The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1846-12-03

smother, when am | TO have my bureau?"
And then Mrs. Swipes said, ''ss soon as
Mark Pearson's bill is sixteen dollars" And
hen Mary wanted TO know how much it was
now. So Mrs. Swipes gets down big slate
aud she counted ii up and ii was just eight
dollars and three shillngs. SWELL" says
Mary, "let US order one now, and by the time
il is done his bill will be about enough"
''Very we'll, Mary" says Mrs. Swipes, 'you
can go up and order one.''
"Dld you here all this, Fred, to-day?"
"Yes, sir,' replied the boy.
"Tben they stopped talking a little while,
and by-and-by Mary says 10 her mother,-
MRS. Gouge of the Washington, is going to
get sofa as soon as Mr.. Pearson's bill is big
enough" "You don't say,'' said Mrs. Swipes.
.''Is's a fact, Jane told me SO to-day" swell,
well, some folks do like to show off And
now when think Of il we want one for our
own parIor. | should like TO get one before
these Gouges $50 we will" says Mary
And then they made it up between them that
they would GO Tomorrow and order bureau
and a sofa, but MIS- Swpes said it would
take good deal of drinking to pay for both.
."Oh, never mind, said Mary, "Mr. Pearson
is a good natured fellow when he is little
high, and he won't know il his score is made
bigger than it ought TO be. Leave that to me
mother, III make it all right, only get the
things, aDd"-
"And what next?" said Mark.
''Then You came in The bar room, and we
came home.''
E.I- - 10 / %
My property bargained for before hand, I'M
der The supposition that would drink out
the amount! Heaven forbid! Is this ali true,
my son?
"Eyery word, father,
"Bless yon, my boy, for wiring this down,
and making ne read it; you have saved your
father from ignQmy, ruin, and perhaps a
drunkards inlamy. On, Kate, was moi
aware had gone so far as this" and the poor
man gave vent 10 his feelings in many bitter
tears.
Having recovered from this selfcondem-
nation he declared that next day not only
himself bul his family, should dedicate them
selves 10 The temperance cause, which was
most, heartily seconded by his wife and Fred
and faithfully the promise was executed by
every member OF The family signing the tenn
petance pledge.
Mr.. and Mr. Swipes called on our friend
Mark for The purpose of selecting the furni-
tufe. After much examination, u forty dol
lar sofa, and a twenty dollar bureau were
agreed upon, these prices being for cash, they
feeling perfectly satisfied that they would
hear no more about money until the amount
was down our Mechanics throat. All parties
being satisfied, they parted. Hardly had
they gone, when Mrs. Gouge and her daugh-
tel Jane came into The shop and made known
their wants. Marx was not long in suiiing
them with fifty dollar sofa, they being am-
bilious TO Top the Goat people in puce, if
not in quality. Having finished their pur-
chase, they retired, and Mark having order
eu his Wagon To the door, had The furniture
delivered that afternoon 10 The rival factions.
] When Mark saw the furniture CARED of,
he ttealed himself TO good ha, ha, ha =
''You thought to pay for these things by
ihrusling your vile stuff down my throat, and
faith they would, had il not been for Fred, bul
| have Them. Let me see, Mrs. Swipes' sofa
and bureau | got sixty dollars for, which
leave me first rate profit; and when | pay
them their grog bill, shall have near twenty
dollars over. That will do. Then moIhe
Gouges sofa get fifty dollars Tor, and my
bill there, is. | dare say, fifteen, perhaps
Twenty Well, never mind, that will do
So Mark wen, TO tell his liue wife how he
had fixed the ladies, aud right hearty laugl
they had over his sales.
A day or two after Mark made out thu
bills and sauntered down TO the "Goat.'
Mrs. Swipes received him witt. profusiol
of thanks and smiles, praised the lurniiur,
and was perfectly satisfied with the price
which was very gratifying TO him, so b.
handed in his little bill. Mrs. Swipes re
ceived it very politely and promised earl
payment, giving knowing look at her daugh
ter, as much as TO say, 81 know how it is 90
ing TO be paid better than he lhinks,n the
taking out The brandy decanter, she invite,
Mak TO drink in honor of her new sofa.
81 must very respectfully decline" SAT-
, he
'Ha, ha, ha, what Mark Pearson declin
, to drink with lady, and that loo after M
king purchase OF him."
''No Mrs. Swipes drink no more. Nv
4 signed the pledge and intend to keep it,"
"You have signed the pledge! shout
like TO know when you drank the last time
= "The last drink was in this house-in yot
+, own parlor."
! SIS that little boy you went out with, you
SOM"
. "He is.''
"Mrs. Swipes and her daughter exchange
f glances plainly showing TO him that they re
i membered the conversation, and fully unde
: stood why Mark Pearson had signed til
! pledge. Seeing their embarrassment h
q desired to know the amount he owed thei