Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-11-23
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T II Z B / A C z S II T II F;
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4 STORY OF REAL LIFE.

Il l. II
Some time ago, | called on a cousin of
my wife, who resid, In Philadelphia
/ had not seel- him for long time, but
having understood that he was III affluent
circumstances, l was Ut iittle prepared
for the condition in which found him
Through information derived from a Phil
adelphia Directory went to one Of those
alleys with which that city abounds, and
found his name on a signboard, associated
with hat of another man, over a dark
and dIngy shop. The sign purported
that they were iocksmilhs and beil-hang-
ers also that locks were prepared and
keys fitted. Without ceremony, | walked
INTO the gloomy recess, where there was
blacksmllh's forge, and where, among
several muscular looking men up to their
armpits IN work, was my wife's cousin
He received me most cordially, and for
moment Intermitted filing q huge brass
key on which he was engaged, and the
shake of my own dexter by one of the
broad, brawny hands, | can hken to
nothing nearer than the shock Of q Young
earthquake.
. Take a seat, take a seat" he OBJ
served, and just as soon as finish this
key, wei make tracks for home"
| replied of course that | was In no
hurry, aud at once became interested in
the iacIle manner in which he was meta
morphosing a rough casting into a pol
Ished key. As soon as 1t was completed,
he washed the worst OF the dirt from his
hands, hung up his apron, and then put
ting on his coat and hat, remarked in a
cheerful tone, - Come, now, Cousin Aleck,
let's go and see whether wife has got any
tea for me"
After we were ia the street, our con-
versauon insenslbly ran en- business. and
took occasion to say to him that | had
been Of the opinion that be had retired
from his trade on handsome compe-
teucv.
Don't say word about retirement" :"
he replied, II nearly makes me sick to
think of It. People talk Of retiring from
business, while they are healthy and able
to work tell you, Aeck. they don't
il meant unlil | tried il, but NOW retire
ment and misery sound TO my ears. like
words Of about the same meaning"
Perceiving that he had struck a subject
on which he could easily be communica-
tive, looked inquiringy, when he re-
joined
Perhaps YOU have never heard the
particulars of my retiring"
On my replying that had not, he pro-
ceeded-
You see, Aleck, it is about three years
ago, that having, as you would say, COM
potency, made up my mind to STOP work
and move into .he country. Sol sold out
nv share of the business to ny partner.
l spent a year or more IN looking a, two
or three score Of country places, and at
last found one that my wife and myself
were considerably pleased with. Fine,
double house, four acres beautifully sha-
ded, vegetable garden not TO be beat, and
soil OF superior quality. The place is
still in my possession, but before | would
go and live on it again Id give 1t away :;
YES. Aleck, Id see Il sunk IN the middle
OF the Dead Sea. But l am getting
little ahead of my story. For two or three
months things went on very well, because
| had something TO attend 10 IN making
few Htlle Improvements about the house,
with locks Of my own Invention but a :
the whole premises were in excellent re-
pair when | bought them l soon came TO
a point where there was nothing to look
afer tut the cultivation of the garden. /
vas not long 10 making the discovery that
! had no genius or taste either for Dig
ging around roots or pulling up weeds,
and 50 as wife didn't wish the garden TO
run 10 waste, | employed regular Eng
lIsh gardener 70 carry the thing hand
somely through.
= Well, | didn't mind the expense he
put me to in the way of guano, new-fan-
g.e4 gardening tools, and patent watering
apparatus; fer l had fully expected TO
spend money, and thanks 10 our previous
economy, we had money to spend; but,
Aleck, il was very amusing to see what
he fruit and vegetables in cur garden
were worth to Us. Making use Of little
arithmetic / was master of, / recoliect
that clphered up the cost Of some taple
txlngs, and he resul. wa.-cucumbers,