The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1855-09-28

sion aud no pain. But soydeeply involved
were they that even another coming down
must be made.t Horses and carriages and
house must be sold, and themselves be left
with nothing in the world but their hearts
and hands.
My dear, sweet wife, what shall say to
Icomfort YouiD said Mr. Dexter when he had
made asconfession of their extreme poverty.
And he added, signing and sinking down
ihelplessly, things could not be worse than
Nthey are."
II am glad to hear it,, said Mrs. Dexter
laughing ontright; "for as nothing remains
stationary in this world, our affairs must
grow better from necessity"
'But, my dear, what can we do?" sor-
rowful ejsculaled the husl aud. =
aWhy," she replied, begin to live, inde.
pendent of burdens and restrictions. For
my part ! just begin to see something to live
for"
And drawing the easy chair to the fire,
and placing the baby on his knee she pro-
posed to make for her husband cup oi
tea, and piece Of toast, in the hope of reyi
wing his spirits
There was no bread nor tea in the house,
and, worse than all, noSmonev.
"Surely, then" said Mrs. Dexter, looking
earnestly in the sad face of her husband,
There is no time to be lost !" and putting
on shawl and bonnet she was presently zone
from the house. When she returned il was
with aglow on her cheek that heightened
her beauty far more than paint and powder
had ever done. She had been selling her
diamonds, and had brought home money
enough to buy a cottage and ten acres of
land within few miles of the city where
they had always lived.
a year went by, and as Mr.. Dexter look
ed about his neat, we'll ordered house, as he
sat before the blazing hickory logs, pitcher
OF milk and basin of shining apples on the
table beside, and saw his wife in pretty
chintz, making the tea, and his boy, bright.
eyed and healthy, rocking himself in the
cradle with a look Of pride that he was al
ready able to do something for himself, he
was snrpsised at his own happiness, and ex-
claimed, "Really, my dear, i should never
have learned half your excellent qualities,
and, consequently, never have loved you hall
so well, but for our coming down.
Coming down, indeed p she replied, and
putting down the smoking teapot, she wi,
ped the happy tears from her eyes Il was
never SO happy in my life. 1t is as if we
had removed great heap of rubbish, and
had struck vein of gold !; for what were all
our useless forms, all our servants and equi-
page, but SC. many obstacles in The way ol
our knowing each other Then there was
nothing that could do for you---now can
do everything;;" and almost sobbing she con
tinued, "if you call this coming down,
thank God for it, for it has, in truth, been
coming down to usefulness and happiness
With what our friends called n,isfortunes
we were the gamers every time. Was it no
pieasanter to ride in the open carriage, to Sc,
what was about us, and feel the air and sun
shine, than to be shut up in the old lumbe:,
ling coacha And then to walk and hav,
the advantage of exercise as well SIS air, wa,
better still and now to work, and SO gel
air and exercise, and be useful at the same
1 time, is best of all. One room darkened an
lother when he had great house; now the
/ light and sunshine come in all round. Our
expensive furniture required careful keeping:
SO had the care both of furniture and ser.
wants /; now | can keep the little we require
myself and what was before wearisome is
lpleasure. have no ceremonious calls to
euse the time which can pass in friendly in.
terchange of thought and feeling, with neigh
bors who come to see me, and not my house
or dress. Believe me, my husbaud-a house
to shelter us, and one that is withal tasteful
and pretty, and ground that gives us bread
and fruit, and water and fiowers--all for a
little work and that is the blesedest of our
provisions, sos .hro;:gh nc c..he- nleaas can
we obtain rest
"You are the best and noblest woman in
the world" exclaimed the husband, interrup-
ting her, "and but for you should have
come down in verify. Now Fam convinced
that while we maintain honesty and self.res-
pect, coming down is impossible"
It's sad to think ofthe great fine rooms,
piled one over another, and darkening one
against another--too costly for use, and too
elegant for the free tread and merry laughter
Of ina,tiicial joy growing damp and moul-
dy, and senIing 10 the hearts Of their in
mates heayiness OF stupidity, when we know
they might be set up separately in bright
green spots here and there, and make such
little worlds Of comforts. Pity it is that
false notions. at all, are 70 epfeebling aud de
generating our men and womenj How
shall ! spend ffis timei and by what process
shall | beat out my little gold 50 thatit shall
display the most glitering surfacel are the
first questions of the day