Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-09-29
From Arthur's Home Gazette.
LIVING LIKE A LADY.
BY PAUL CREYToN.

-
Mr.. Hamilton Burgess was man of
Limited means, but having married beau.
liful aud amiable woman, he resolved to
spare no expense in surrounding her wila
CON forts, and in supporting her, as he said,
'slike lady,
my dear Ammv." said Mrs. Burgess,
TO her lndulgent husband, about year af-
Ter their marriage-"My dear Ammy D
this was the name she called him by at
home-''you are too kind to me, altogether.
You are unwilling that should work, or
do anything towards our support, when
aclt ally think that little exer,ion on my
part, would not only serve to Tighten your
expenses, but quite as good for my health
and spirits as the occupations to which my
time is now devoted"
Cob, you industrious little bee!' exclaim.
ed Mr.. Burgess, 'syou have great notions
of making yourself useful, | declare! But,
Lizzie, shall never consent 10 your prop
osilions. did not marry you,to make you
my slave. When you gave me this dear
hand, | resolved that il should never be
soied and made rough bv labor and ii
never shall, as long as am uLle TO attend
20 ms business
Mrs. Burgess would aos have done any
thing 10 displease irer husband for the world,
and she accordingly allowed him to have
his way, without Offering further remon-
STRANGE.
But Hamilton's business was dull, and
il required the greatest exertion on his
part. and the severest application, TO raise
sufficien, money to meet the daily expenses
OF his fam ly.
s'My afflirs will be in better state next
year," he said TO himself, land must
manage to struggle through this dull season
some way or other. | will venture to run
in debt little, | think; for any way is
preferable to reducing our household ex.
pnnditures, which are by no means exlray-
agant. A, all events, Lizzie must not
know what my circumstances are, for she
would insist upon change in our style of
living, and revive the subject Of doing somc-
thing towards our support
MIR. Burgess then ven,ured to run in
debt little; he did not attempt 10 reduce
the expences Of his housekeeping; he new
er gave his wife hint respecting the true
sta.e Of his business mn,;ers, but insisted
upon her accepting, as usual, liberal al-
lowance Of funds 10 meet her private ex-
penses.
Lizzie seemed quite happy in her igno-
rance Of her husbands scircumstances,ne never
spoke again Of assisting TO support the es-
tablishment, but seemed to devote herself
to the pursuit Of quiet pleasures, and to pro-
curing Iamilton's happiness But Mr..
Burgess circumstances instead Of improv.
ing, grew continually worse. His venture
Of e'running in Debt lit,le," resulted in
running in debt a great deal. Thus the
second year Of his married life passed, and
the dark shadows Of disappointed hope, and
the traces Of cerroding care, began to
change the aspectsof his brow.
One day friend said to Hamilton
81 am surprised a. your conduct! Here
you are making slave of yourself, while
your wife is playing the lady. She is not
to blame; it is you. She would gladly do
something for her own support, if you
would permit her; and it would be better
for her and you. Remember the true say
ing
Satan finds some mischief still
For idle haLds TO dt!'s'
"W hat do you mean!" demanded Ham.
ilton, redsening
81 mean that, generally speaking young
wives Of an ardent temperament, when
left TO themselves, with nothing but their
pleasures to occapy their minds, are apt to
forget their husbands, and find enjoyment
in such society Us he might aot altogether
approve" G
"sir, you do not know my wife," ex.
claimed Hamilton. ''She, thank Heaven,
is not one of those."
Il hope not" was the quiet reply.
Although Hamilton Burgess had not
jealous nature, and would never nave en-.
tertained unjust suspicious Of his wife, these
words Of his friend set him 10 thinking
He remembered that Lizzie was always
happy, however he might be oppressed
with cares; and now he wondered bow it
was that she could be so unmindful of every.
thing except pleasure, while he was so con-
stan.ly harrossed. The consistent Mr..
Hamilton Burgess undoubtedly forgot that
he had taken :he utmost pains to conceal
his circumstances from his wife.
1t was in this state of mind, that Mr..
Burgess one day left his business and wen,
home uneynecfedlv II was nj m hour