True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-03-11
STEUBENVILLE, OHIO,. WEDNESDAY MARCH H. 1851

o0 dI ldulI--puV uoI So IuaI Wls' DeAtoi
should wear silk and diamonds was a
matter of course-so they gave nobody
either pleasure or surprise.
Fire blazing before them, and mirrors
flashing behind, they sat in their fine
house and wondered why they were not
happy, and concluded they could not be
possessed of that amount of wealth that
insured happiness, for in no other way
could they account for the humdrum life
they lived.
They did not sleep we'll at night--why
they could not guess, unless it was the
fault Of their beds; they must have more
luxurious ones, if in any part of the
world they were TO be obtained. They
had little appetite; the cook must be to
to blame; they employ another; enter.
tainments do not entertain them, and
visitors and visiting were alike tiresome.
If they had wealth enough to do just as
they would like to do, they would surely
battle the demon of ennui that so tormen-
ted them now.
The chances Of speculation were turn
ed over, and Mr.. Dexter was not long in
selecting one which he though promised
well. So sure were they Of favorable
results that they concluded it would be
foolishness to wait for the actual realiza.
ton Of the wealth that was almost with
in their reach and so at once drew upon
a visionary capital. To their surprise
happiness refused to come, despite thei,
golden bidding. From their splendid
entertainments they retired more weary
than they were before, from their softer
beds arose more languid and lstless, ant
in their dazzling coach rode with no more
ease and comfort than formerly; the
French cooks failed to suit their appetites
and merchants and milliners were alike
unsuccessful in their attempts to NEE
their most extravagant wishes. Abou
the end of year of most extravagan
dissipation, there came a crash in th
affairs Of Mr., Dexter. From needless
ness or mismanagement or both, the lat
venture proved an utter failure, and drag
ged after it, to ruin, cooks coaches ant
all.
What can be done :" said Mr.. ant
Mrs. Dexter. And of course, the con
clusion was anything but coming down
Truth must he smothered and credi
kept good. So thousands were borrowe
and sent searching after the lost thous
ands, and for awhile the Dexters move
in splendor and gaiety, and were to out
. ward appearances greatly to be envied
but in their hearts they felt very much a
if standing on dry boards that for mo
ment suppressed the fires of an earth
, quake.
What shall we do 2" said both Nj
t and Mrs. Dexter, when no money coul
be borrowed. They did not know the
only felt like anything, but comm
| down.
What would all their fashionabl
friends say, and how they would be avo
ded !--That was what they dreaded mol
e than any privation they would have to Ell
4 dure.
+. They could devise no plan Of action
f but in their efforts to keep up a litl
longer there came sensation Of dodgir
!. and hiding, Of promising and postponing
4 of evasion and almost secret starvatio
They grew thin and haggard; their fiji
clothes looked like fine rags, or near
y SO, and the pinch Of penury showed
plainly on their faces that any furlh
4 attempt at concealment was hopeless.
:, Poor Mrs. Dexter looked like viii
paper woman, with kind of smile pla
ted on her lips, for you might see plain
r. enough it did not spring from her heal
= and it seemed that q breath of vii
!; would drift her away as easily as I
. froth from the milk pail,
!. Half a dozen scanty fed fires we
a burning in the house, when Mrs. Dex
- seated herself by one of them in mi
and hopeless despair, Night fell and
. heavy curtains made it doubly mig
! within the room. The door open
4. stealthily, and her husband like a sn'
IN drift, still aud cold came to her side.
i; "My dear wife," he said presently
b. would not mind that terrible calam
OF but for yOu," His voice faltered, and
9. put his arm about her neck with t
st derness Of manner that she was not