The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-11-18
THE BLACKSMITH; /;
MY WIFES COUSIN.

6elphia. l had not seen hlm Tor long
time. but having understood that he was
iu affluent circumstances, | was but little
prepared for the condition in which L
found him. Through Information deriv-
ed from Philadelphia Directory, | went
to one Of those alleys with which that city
abounds, and found his name on sign.
board, associated with that of another
man, over dark and dingy shop. The
sign purporting that they were locksmiths
and bell hangers; also that locks we're
repaired and keys fitted. With ceremo-
ny, | walked into the gloomy recess,
where there was a blacksmith's forge,
aud where among several muscular look
ing men, up to their armpits in work was
"my wifv's cousin" He received me most
cordially, aud for moment intermitted a
hnce key on which he was engaged, and
the shake of my own dexter by one of his
broad, brawny hands, can liken to moth
ing near than the shock ola young earth
quake.
/ "Take a seat, take seat" be obserV-
ed, sand just as soon as finish this key,
we'll make tracks for home"
| of course replied that | was in no
hurry and at once became interested in
the faciIe manner in which he was meta
morphosDg a rough casting into finish
ed key. As soon as it was completed.
be washed the worst of the dirt from his
hands, hung up his work apron. and then
puttipr on his coat and bat rem marked, in
a cheerful tone:
Come, now, Cousin Aleck, let's go and
see whether wife has got any tea for u.s."
After We were in the street, our conTer"
sation iusensibly ran ou business, and |
took occasion to say to hin that had
been of the opinion that be had retired
! from his trade Oh handsome competeu-
CT. Don't say word about retirement"
he replied, cit nearly makes me sick to
;hiuk of it. People talk of retiring from
business while they are healthy and able
/ to work; Wig. | tell you, AIeck, they
don't know what it means. | dldut know
what It meant until | tried it, but noa0 re-
tircmeut and misery sound to my ears,
like words Of the same meaning"
Perceiving that be had struck subject
on which he could easily be communica-
tive, looked inquiringly, when be rejoin-
cd, Perhaps you rever heard the partlc-
ulars of my retiring"
Ou Dy replying that | had not, be pro-
ceeded. you see, Alex, it is about
three years ago, that having as you
would say, competency, | made up u }
mind to stop work, and move into the
couDtry. So l sold out my share of the
business to my partner, spent year or
more in looking at two or three score ot
country places, and at last found one that
my wife and myself were considerably
pleased With. Fine double house, four
acres beautifully shaded, vegetable gar.
den not TO be beat, and soil of superior
quality. The place is still in my posses
sion, but before I would go and live on il
again. I'd give it away; yes, Aleck, Id
sec it sunk in the middle of the Dead Sea
But I'm getting little ahead of my sto.
rg. For two or three months, matter;
and things went on very well, because
had something to attend to in making &
few little improvements about the house
and in furnishing a number of tie doors
With locks Of my own inventions; but as
the whole premises were in excellent re-
pair when | bought them, | soon came tc
a point where there was nothing to lool
after but the cultivation Of the garden
| was not long though in making the dis
, covery that | had no genius or taste eth
; CT for digging around roots, or pulling uI
weeds, ana SO as wife didn't wish the gar.
den to run to waste, mEloyed a regula
: English gardener to carry The thing hand
somely through.
well, don't mind the expense be pu
me too 10 the way of guano, new tangled
= gardening tools, and patent watering ap
paratus; for had fully expected to spcnc
e oney, and thanks to our previous econ
0 omy, we had money to spend; but, Alec
. it was really very amusing to see what th
:. fruit and vegetables raised from our gar
). den stood US in. Making use of the littl
: arithmetic | was master of, recollec
d that | cyphered up the cost of some Q
the table fxins, and the result was-cu
cumbers, seventeen cents piece; gree
peas, dollar and three quarters for
half peck; curraDts, ffty cents pint
beets, fourteen cents each, and eyerythiD
r else in proportion Allthis cared moth
|. ing about; but somehow felt out Of N
gearing In Dot having the right kind {
employment Wife did her best to Goa
i me into gentleu aDly ways; had the ol
mech anical CRIME thoroughly scrubbe
out of my hands-fDger nails cleaned OF
and rounded-so as to make 1T appe'
# that had never done manuel labor.
e "Thep we must get behind a couple
t. Morgan ponies which | had purchase
,e and make fashionable calls in the da
% time on those who had called upon U
. and wife wanted me to soften down n
voice and to be particular about gramm
and the subjects ! talked on; but som
st times forgetting myself would revel
a the proud memory of tho locks and ke
If / bad handled in happier days and COT
mence a history of my exploits in tb