The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-07-16
The Torn Pocket

He lOTu SSAct
s'My dear,D said Mr.. Huston to his young
wife, az he rose from his breakfast table, sI
wish you would mend my overcoat pocket.
The day is pleasant, so that I can leave the
coat off without Inconvenience
"Very well, my love,' was the reply, and a
menent after the front door closed on the
husband, who departed TO the store, where he
filled the place Of responsible clerk.
Mrs. Huston rose to attend to her domestic
affairs, anu occupied in them, soon forgot the
torn coat-pocket. About noon she had finished
her work, and having a spare hour before din
ner. sat down and took up late novel. In this
way she continued TO overlook the torn pock-
ct, until the meal was over, and her husband
had again left the house, when going TO look
for the overcoat, she found that Mr. Huston
had put il on, the weather having grown cold.
er. at& @ a*S# s
4 90! well, twill do Tonight" J" said the wife.
81 suppose he will scold when he finds forget
it; but it can't be helped now.n so
The truth was, Mrs. Huston was what is
called ga good. easy woman;' that is, she never
Intentionally harmed any one, but was only
thoughtless and forgetful; her sins were those
OF omission. So she found no difficulty in dis
missing all uncomfortable thoughts concerning
the torn pocket, and, resuming her novel, was
soon deep in the miseries of the heroine.
About dusk there came a violent ring at the
bell. Itwas magnetic ring, as it were, and
expressed anger, or great tribulation, if not
both. II made the somewhat nervous Mrs.
Huston start with 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 hear. unac-
countably began to beat faster. "Oh, dear -
she cried, to herself, "what can be the mat
ter ?' 81 aag
She was not long left ip doubt. Her hus-
band came at once into the sitting room, emo
tions of rage and suffering alternating
perceptibly in his face. Frightened at de-
meaLor SO unusual, the wife looked up, her
lips parted in terror, and unable even to well
come him as usual. =
''See what you have done," cried Mr.. Hus-
ton, passionately taking of his overcoat, and
turning the tern pocket inside out, and throw
ing the garment into the hearers Ian; "you
have ruined me with your neglieencep'
''What, what have done ?' gaspeI his wife
at last, as he sternly regarded her. "Has any,
thing happened?o -.. ......s ....
"Anything happened! Didn't tell you |
was ruined? Pve lost FIVE hundred dollars,
and been discharged because lost il and all
because you didn't mend my pocket. Nor. is
1t the first time, as you know, that you have
neglected to do what you ought. You are al
ways forgetting. ! often told you you would
rue il some day.o
:" But how did it happen? Can anything be
done?" timidly said the wife, after awhile.
6 How did il happen? In the most natural
way possible. l had note to pay for the
firm, and as the bank lay in this part OF the
town, brought the money up to dinner, and
on going out, put 1t into my oyercoat pocket,
supposins you had menced tie rent. When I
reached the bank, the money was gone. 1t
was then nearly three O'Clock. Almost fran
tic, came back to within few steps Of the
door, hoping to find the money on the pave.
ment. 1t was madness, as I might have known;
but looked again and again, asking every-
body met. AT last l 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 ex-
cuse-l was discharged on the spot.o
As he ceased speaking, he threw himself on
chair BY the table, and buried his face in his
hands. His discharge was, indeed, terrible
blow. Without fortune, or anything but his
character to depend on, he saw, in his loss Of
place, and the consequent refusal Of his en-
Pioyers 10 recommend him, future full Of dis
asters. And all for what? All because his
wife could not remember the simplest duty.
No wonder, in that hour of trouble, that he
turned away from her, and buried ms lace =,
his hands. Nowonder he felt angrily toward
her the author Of this evil.
For while Mrs. Huston knew not what
20 40. The tears rah down her cheek, but
she feared to approach her husband. Gle
will drive me away" she said to herself. -
"But have deserved it all, have deserved
it all.o tF
AT last she ventured to approach him, and
at last he was induced to listen. With many
tears she promised never to be neglected. again
''which she would never forgeto aged ~
Nor has she forgotten it. Years have pass-
ed, and the Illusions are comparatively well off
for, after awhile, MIR. Huston obtained anotb-
er situation, ani finally became a partner in
the house. gssf ~
Bnt to this day, when the wife sees either
Of her daughters negligent, she calls the often.
der to her, and tells, as warning, the story
OF the tora pocket.
01 Jeremy Taylor says-..Cheerfnlnes
and a festival spirit fills the soul full Of har.
mony; II composes music for churches and
hearts !; il makes and publishes glorifcat.on of
God i produces thankfulness. and serves the
ends Of charity.
IL Awrxx N