Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-06-28

esVu' heit ahu sue Wondefeo Why ner Own nus
band could not do all this as we'll as Mr.. Sharp
ing. She let the evil spirit of envy into her ,bo
som before she was aware Of ii and from that mo
ment she became unhappy. She took no unorl
pleasure in viewing the costly articles about her
and at an early hour husbzndaway from the com
pany, and begged him to 60 home. When sh,
reached her own snug, neat little sitting room
she forgot all the happiness she had enjoyed there
She only thought of the contrast between thu
and Mrs. SharPing's superb parlors. 81
Pm sure don't see why we may not make ai
good an appearance as Sharping's," she murmur
ed, afterher husband had become seated Is
+ ~ can hGrdly afford 1t now, Sarah," returned
Arthur. -'' .ss
"But why not, as we'll as William Sharpingr'
"Because Sharping has more money. He
makes more than do.y @a ..
81 don't see how he can do that He mus
have some secret in trade thatyou do not possess
OIL wish we could keep up with them. People
will see that Sharping isife most prosperous anC
they will think him more of business man than
you are; and if he once takes the lead in trade
he will be sure, not only to keep it, but also to
gain on its competitors. You know how people
like to trade at fourishing places"
Arthur Leeman began to think there was some
force in his wife's argument. He, too, began to
loose sight ofthe sweet CONTENT he had been for
two years enjoying, and in the stead thereof he
was looking upon what the world calls PLENTY.
He might at first have argued more with his wife,
but he remembered that it was her money that
helped materially to set him in business, and he
feared to touch cord that might yibyate on that
point. He did dEot fully know the real character
of his wife,--he did not knew how holy and pure
was the soil in her soul that had given life to a
few noxious weeds. Had he fully known that
the present envy was but an exotic, just spring
ing into life by thoughtless transplanting, he
might have sought more earnestly to pluck it out;
but he gave heed to her words, and his own soul
became the abode Of discontent. -y.-..a-e
Before Arthur Leeman retired that night he
told his wife that he would exert himself to out
strip his neighbor. .s5.s'ts sa.7
A few evenings after that, as Arthur was re-
turning home from his business, he ad occasion
to pass his neighbor's store, and as he saw light
cleaning through the chinks in the shutters, he
thought he would enter. Sharping was there
alone and he had just closed his ledger. -
"Ha, Leeman, .liow,are you! How's business!
cried Sharpng, with the air ofu man whois we'll
pleased with himseir 4,
30, so-so," returned Arthur, reaching over the
desk to shake hands, g4 "a, 4as y# aas.t
a"Fve done capitally to-duy," resumed Shar-
ping. "a profit Of flty-eight dolIurs and thirty
three cents" IA g.. ~..F
"Not clear net profit! said Arthur, opening his
eyes. fts,e'f
> 3i"Ycs--clear profit. Hu, ha, ha.'' And as the
young merchant thus laughed to himself leaped
over the counter, and rubbed his hands exultng-
ly.ga lalGss2gs sAa4.4ots;". tdfa &
~ But don't see how you do it, uttered Arthur.
in tone Of nervous wistfulness. a@ g
ala, ha, ha, What fools there are in this
world Leeman, Just look here" ratified the sue
cessful merchant, as he leaped back over his
counter, aud pulled piece ofgoods from one Of
his shelves. "There, what do you call that" =
Leeman carefully examined the article, with
the air of one who understands the business.
4 sIt's made to look like the finest of silk"
he sad "but the great body ofthe cloth is cotton.
| never saw any like it, BEFORE" he continued,
as he drew out a thread and ran it between the
nails, Of his thumb and fore6nger, thereby strip
ping off the fossy silken covering from stout
thread Of cotton. Z. ~.
"No,--it's a new Thing. got it in New York.
Sold u piece this afterno- n-ftteen, yards-for
nine shillngs yard. Ha, ha, has, =.
'"Nine shitlings repeated Arthur, in renewed
surprise. ,"Why, the stuff, is not worth seventy
FIVE cents .ssT .a@gasia aaiHs. s5la y
'BIessy your body, only paid forty-two cents
for it. Got it at auction. IT'S new thing
Only think off fifteen yards made profit Of
sixteen dollars and twenty cents. vtiaaa sE9N6
"But the one to whom you sold it must have
thought it silk" ... @s...sv,
"Of course she did. E, You don't suppose shed
have paid that price if. she didn't. But mind
tell you this in confidence, you are one of the
trade, you know, andofc course up to such things
Arthur Leeman was not sup to such things
but then he had not at that moment the manly
indepenpence to say SO. A new idea was work
ing its way darkly through his mind. an /,
"You didn't Of course tell her it was really silk
pure slk."' he said carelssly. ea6aeg 2ssaI 4
ID 30, MOI returned SharPing, with knowing
nod ..Let me alone for that. She wanted seme.
thing for dress-I took down that there said
,I,'look al that--iust whatyeu want--splendid ar.
ticle-+ +just examine it for yourself 'What dc
you ask!' sTwo dollars said I. Too high sht
said, But my dear madam, look at It'll mus
make myself whole She begged and groan
ed about the ruinous plan of selling below cost
At last she hit upon nine shiilings. 'Ruinous'
said I; .bat II YOU won't mention it--is you'll
promise not to- tell of it, She promised am
took it. HaI,ha, ha." ;'lt .'ii4 :. L
Usixteen dollars aud twenty cents!" muttere
Arthur, aloud s;aiss 4,ils lafsss asi u he7yt
3 81 Av. q rood round profit, added Sharping.- =