Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-08-26

arm.
Yes, the most unfortunate Of men am
ruined We are beggars--but'--
Dear Ammy, you must not let this cast
you down. Business failures frequently hap
pen, but they ought never TO destroy domes-
tic happiness. Come, how bad off are we ?
Are we really beggarsg
i Ny creditors win tt.kc everything an
swered Hamilton gloonily
/ They viii not take us from each other,
said Lizzie
| Mr.. Burgess looked at his young wife with
a bitter smile.
Are you such . lsceivcr? he mutterod
through his teeth. Can you talk thus when
you have Just dismissed aloycrr
Sir cried Mrs Burgess a glow Of indic-
nation lighting hca fair face. What do you
meany
| Don't deny whit sayl' replied Han.il-
ton. You were having an interview with a
! gentleman when came in.
| Lizzie trembled with indignation.
4 saw his cap on the tablet
Lizzie laughed outright. Come here, :
she said, leading her husband away.
Hamilton followed her and she went to a
bureau unlocked deep drawer, and opening
it. colled her husbands attention to its con
tents
1t was half full of caps
Hamilton looked at Lizzie in perplcxity.
Lizzie looked at Hamilton and smiled
4 suppose that you win now declare that
there are twenty gentlemen in the house.
said Mrs Burgess
l,izziep cried her husband, clasping her
hands, am already ashamed Of my srspi-
cions. I ask your forgiveness. But explain
this matter to me. am dying in perplex-
ity'
/ Well replied Lizzie, archly, Imade those
caps
Your
Certainly; that is, | and Margaret. /
kept my work a secret from you, because you
were opposed to my exerting myself, and al
though you have come near surprising me
more than once, / have carried on my treas
enable designs pretty successfully until to-
day.
But dear Lizzie how could your
4 can answer that question. | saw pref
/ ty clearly into your business affairs, and
knew that we could not live in this style long
So thought ] would disobey you Ny
cousin George, the lut manufacturer, sec
onded my designs, and privately sent me caps
to make, nearlp a year ago
Hamilton opened his eyes in astonishment
Surprising, isn't it? But this isn't all
You insisted on my keeping Margaret when
might just as well have done my homework
myself; | thought would make her useful,
and made her help me work on the caps
4 Besides, you were not satisfied if | neglected
to use all the spending money you allowed
me, and ] pretended to use that, just to
please you. Nov heforo yau scold me for
my disobedience, witness the results Of my
industry and economy
Lizzie opened her desI, aud displayed to
Hamilton's bewilderod sight, pile Of gold
which filed him With greater establishment
than anything else.
There, continued Lizzie, without allow
/ ing him to speak there are three hundred
dollars. Ofcourse this little SUM wouldn't
make anybody rich, but hope It will convince
you that wife's economy and industry are
not to he despisod
Lizzie dear Lizzie
oh, this is nothing only sample of what
| can do. Come, now, acknowledge your cr-
ror, and say that | may have my own way in
future
Hamilton replied by clasping his wife III
/ his arms
There, say nothing more about it. she
continued Don't think Of your msfortuncs,
but remember that we can be happy even il
we both have to work hard Poverty cannot
crush us; and | hope | have already couvin-
ced you that work win not make me lose at
traction in your sight
The young husband heart overlooked with
gratitude and JOY.
How have misunderstood you, dear Liz
zie ? ne exclaimed. You are worth more to
me than Southern riches; and now that !
know poverty cannot crush you, my mind is
at ease. Lizzie, ! am SO happy ?
And I may have my wayp
Yes, always
Remember this ? cried Mrs. Burgess
archly.
| With lighter heart than he had felt 70,
many months before, Hamilton went about
the settlement Of his business affairs. while
lizzie devoted herself to perfecting new
system of housekeeping.
When Dir Burgess came home at night
he was surprised at the wonderful change
which had taken place during his absence.
Don't scold said his wife, regarding him
with smile; you said | might have. nl5
way
'True-but what have you doneY
Il have boon making arrangements to let
half the house to Mr.. Smiths family, who
will move in next week. They are pleasant
people, and as we had twice as much room
as we actually needed thought it best to
take them. Then again, we shan't need So
much furniture, aud it you like, you can sell
MIR. Smith some Of what we have, at fail
price
Mr. Burgess neither frowned, nor looked
displeased, nor did he ever afterwards oppose
his wife's designs He soon found his ex-
penses so reduced, that with the fruits of bis
} wife's industry added to his own they were
able TO live quite comfortably and happily
and, although he soon became engaged ii
more profitable business, he never again ur-
ged her to indulge in tho folly Of living like
a lady"
-----.s<<S<e<<<>>~~-----