Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-01-01

if business had continued bad much longer,
you would have rorsakenn not only your shop,
but also your family
'Oh! don't talk so that's always the way
with you women, If man happens to goout
an hour or two during the day. You know,
Kitty, | don't like drink
i know you used not, but | am afraid,
Mark, | have my misgiyings,' and tears of
love uickled down her once rosy Cheeks
Mark felt the censure and began bustling
about at a rate that was somewhat unusual
for him OF late.
In the evening Of that day Kate wanted
Mark 10 stay at home, as it was FTed's birth
day, and she thought as he was a good boy,
he ought 10 be favored with his fathers com
pany for one night. Mark thought so too;
| so he agreed to stay 1t home and see what
progress his children had made in their learn
ing. Tea having been dispatched, together
with several little ]niceties the careful mother
had provided in remembrance of her boys
| birth dav, the children were desired to get
their books so shat father might sec how they
had improved since he last heard them read.
This was soon done. and the youngest was
to commence first with her A b C.. When
all had done reading, Mark expressed him
self highly delighted with them all, reward
ing each with a siXpence.
Fred, at the request Of his mother, went TO
a little side-table to write a copy, and after
half an hours labor was desired to show it to
his father. Mark praised the writing and
was going to lay it down without reading it,
but Fred having asked him to read what was
written, Mark commenced:
ssWhen | was waiting for father in the
Goat says Mary Swipes to Mrs. Swipes,
Mother, when nm | to have my bureau :
and then Mrs. Swipes said, AS soon as
Mark Pearson's bill is sixteen dollars and
then Mary wanted to know how much it was
now. So Mrs. Swipes gets down a big slate,
and she counted it up, and it was Just eight
dollars and three shillings. 'Well,' says
Mary, 'let us order it now, and by the time
it is done his bill Will be about enough
livery well, Mary says Mrs. Swipes,
: you can 20 and order one
did you hear all this, Fred, to-ddy?'
yes, sir, replied the boy.
s'Then they stopped talking a litle while,
and by-and-by Mary says to her mother,
Mrs Gouge, of the Washington, is going to
get a sofa as soon as Mr.. Pearson's bill is
big enough
''You don't say so,' said Mrs. Swipes.
cts a fact; Jane told me so to-day.
''Well, well, some folks do like to show
off. And now, when | think of it, we want
one of our own. ! should like TO get one be-
fore these Gougers.'
$50 we Will says Mary. And then they
made it up between them that they would go
Tomorrow and order a sofa and bureau but
Mrs. Swipes said it would take d good deal
Of liquor to pay for both
''Oh, never mind says Mary, Mr.. Pear
son is a good natured fellow, when he is a
little high, and he won't know if his score is
made bigger than it ought TO be. Leave that
to me, mother I'll make it all right, only get
the things, and
And what next?' said Mark.
Then you came in the bar-room, and we
came holRe.'
is it possible | have so far sunk as this
My property ~bargained for beforehand, under
the superstition that ! would drink out the
amount! Heaven forbid! Is this all true,
my song
Every word, father
BLESS you, my boy, for writing this down,
and making me read it; you have saved your
father from i%gnominy. ruin. and perhaps a
drunkard's intamy, Oh, Kitty, | was not
aware | had gone so far as this and the poor
man gave vent to his feelings in many bitter
tears.
Having recovered from his selfcondemna-
ton, he declared that next day not only him
self but his family, should dedicate them
selves to 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
temperance pledge.
Mrs. and Miss Swipes called on our friend
Mark for the purpose of selecting the furni,
ture. After much examination, a forty dollar
sofa and twenty dollar bureau Were agreed
upon, the prices being for cash, they feeling
perfectly satisfied that they would hear IL
more a~boutmoney, until the amount was dowr
our mechanics throat. All parties being
satisfied, they parted. Hardly had they
gone, when Mrs. Gouge and her daughter
Jane came into the shop and made known
-, their wants. Mark was not long in suiling
them with a fifty dollar sofa, they being am
; bilious to top the Goat people in price, i
: not in quality. Having finished their pur
4 chase, they retired, and Mark having ordered
: his wagon to the door, had the furniture de
= livered that afternoon to the rival factions.
When Mark saw the furniture carried of
he treated himself 10 a good Ha, ha, ha =
You thought to pay for these things by
. thrusting your vile stuff dowhmy throat anC
= faith they would, had it not been for Fred
y but | have them. Let me see-Mrs. Swipes
n
= sofa and bureau | got sixty dollars for, whicI
: leaves me a first rate profit and when | pa,
them their grog bill, | shall have near TWEEN
!, ty dollars over. Thatwill do. Then mothe
: Gouge's sofa | get fifty dollars for, and IN
!, bill there Is, | dare say, fifteen, perhap
A twenty. Well, never mind, that will do
= So Mark went to tell his little wife how HI
= had fixed the landladies, and a right heart
laugh they had over his sales.
$ A day or two after, Mark made out tn
e bills and sauntered down to the Goat
0 Mrs. Swipes received him with a p%rofusio
= Of thanks and smiles, praised his furniture
n and was perfectly satisfied with the price
which was very gratifying TO him, SO h
handed in his little bill. Mrs. Swipes re
e ceived it very politely, and promised earl.
d payment, giving a knowing look at her daugh
ter, as much as to say, i know how it j
goinU to be maid better than he thinks; the