The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1853-05-04
"She'll either pay it or blow" continued

She'll either pay it or blow" continued
Dick.
But what if the latter?"
Then you have got the core of your SUBJ
ject. and you can 60 ahead after that, as cir
cumstances viii best allow"
"Tll try it'll act on your happy sug-
gestion :"
"True what win you have? Snail we
90 into Carter's, and get one of bis incest
teams, and take drive out to Spineyille ?"
You couldn't have bit the nail more ex.
actly on the head; let's go at once !" said
Dick.
That was " fast" ahernoon--the remain
der Of it-and it began new era. To be
sure it is a step taken in the dark, but Tom
hoped that it would lead to happy results
and plenty Of money.
In due time the bills began to come in.
One morning the door-bell rang, it CHANGED
10 be about nine o'clock. The servant an
swered the summons, and carried bill up
stairs to her mistress. The bell rang again,
and there came a second bill. A third time,
and another bill. Mrs. Euphrasia Turna-
bout began to grow alarmed.
Presently came along the dinner hour. 1t
duly found Tom Turnabout, Esq, at home,
aud at the table.
All during the meal. bo anxiously scanned
the features of his wife, trying his very best
TO imagine her as feeling extremely happy in
enjoying the privilege Of paying her dear
husbands bills; but he succeeded in reading
no such expression on her face; he looked
for the slightest trace Of it in vain.
1t was too perplexing There sat Euphra-
sia, worth her fortune, over against him at
table-a mountain Of gold, as it were. within
his reach, but he not able to pick off even
shiny scale from its surface. She was as
calm as delicious, cool summers morning,
he, on the other hand, burning up with dis
appointment and chagrin.
He declared within himself that he could
stand it no longer. 1t was few steps beyond
human endurance. Better die at once, than
live long in this suspense. So at last, be
meekly remarked to his wife
Euphrasia, was there anything brought
here this morning for me ?"
"Yes. DEAR she replied; "there were
three bills for horse-hire and confectionery,
refreshments, and one thing and another -
but did not read them particularly-you
know that's not a lady's business"
"Was there bill for furniture, toO!' in
quired the agitated Tom.
Yes. dear; paid that, and took re-
ceipt; but the others-your personal mat
ters you know-those l carefully placed in
your escritOire, where you could readily find
them when you wished to- / hope you do
not consider me too inquisitive in just look
ing at them to sec what they we're -
Tom was not possessed Of any too much
philosophy, and this last serious sally Of bis
wife quite upset what little he had. Swallow
ing his dinner as fast as he could with safety
do it, he pushed as fast as he could for his
Office. Ere long, his old friend Dick made
his appearance.
"WelE"' said Dick. chow goes it,
Tom ?"
Its no go" surlily answered Tom.
" How not Were the bills paid ?"
Tom explained the whole.
His friend admitted that it would be ex-
ceediDgly hard to get round a woman who
atSlde7 stood herself so we'll as did his wife,
more par ticularly when she held the purse
strings.
Tom gave it up altogether. That after
noon was spent in rejecting upon the extreme
worthessness Of his dependence for an inde-
pendent living upon another, and in forming
a strong resolution to 60 ahead and do some
thing for himself
The lesson he learned chanced to be a
most valuable one, which many a married
woman may at her leisure give her husband,
to his decided advantage.
Tom TurnabOut. Esq, afterward turned
out very respectable member Of his profess
sion; enough so, at any rate, to be able to
earn sufficient to pay his carriage and oyster
house scores. AT home he never knew what
trouble meant.