True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-05-20
RETRENCHMENT.
BY MRS. E. wELLMoNT.

By MRS. E. wELLMoNT.
Mr.. Tidmarsh twirled bill which he
held in his hand very violently. He look
ed at it very minutely a few moments,
before, and as his eyes rested upon the
sum total, it seemed 10 disquiet him.
He crossed one leg over the other-laid
down his specIacles-rose from his chair
and gave his coat such tremendous jerk
that every wrinkle rapidly disappeared
AT length he remarked: wife, I'm think.
ing there are too many small leaks IN my
expenses-we must have some letrench-
ment. This January bill on your ac-
count is really exorbiant. 1t is more
than my tailor's, hatter's and shoema
ker's. Seven hundred dollars for dry
goods bill is enormous. I've been look
ing over the items, fifty dollars for SIN
gle dress pattern, seventy-6ve for cloak,
fifty for two SETS Of Honitons laces, 'un-
der-sleeves and collars Mrs. Tidmarsh,
we must retrench, OF | shall become a
bankrupt in less than year.
Mrs. Tidmarsh looked wild-she had
always supposed her husband was able to
allow her in any expenditure she might
fancy. Everybody had given him the
reputation of. being rich man-indeed,
in some of his good natured moments he
had told her of the immense profits he
had realised from certain cargoes con.
signed TO him--and his credit was so un-
doubted that wherever she traded she was
urged to swell her account by freely pur-
chasing. She had done so when perhaps
it was not strictly necessary she should
buy some articles; but it was maxim
with her that dry goods neither ate MOI
drank anything, and silks, satins and
laces were always worn, quite forgetting
that fashions materially affected theil
prices.
She wondered why her husband spoke
so explicitly few moments ago. 10 be
sure, she had heard the times were hard
and money was tight, but she did not
lmmagine that could effect him any. Mr..
Tidmarsh was rich-it was necessary to
keep up appearances. Jennette and her.
self always had rather led in the fashion,
and she hardly knew how she could re-
trench.
And the mother and daughter discuss.
ed father s. remarks.
q don't believe, said Jenny, that he
will ever again allude TO the subject
Father is always testy when bill is first
presented, but after it is paid his counte-
nance is as clear as sunshine. For my
part, mamma, cannot retrench as he
calls it. l was just on the point of so.
liciting him to buy me set Of diamonds.
Julia Floyd has splendid set-lhey are
SO brlliant-and l am certain | should
look as interesting as she in them Jen.
ny looked in the mirror and added, They
would become me quite as well. Was
father intending to settle our bill this
morning, mamma! II so, will keep
quiet.
Il fancy you had better, my dear, for
have no! dared to show him my bill for
the Russia sables. They cost FIVE hun
dred and fifty more. 10 be sure, your
father knew it at the time purchased
them and made no objection but he
seems to forget such knowledge when The
bill is presented
Mr.. Tidmarsh came home 10 dinner
looking very blue. He never knew such
time in all his business experience. -
1t was really frightful TO contemplate the
wrecks of fortune-Ford & Co. had fail
ed for million--they were largely in
debled to Tidmarsh & Co.. His next
door neighbor was down. A letter from
New Orleans announced that Bisbee &
Blake had failed for six hundred thou.
sand-great loss to our firm. Banks don't
discount froely--notes are protested daily
capitalists ere growing shy Of every.
body's paper--and | tell you, wife, ]
must look about me, or l shall become
bankrupt too
Dinah rung the bell for dinner.
-, I've no appetite, 60 and enjoy your
food, wife and daughter. I'm panic
struck by the news of the day. II makes
feverish. We must retrench as l said in
the morning.
what makes papa so hysterical!' in.
qulred Jenny, Mamma, do give him a
dose Of valerian. o, how | do dread
such days--but when our bills are settled
we can begin a new one and gel just
what we please, for it will be a great
while 10 next July, and perhaps we shal
be at some watering place when that ac'
count is rendered.
And Mrs. Tidmarsh wiped her tear:
with her lace -boldered handkerchief, ant
| patted her husband and told him the dark
est time Of night preceded daylight, AM
coaxed him into the dining-room, and h,
carved the nice joint Of meat, and Jeu
nette told funny stories-but still fathe
did not seem happy-the day was {
cloudy one.
| AT evening there was a free family dis
cussion. Some things were talked owe
that Mrs. Tidmarsh would gladly havI
closed her ears against Some hints wer,
so given that there was no mistake in th,
i aDnlicaiion md tha.i 0iat nf kha VvhOla