American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-01-10
THE TORN POCKET.
by JANE WEAVER.


over coat pocket, The day is pleasant
so that ! can leave off the coat without
Inconvenience"
s. Very well, my love-" was the re-
ply, and moment after, the front door
closed on the husband, who departed
to the store, where he filled the place
of a responsible clerk. ,
\ Mrs. Huston rose to attend to her
domestic affairs, and, occupied in them,
soon forgot the torn pocket. About
noon, she had finished her work, and
having spare hour before dinner, she
sat down and took up q late novel. In
this way she continued to overlook the
torn pocket until the meal was over,
and her husband had again left the
house, when going to look for the over
coat, she found that he had put it on,
the weather having grown colder.
"Oh, well, it will do tonight" said
the wife. q / suppose he will scold
when he finds forgot it; but it can't
be helped now
TIE 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 omis-
sion. Soshe found no difficulty in dis
missing all uncomfortable thoughts 8
concerning the torn pocket; and resu-
ming her novel, she was soon deep in
the miseries of the heroine.
About dark there came violentring
at the door-bell.. 1t was magnetic
ring, as it were, and expressed anger,
or great tribulstion, if not both, 1t
made the somewhat nervous MRS. III.
start with little shrek. She stopped
reading and listened. ''e o f'a.
Directly the servant opened the door
and quicker than usual. Her heart
unaccountably began to beat faster. -
Oh! dear, (she cried to herself what
can be the matter?
She was not long in doubt.
Her husband came at once to the sit
ting room, emotions of rage and suffer
ing alternating pcrceptibly in his face.
frightened at demeanor so unusual, the
wife looked up, her lips parted in ter
ror, unable even to welcome him as
usual.
"see what you have done, (cried MIR,
Huston passionately, taking off his
osercoat, turning the torn pocket inside
out, and throwing the garment into the
hearers lap) you have ruined me with
your neglighnccV'
"Whatl what have I done ?" gasp
ed his wife at last, as he sternly regar-
ded her. "Has anything happened y
Anything happened? Didn't 1
tell you | was ruined? I've lost FIVE
I1luNDRED DOLLARS, and been discharg-
ed because | lost it, and all because
you didn't mend my pocket. Nor is
it the first time, as you know, that you
have neglected to do what you ought.
You are always forgetting. / often
told you that you would rue it some
day"
"But how did it happen Can no.
thing be done? timidly said the wife,
after while.
GLOW did it happen? In the most
natural way possible. / had a note to
pay for the firm, and as the bank was
in this part of the town, 1 brought the
money with me as | came up to dinner;
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 few steps of
the door, hoping to find the money on
the pavement. 1t was madness, as L
might have known; but looked again
and again, asking every body ] met
AT last / went back to the store. But
the news had preceded me. The no.
tary had already been there to protest
the note; and my employers would
not hear word Of excuse---I was dis
charged on the spot" ~
AS he ceased speaking, he threw
himself on chair by the table, and
buried his face in his hands. His dis
charge was, indeed, terrible blow
Without fortune, or anything but his
character to depend on, he saw, in his
loss of place, and the consequent refu-
sal 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 no turned away from her and bur-