The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-06-06

refuse, under the circumstances every
one would say Immediately we were too
poor. We must be respectable, and ed
uca,e the poor dears decenty. As it is,
she children are dressed rather shabby
but it can't be helped
Have it your own way said Meri.
vale, rising hastily; though lie was real
~ as sensitive TO the worlds opinion as
his wife, only he took this way of VEN
llng his irritation at The narrowneSs Of
his income.
As the children grew up. new expen.
ses were constantly presenting tlemsel-
YES, all Of which Mrs. Merivale declared
TO be absolutely necessary and, TO con-
Tess the truth, her husband felt the force
Of her representations almost as much as
she did herself. For Merivale, too. was
proud; and to keep up appearances, he
was willing to sacrifice almost any COM
fort.
But why pursue the history of this
iamiIy's privalion! 10 euter their par
Iors, or to eat at their table on gala days,
you would think they had every thing
their hearts could desire ; but sight Of
their private chambers, or of their usual
fare, would have opened your eyes to the
shifts to which they were put To keep up
appearances. Too poor to live in The
way ;hey wished to, too proud To de-
scend into palmer style, they never
spent day that was not marked by some
privaiion or meanness. which comfort
ought to have repudia,ed or selfrcspect
despised. And, at the end of several
years. IN spite of every effort, Merivale
found himself without a cent of his capt.
tai left.
The next year proved Il very unfortu-
nate one. 1t was season of great mon
etary distress, and MerivaIe found it i'm
possible TO make any collections. He
had now no capital to ial back upon
and money was nowhere to be borrowed.
But his wife, who had become what is
called very managing woman sue.
cceded in getting along, with the hope
that the next year would prove more pro-
piIious. But the next year was even
worse; the grocer became clamorous
the shoe-bill was now due twelve
monlh and the bakers wife had said
publicly that DR.. Merivae must be push.
ed for money as he did not settle up pune
uaIy any longer, 'and for her part
other people might do as they liked
she would not trust him any longer
Things were now really at crisis.
The husband and father knew not where
to turn. Rumors were increasing every
day. People said that there was some
excuse if Il merchant, in hard times, was
a little slow in paying his bills, because,
probably, lie had made nothing in spite of
every cXcrIion; but it was too bad if a
doctor oulrun his income, when lie had a
comparatively certain annual receipt, and
when he always got his money before
anybody else. But DR.. Mcriyalc's family
was very cxtravigant
Such was TIE common gossip, and at
length it reached The ears for which it was
intended. Bu' what could he DO! lie
''aa no" GOT c"'s'uef'o'y pe"ln"hanu,
anu 'Ncre was no one I" whom he co"'d
apply for loan. But matters, meantime
were getting serious An execution on
ms furniture was 'l,rea'che'' Al Iensh
ne nc'"o"S"' MN OF an "nc'e-' wealthy
old bachelor, VINO had always talked ct
making Mer'V"e ms he'f' an" VINO real
y Wv , :" Tvs ~ l''I"' "A 'U"o' was ~,
"'"'"sy ";'''t"' l'"' us 's'" c, 'eS'"'"
",,',',s .',y2 ~ N ,,,, ''"'" rMlo'