True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-06-16
n GOOD STORY.
y How he Escaped.
BY MEHlTABLE HoIYoKE.


YES, my dear Miss Mehitable, was
a amarried man once, and now am happy
bachelor. hf'o
talk enigmas, do /! You shall hear
my story then, if you have patience.
And how escaped from my wife 3
Mos! assuredly; that is the eliminating
point of interest, the denoument of my
romance.
AS you may remember, | had lived
along from year 10 year, and was far past
boyhood before it seemed convenient to
take the blessing of wife.
What was there to prevent? Oh there
were countless things. l had small
fortune to be sure, but every year bro't
some new drain upon my income now,
had joined a military company now,
wished to purchase yacht; and now, a
farm. | liked hunting, and guns and
ammunition have their price I read
Izaak Walton, and that year all my sur
plus funds went for fishing poles, artificial
flies and excursions into the country. l
was fond Of horses too-indeed 1 had a
hundred sensible tastes.
And why were these not sufficient 3
Why wasn't the first man satisfied with
all the roses and grapes Of Eden, but he
must 60 meddling with one tree Of forbid
den fruit!
So ladies' did not smile upon me! l
beg your pardon Miss Meh liable! When
once my mind was made up 10 select a
wife, the trouble was, that all the young
and old maldens ofmy acquaintance were
ready to fall into my arms. They smiled
too readily. The fisherman would not
enjoy his trout if he could hale them up
by the net full at once, like alewives.
Meantime. l must make ready for the
change Of lot. My indiscretions and
misfortunes began. l sold my beautiful
farm for a little estate in the suburbs Of
The city; my yacht and hunter went for
a carriage and span. 1t was spend,
spend! for furniture, curtains, silver,
And the lady! Oh, l had not found
her ct. In truth the preparations cost
me so much, that began to be tired Of
the fancy. looked about at my married
acquaintances their happiness if they
could boast any, seemed Of a foolish sort.
And some had slaternly wives, some had
sickly or scolding ones, and some had a
swarm Of children, homely Children
When ! saw these unfortunates, could
but think how idle it were to walk in the
same predicament.
Only one among all my friends did l
envy. He was the best marksman-the
most sdroit angler that | ever met, and
had the sweetest tempered wife. Poor
fellow, he suffered wretchedly from the
lingering effects Of rheumatic fever, and
his young wife gave up all her own
pleasures in order to nurse and amuse
him. They were both Of lively, hope
fufa disposition and then they had no
children-those domestic pests. I see
their parlor now, with the bright blazing
fire, and Lestef's sofa drawn Into the
warmest place beside it; and the wife
near, with her pretty face and neat taste
ful dress. All, why we're they ever sep
arated! a'''
He died from the fever! No, thank
fortune Lester did not die from the
fever; but his business suffered from lazy
inattention; debts began to accumulate
Iadvanced money until my poor friend
was ashamed to ask for more and his
wife came 10 me in secret, asking tempo
rary help, giving her word that the obi
ga,ion should be cancelled by her own
hands, if need were. l was not sorry for
an excuse to defer the subject Of nia.ri-
mony; made the Testers occupy my
house as it stood, their tact and taste
could take from it's interior the new look
which annoyed me. left the pipes Of
my patent steam furnace to freeze, and
opened good, broad FIRE places. that we
might have the accustomed blaze.
Thee went to live with theml Yes,
al their request. And never saw such
touching devotion and such perfect hap.
piness as seemed to exist between those
two. Many a time, while appearing tc
sleep in my chair, would sitlistning to
their low conversation.
Dishonorable Pray do not imagine
they were talking secrets; or that they
hadn't lived long enough, and seen the
prose.sidsVUf life thoroughly enough, ia
be past the foolish prattle Of lovers. No
Miss Mehitable, the young wife would
relate to her invalid husband all her swee
earnest thoughts Of life and duty, and ,ht
substance Of the books she found time h
read. ea .ii.'
Il You can imagine the scenei Woult
Il had ended there Would we had ,her
and there fallen asleep like the fairy
prince, and known noughl Of the trouble
10 come! tsA
,9Lesier's physician advised q change o
climate. and circumstances pointed e
California as his goal. He was young
ull Of enterprise.
He sailed, he sent letters home with