The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1857-07-23
snterfBting Iittls 5turir5.
The Torn Pocket.
BY JANE WEAVER.

MY uear, Salu MI. huston 10 MS young
wife, as he rose from his breakfast table, II
wish you would mend my overcost pocket
The day is pleasant, so that can leave the
coat of without Inconvenience"
Very well, my love-" was the reply, and
moment after the front door closed on the
husband, who departed TO the store, where
he filed the place Of a responsible clerk.
Mrs. Huston rose TO attend to her domes.
tic affairs and occupied in them, soon for
got the torn coat pocket. About noon she
had finished her work, and, having spare
hour before dinner, sat down and took up a
late novel. In this way she continued to
overlook the torn pocket until the meal was
over, and her husband had again left the
honse, when going to look for the overcoat,
she found that MIR. Huston had put it on,
the weather having grown colder.
90! well, it VIII do tonight" said the
Hfe suppose he will scnld when he
finds forgot it; but it can't be helped
now." #t -
The truth was, Mrs. Huston was what is
called "a good, easy woman y that is, she
never Intentionally harmed any one, but
was only thoughtless and forgelful her
sins were those OF omission. So she found
no difficulty in dismissing all uncomfortable
thoughts concerning the torn pocket, and,
| resuming her novel, was soon deep in the
misesies of the heroine.
About dusk there came a violent ring at
the bell. 1t was magnetic ring, as it were,
and expressed anger, or great tribula,ion.
If not both. 1t made the somewhat aervous
MIS-. Huston start with a little shrek. She
stopped reading, and listened.
Directly the servant opened the door, and
the step of her husband was heard. but
heavier and quicker than usual. Her heart
unaccountably began TO beat faster. 90!
DEAR" she cried to herself, what can be the
matter 7"
She was not long left in doubt Her hus-
band came at once in the sitting room, emo
lions of rage and suffering alternating per.
eeptihly in his face. Frightened at de.
meanor so unusual, The wife looked up, her
lips parted in terror, and unable TO welcome
him as usual. .......... ...-....- ... .. ... r..
"See what you have done ~ cried Mr.
Huston, passionately taking of his over.coat
turning the torn pocket inside ont, and
throwing the garment into his hearers lap;
you have ruined me with your negIi-
gence !" ......- .... .......... ..... -...
L
wife at last, as he sternly regarded her.
" Has anything happened l'', .aa .5..
"Auything happened! Didn't | tell you
was ruined |! I've lost five hundred dollars,
and have been discharged because lost it !;
and all because you didn't mend my pocket.
Nor is it the first time, rs you know, that
you have neglected to do what you ought.
You are always forgetting. / often told
you you would rue it some day"
But how did it happen? Can nothing
be done T. tmidly said the wife. after a
while. 7 f # ,'n H. T..t
"How did il happen ! In the most nat.
ural way possible. | had note to pay for
the firm, and as the bank lay in this part of
the town. brought the money mp to din
ner, and, on going out, put it into my over
coat pocket, suppoSing you had mended the
rent. When reached the bank The money
was gone. 1t was then nearly three o'clock.
Almost frantic. came back TO within n few
steps Of the door, hoping to find the money
on the pavement. Ii was madness, as ]
might have known but / looked again and
again, asking everybody | met. At last. |
went back TO the store. But the news had
preceded me. The notary had already been
there to protest the note, and my employers
would not hear word of excuse. was
discharged on the spot"
AS he ceased speaking, lie threw himself
on a chair BY the table, and buried his face
in his hands. His discharge. was, indeed, a
terrible blow. Without fortune, or any
thing but his character to depend on, he
saw, in his loss u place, and the consequent
refusal Of his employers to recommend him,
future full of disasters. And all for what (?
All because his wife could not remember the
simplest duty.
No wonder, IN this hour of trouble, that
he turned away from her, and buried his
face IN his i,siids. no NsoadeF he felt an
griiy toward her, the author Of this evil.
For while Mrs. Huston knew not what
TO do. The tears ran down her checks, but
she feared TO approach her husband. /" lie
will drive me away" she said TO herself
But l have deserved it all. have deserved
il all" .-., - ,s,ss, !. ..,.
At last she ventured to approach him. and
at last he was induced to listen. With
many tears she promised never TO be neg
Iectful again, which she would never for.
get"
Nor has she forgotten it. Years have
passed. and the Illusions ara now mpara.