Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-07-21

| ed out his future for a field Of enjoyment,
without taking care to make much prepare.
ton for the sum he might be likely to meet
on the way. And then again like all others
he mistook the character Of LIES real en-
joyment. He lost sight Of some of the
higher and more noble sources OF his hap.
piness, and dwell too much in the sa,isfac-
ton Of the physical appetite. True, he en-
joyed himself aud kept clear Of all extremes,
but yet he failed to see that his eujoyments
were nearly all ephemeral-that he was lay
ing up little or nothing.
A year passed away, and the annual fish
ing excursion came IN course along.
We'll, Linnie.' said the young man, "to-
morrow the boys 60 down the harbor, and
! am going down with them. or course
you have no objections
No, returned the wife, in her usual plea
SAINT tone. If you can afford II.
%, there's no trouble about that
Don't you remember the conversation
we had year ago ON the sine sabjecil'
asked Linnie.
'Yes,-l remember then you talked abou,
having money, but we amt any poorer now
than we should have been if had staid at
home
But tell me, Arson, have you laid up
as much during the past year as you had
expected toy
why, as for that matter, haven't laid
up much of anything. The fact is, Linnle,
you have drawn rather harder on me than
expected
But haven't spent any more money for
trivial affairs and amusemenis than you
have, Arson, aud don't think | have so
much
Il didn't mean 10 blame you, my dear. -
| only mentioned the circumstances TO ex-
plain why | had not LAID up anything. But
never mind, there's time enough yet, aud
besides we've enjoyed ourselves think
alter this fishing excursion is over, however,
| shall begin to dock my expenses a little,
for must begin to lay up little something
the next year
We certainly have every chance to save
money! returned Linnie, for both the house
and shop are ours without rent and we are
free from debt
Arson Kimbell started at the last remark
and turned his face towards the window
but his wife did not appear TO notice his
emotion.
You know, Anson,' continued Mrs. KIM
ball, tina. you promised me should have
i've dollars when you went on another ex-
cnrsion, and shall certainly hold you to
that promise
OF course-that's iair returned the
young man: but do you need it nowg
Yes
What are you going to do with tl'
You won't be offended
NO.
Then to tell you the truth, owe little
sum-
The young man looked earnestly at his
wife, aud though he evidently wished to saw
something about her rs.nHing N dsli, yet for
reasons better known TO himself, he kept
quiet, and handed over the five dollars.
Arson joined his old shopmates on their
excursion, and when be returned he thought
something about beginning to cut Of some
of his unnecessary expenses, but he intro
duced no new system of operations. Two
or three times he did refrain from Indulg-
ing in some petty appetite. but he soon set
tied back INTO the old track, and the small
bits of money slipped away as fast as ever.
Three years had passed away since the
young couple were married, and few could
have wished for more social comfort than
they had enjoyed during the greater part of
that time. For month or two, however ,the
young man had been growing more sober
and thoughtful, until at length he had be-
come really sad aud down-hearted. HIS
wife had endeavored 10 cheer him up, though
she was unable TO learn the cause Of his de-
lection.
One evening. Just before dusk, Linnie
saw two men pass her window and enter
her husbands shop. One Of them she knew
to be the sheriff, and The circumstance
troubled her not little. She waited half
an hour for her husband to come to supper,
but he did not appear, aud her sufferings
began to be acute. A thousand conlectures
fitted through her mind. but they brought
her no consolation, and at length she de-
termIned to go 10 the shop door aud see &c
she could hot oyerhear something of what
was passing within, feeling that such
course would at least be pardonabe.
Linnie stole out from her from, door and
went towards the shop. She placed her ear
to the keyhole aud listened, but she could
only hear an iudstinct hum of voices, a.
mong which was that of her husband. The
latter was evidently supplIcating. for his
tones were earnest and Impassioned. Soon
there was a movement of feet towards the
door, and Linnie FASTENED back to the
house. Ere long her husband entered. He
looked pale and troubled. aud with a ner-
vous movement of the muscles of his face,
as though he would have concealed the
grief that bore him down, he took his seat
a, The table.
Poor Linnie watched her companion with
an anxiety almost agonizIng, but she spoke
not word until after Arson had set back
from the table. The food remained almost
untouched upon his plate when he moved a.
way, and he would have left the house had
not his wife stopped him.
Husband she said. in soft. gentle
tone, at the same time laying her hand ~