The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-09-29

Ijewelcr was an acquaintance of more than
one Of the directors of the bank, and
questions might be asked, and differences
drawn prejudicial to his standing. In an
evil hour, under distress of mind and
strong temptation, the young man made a
false entry which enabled him to abstract
tWo hundred dollars from the funds OF
the bank.
This was only the beginning of defal-
cations which ran through many years
before the exposIr came which always
follows such crime. 1t was easier now
than to supply the extravagant demands
of his wife whose annual wardrobe, aud
bills tor jewelry, for which she had that
passion which is characteristic of weak
minds, almost reached the full amount of
his salary.
But the end came at last. One morn
ing seven years from the day they were
married, Mr.. and Mrs. Blakely were about
leaving for the opera, when the bell was
rung violently. Mr.. Blakely started and
turned pale with sudden presentiment
of evil
"What is the matter7" asked his wife,
who saw the singular change in his coun-
tenance.
Mr.. Blakely did not answer, but stood
listening at the door. Mems voices were
now heard, and tread of heavy feet along
the passage. There was start and a hur-
Hed movement by Blakely; he then stood
still as if riyeted to the spot.
"Who are they? what is the meaning
of this ?" asked Mrs. Blakely in alarm.
At the same moment two men eutered
the room.
You are arrested" said one of them ;
con charge of defalcation."
Mrs. Blakely shrieked, but her husband
stood still and statue-like, his face of an
ashen hue.
George, George! This is FALSE" ex-
claimed Mrs. Biakely, recovering herself.
You could not stoop to crime!"
at is true" he answered, in low and
despairing voice Then laying one of his
fingers on the diamond pin that glittered
on her bosom, he added speaking to her
alone
"You gained that at the price of your
husbands dishonor! You demanded it.
| demonstrated and said [ could not afford
so costly an ornament. You repeated
your demand, and I, weak fool that [ was,
permitted the contraction of debt that
could only be cancelled by dishonest
means. | thought, when | married you,
that I had obtained wife whose virtues
might help me upward to Heaven, but
you have proved only tempting fend,
dragging me daily nearer and nearer the
brink of destruction, over which I now
fall to helpless ruin. | have robbed the
oank, but it was for you!"
Then turning to the officers he said, in
calm voice
/ am at your service"
The words of her husband had stunned
Mrs. Blakely. She never saw him after
wards. That night he passed to his ac-
count before higher tribunal than au
earthly one, and she was left in poverty
and disgrace
The story is one of every day life. Geo.
Blakely is the representative of class,
Not all Of them rob banks, or defraud
their employers. But all of them sup
port idle, extravagant wives in costly es-
tablishments-costly in comparison with
their means-spend more than their earn
ings or profits, and fail in the eLd to pay
their just obligations
A modern young lady, fashionably edu-
Gated, and with modern notions of style,
fashion and domestic equipments, is alto
gether too costly an article for a young
man of small means or a moderate salary.
Diamond pins, rich silks and laces, rose
wood furniture, six, seven, eight or nine
hundred dollar houses, opera balls, fash
ionable parties, Saratoga and Newport,
and success in business, are altogether out
of the question. If young men would
unite the latter and matrimony, they must
look into another circle for wives. a girl
who is independent enough to earn her
own living as a teacher or with a needle
is wife worth score of such butterflies
of'fashion; rising young mar, who has
only his industry to rest upon for success
in life is a fool to marry anv other. Use
full Industry is always honorable.
Thoughts i'm a Saw Mill.
Happening recently to visit q LARGO