, 1841-10-09
HARD TINES, OR, PRACTICAL ECO
Monty.
BY r J.

BY MRS. ). THAYER.
One evening Edward Langdon returned
from his business, varied and harrasscd in
mind and body by the daily increasing diff
culties that hung like a storm cloud over all
persons engaged in trade. S,oppages had
occurred and were still occurring in houses
hitherto supposed 10 stand So firm as TO defy
all times, however unfavoiable. Merchants
met as usual, it is true, on change, but the
busting activity that formerly characterized
such meetings. was exchanged for suspicious
whisperings and anxious looks. Confidence
between man and man was shaken, and moth
ing was heard but the cry Of "hard times.
hard times" Edward returned home on
the evening alluded TO, his spirits more than
usually depressed, which not even the happy
home that welcomed him, the affectionate
smiles Of his wife, or the joyful voices of his
children could raise. ELLEN, with the quick
eve of affection. detected the change in her
husband, but waited patiently till the little
ones had gone to bed, and then addressed
him
what ais my husband TO night: what has
happened to make him so dullr
ELLEN, have you courage to bear q reverse Of
fortuneT .
q have courage to bear any thing with yoa
and for YOU
God bles you, dear onel But you know
little of the bitter reality Of poverty
MY husband forgets that it was his gcner-
Gus love that rescued me from poverty
Not such poverty, Ellen, as ! fear you
must now learn TO bear. You have never
wanted the comforts and even the elegancies
of life. You have never lived without 4
servant
But ! can, Edward. Whenever you Tell
me that it is necessary. you shall see that l
can live without a servant. Have no fear
for me; YOU know how bravely | can work.
DO but explain your difficulties to me; let me
know all the evil that YOU dread; keep back
nothing. 1t isa mistaken kindness which
leads a man, from fear of giving pain 10 his
wife. TO conceal from her the state OF his al
fairs: or from a want of confidence in her
strength of mind, to allow her to continue
in a course Of thoughtless extravaganza,
which hastens the evils he would conceal
MANY failures might be avoided, if men
would but be more communicative 10 their
wives, and not keep every thing locked up
within their own bosoms, because women
don't understand such things They can
learn to understand them, AT any rate: and
men would find their advantage in teaching
them. A true hearted woman cannot but
feel interested for her husband. She will
gratefully receive his confidence, and IT she
do not at first understand the technicalltIes
of business, she will have an incentive to
learn, that she may advise with her husband
.upon what equally concerns both. Open
your heart to me, Edward; tell me all your
troubles, and you shall see how. woman
though be. | will meet them unflinchingly.'
sWby. Ellen, YOU are really eloquent
You shall know all. will never keep any
thing from YOU. There is a rumor abroad OF
an extensive failure in the city, which, II 1t
pIo We true, will be inevitably followed by
ssnany others. know that in that case,
tHenIy's ruin is certain, and my business is
so connected with his, that, mine must short
Iy follow. My only hope now IS that the
report NAV prove false
Can nothing be done? Cannot the warn.
ing YOU have received be turned to account!
sNo. nothing can be done, unless can
.xaise a sum of money sufficient to answer
he demands which will be Immediately made
upon me, and at the present Crisis that IS m
w can at least reduce our household ex-
peuses, and be prepared for the worst
= sWeil. Won understand about that better
than I do leave it all to your Judgment
VIVA, a blessing is good wife! Well may
they be called a crown TO the husband dr. E q.
wards heart seemed 1ightened OF halt It's
borden, after his conversation with E'len.a.
A GOOD nights rest restored his usual spirits
and dsc;.;on of character. He left his home
IN the morning, his mind nerved TO meet the
diA;culties that threatened him, and to over
come or bear them manfully. Well ior MIN
that he was so prepared, for he had friais