Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-04-01
From Horper's MOHthiy Msgosine.
MY WIFE AND /.

extracted by dentist by the contem-
pla:ion of large opening in the toe of
little Persy's stocking, which she had
been trying in vain to devise some
mode of closing, without destroying
the symmetry OF the garment, while a
pile of similar articles, Of various sizes
and patterns. lay at her elbow, ~
much in need of mending as an old
rake's habits. There they lay, seven
pairs of little stockings, while their
seven daily occupants were snugly
snoozing in bed, forgetiul of the many
weary stitches their little feet had
caused; and all around, on tables and
chairs, was scattered a promiscuous
assortment Of juvenile aprons and
dresses. jackets and breechcs, each one
bearing its owners mark, in the shape
of rips and rents.
81 wish | were rich.'' repeated my
wife.
There was strength and heartiness
in the tone and manner which left no
doubt of her sincerity, anil in an IL
stant my mind went back some twenty
years, TO the time when we lad been
rich--rich in our young love, rich in
our mutual dependence, and rich in the
bright hopes which not only gildcd but
fairly plated the future all over with
twenty-carat plate at lcaSt-as together
we looked down the long vista OF
coming years, fair flowers of Joy around
our feet, ripe fruits of happiness over
our heads, the richest of all riches.
contentmcnt, in our hearts, and flour
at only five dollars barrel.
Almost twenty years ago those soft
hazel eyes that now beam with tender,
matronly love, first told the story ol
that love which those rosy lips (thcil
bloom has not yet faded confirmed
and that fair, round face, that has
grown faircr and roundcryca 10y year,
first lay upon my breast in maiden
trustfulncss.
We did not fall in love. nor walk
into it, nor glide into it, but we took
to it by instinct rs ducks take to water,
and we were married, with about a.
definite an idea of the modes and means
of meeting our current expenses as a
raw lrishman has of Egyptian hero
glyphics, or charcoal pcddlcr of hon
estv.
There must he a special Providence
which watches over fools and young
married people.
In point of worldly possessions we
commenced with nothing, and have
had it ever since; for, what with the
increased expense of living, and ouI
success III adding to the census returns,
each year finds us as far from the pos
session of respectable competency as
its predecessor. Financially we have
scrambled along in helter-skelter
way, tumbling into little puddles OF
debt from time to time, with now and
then long interval of exemption, to
be followed by new tumble and a
new scramble for safety. Until now
on this cold Saturday night in .Danu-
AIRY, my wife and sit cozily by our
cheerful fire, she with load of un-
mcnded and to-bc-mcnded stockings
on her mind, and |. ostcnsibly reading
trying to solve the great problem OF
the relation between supply and de-
mand; ut least, SO far rs to make my
own weekly supplies cover the weekly
demands of wife, children, the grocer,
and the landlord. And SO ! sit, buried
in thought, now frightened by rcmem-
brances Of early happiness, and now
darkcncd by shades of unpaid january
bills, which load my desk, making the
demand for the great staple, money,
far exceed the supply, thereby, accord
ing to our best political economists,
enhancing its value
Meantime my wife. still laborine
under the weight of the stockings,
says. for the third time, with increased
fervor and slight degree of asperity,
as though demanding a reply.
ooh dear, dear, wish were rich. y
''Riches, my love, take to them
selves wings and fly away" / replied,
with the air of one who had seen
myriads of tender young dollars put
on their pin feathers, become fully
fledged, and soar away to unknown
regions like flock of wild geese, leav-
ing not even the smell a money be-
hind.
"Well, if they do, they must go To
roost somewhere, and | don't see why
some OF them can't settle here as well
as elsewhere" said my wife. as she
commenced Oh a fresh stocking; and
then added, with slight dash of acid
ity, There's no danger of oar riches
flying away"
NO, my dear, the wealth of loving
hearts, of unstained conscienees. and
contcntcd dispositions is permanent
investment, and not at all prone to
aerial flights. These are yoNr only
true riches. With these, YOU are rich
er than Cresus; without them, poor
indeed"
That's all very well. but that kind
of property don't constitute a legal
tender. You can't pay the grocer with
conseicnces and dispositions, however
pure and eontented. They don't 60
half as far as promises, for I've known
you to make those last a year. But
speaking of the grocer reminds me
that / thought saw the bottom of the
flour barrel this morning"
Now | knew in an instant that there
wasn't -four enough in that barrel to
make homeopathic biscuit, for had
had hint of its condition the day be-
fore, in the shape Of an inquiry from
my wife, What is -four worth nows"
expressed in tone intended to in
dicate that she had no more interest in
IL \ II