair Of
broad roguisli dimples that went merrily lodging
in and out OF his cheeks every time he spoke, and
he had laid hold of Marks arm to drag him away.
But Mark shook off his hands, and finished sum
ming up a column of figures-put the blotting pa
per into the hook, and the hook into the place,
wiped his pen--a with an air of great thought
funess--and, n, last, turning to Ben, said l
think wou't 60 this time
Now why net !? said Ben, eagerly.
because because, said Mink, smiling be
cause have an odd fancy that should like Mrs.
Merden's company this evening
Hang Mrs. Meriden-beg pardon, Mark -
hang myself for saying so--but one don't like to
see n fine fellow buried alive come take u real
wake up with u.s.
THANK you Ben, but haynt been asleep and
don't need 1t. So I'll 60 home and see my wife !
and thereat Mark turned resolute step home
ward as q well trained husband ought
Now says one of our readers 'who was Mark
Meriden" You would not have asked, good
reader if you had lived in the town Of, when
his name first appeared on the outside of one of
its most fashionable shops Mark Meriden' sur
rounded by those waving insignia of grace and
fashion that young bellies need to have their eyes
turned off from beholding. Every thing in the
tasteful establishment told of well arranged bust
ness, and Mark himself, the Mirror of fashion,
aultess in every article OF costume, quick, aten-
tive, polite and every day to be seen there win
ming golden opinions from all sorts OF people,
Marks shop became the resort of high ton-the
fashionable exchange, the promenade of beauty
and wealth, who came there TO be enlightened us
TO the ways and means of dsposing OF their sur
plus revenue-io see and to be seen. So attentive,
polite and considerate was Mark, so profound his
bows, so bright his eyes, so unexceptionable his
whiskers, that it might have proved dangerous
resort for the ladies', had not neat, tasteful house,
going up in the neighborhood, been currently re-
ported as the future residence Of an already cleo
ted Mrs. Meriden and in few months, the house
neatly finished, and tastefulIy furnished, received
very pretty lady, who called herself to that ef-
feet. She was truly refined and lovely woman
as ever formed the center flower IN domestic
boquet, and Mark might justly be pardoned for
having as good again an opinion OF himself for
having beea fortunate enough to secure her.
Mark had an extensive circle of business and
pleasure acquantances, for he had been one of the
social, apanionable sort, whose money general
iy found its way out of his pocket in very fair
proportion 70 the rate it came in. In short, he
was given TO clubs, oyster suppers, and now and
then wine party, and various other social priVi-
leges for eleVating ones spirits and depressing
ones cash, that abound among enlightened COM
inuDties.
But, nevertheless, at the bottom Of Marks head
there was a very substantial stratum of certain
qualify called common sense, trait, which though
n xUa 81 in pburt nf nhrpunlopV
rAay he very justly called faculty, and one TOO
which makes very striking difference among
people as the world goes. In consequence of be.
ing thus constituted, Mark when he found him
self in loyo with, aud engaged to a very pretty
girl, began 10 reflect with more Than ordinary Sc
riousness OH his habits, ways, and manners VI
life He also took an accurate survey of his busi-
ness, formed an average estimate OF his future in
come Oh the soberest probabilities, and deternn-
ed TO live little even within that. lie also provi-
ded himself with small account book, with which
he intended TO live IN habits OF very close nc
quainiancc, and in this book he designed to note
down all the savings consequent upon Inc retreh-
ching of certain little extras before alluded to- in
which he had been in the habit OF pretty freely in
dugng himself.
Upon the present occasion, it had cost HIM
something of an effort to say "no,' for Murk was
one Of your easy "cleyer fellows to whom the
enuuciation Of this little syllable causes az much
| EfOuDIe as hil BuVSIuiH W tiiO oCihiuh'
ever when he came in sight of his paror window
through which the bright fire was shining when
he entered and found the clean glowing hearth,
the easy chair drawn up in 'front.' and pair Of
embroidered slippers waiting for him quite at their
leisure, and above all, when he read the quick
glance of welcome in pair of very bright eyes
Mark forgo, all about Ben Sanford and all bachel.
4 or friends and allurements whatsoever, and
bought himself the happiest fellow on earth:
The evening past off rapidly by the help OF mu-
sic. reading, and the little small talk of which
newly married people generally find supply, and
Inc next morning saw Mark at early business
hours with as steady hand and as cool head as
f,bere had been no such thing as bachelors troll
cs in existence.
ogle few of the ladies, and above all, TO rally
Marx on losing the glorious fun Of the evening
before. - .. $50,
upon my word, Mark he began, I'VE must