The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-06-06
that he could ever have hesilated about

The honeymoon passed amid sue.
cession of parties and other entertain.
ments and not until the excitement oi
| this mode of life had subsidized, and Meri.
vale with his wife had settled down in
quiet. did the young husband think oil
looking at hls accoun,-book. How was
he astOnIshed at the enormous outlaws,
so far exceeding the most liberal Of his
calculations Like mos, young house
keepers he had supposed tina, the increas-
ed house-rcnt was the only additional eX-
pense 10 which he would be subject; hui
lie found that every other necessary dis
bursement had increased in the same ra-
tio-there was more company, the enter
lainment had to be better; in thousand
ways, indeed, money had been laid cut,
of which he had never thought. Meri-
vale was frightened. He saw his income
would not be more than sufficient to meet
two-lhirds of his OUTLAWS. -But he dis.
liked, so soon alter marriage, speaking 10
Ellen on the necessity OF economy.-lie
resolved first TO see what he could do in
the work of retrcnchment and, by way
of beginning, he gave up the conlempla
ted purchase Of a gig and horse, and made
up his mind TO visit his patients on foot.
This would be very fatiguing, but there
was no help for it.
My dear, said his wife, few months
after marriage, Agnes Hiddle is going to
be married; and as she was one of my
bridesmaids, should like to give her a
party. Don't you think it would be no
more than righ,?'
Indeed, my dear, l can't say said
Mervale. hesila'ingly.
It's the custom, you know
4 believe it is said Merivale. and
though he wished, he could not muster
courage TO tell his wife he could not az
ford The expensc.-'Ccrtainly, my dear,
we must give Agnes party
4 knew you would say so; and now
| will go and see Agnes
Merivale heard no more Of the party
until the next week. In the mean time
Agnes had been married.
i think shall send out, tomorrow.
the invitations for Agnes's party said
his wi(e.-I thought Tuesday evening
would answer best: would have pre-
ierred Monday, but, you know, ii is SO
difficult! TO get the ice-creams and other
refreshments on tina. day. Will Tues
day suit you?
'Oh ! yes-quite as well as any other
day. But how many have you invited ?
Il have about eighty on my list
Eighty! calculated Merivale; and
then he added, with hesitation, why.
my love, is it necessary TO have so large
a company
Ellen saw her husband did not like it,
ID she answered with some embarrass-
men,:
You know Agnes gave us a very large
party, and it would look mean for us To
return it with a small one. Besides,
have so many acquaintance. don't see
how could ask less. expected at least
hundred, for there are, no Goubt, some
persons YOU may wish to ask, whom !
have not thought Of
We'll, WELL said Merivale, inpatient
ly, 'Ie, us have them all and be done
with it.-But after this, Ellen, we mus,
have no more parties ill we get richer
This was the first time her husband
had spoken to her thus, and she ponder
ed i, long and deeply. She could scarce
y keep from tears, and she resolved To
be gerry economical, so as 10 make up for
the expense Of the party. She was even
on the poin, Of renouncing it altogether,
for she had not yet spoken to Agnes on
the subject. but when she reflected how
mean she would be considered BY their
acqualnlances, she had not the heart TO do
this.-So the party went on; and every
one pronounced it most brilliant affair.
The rooms were said TO be just full
enough; without being too crowded: the
OIL y thing missing was champagne; bu,
this expensive and unnecessary article
Merivale had insisted on emitting, and
his wife had consented, glad of any OPP
por'uni'y to concilate him.
Ellen carried out her design Of being
economical. She told her mother her
difficulties, and Mrs. Simpson had doz-
en- methods to suggest by which penny
might be saved.
You can economize deal yet in The
table. Dear me, how oullandishly ex.
penslve you are in your pastry. Now.
there's lemon pes-did you ever make
any, Mrs Stewart let me- into tho SO