Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-09-09


instead of having servants to do our bid
ding, to wait not only on yourself, but
on Others"
Z" 1t is very pleasant to be waited on,
| admit" said Mrs. Durand, ''but | can
do without it; and have not forgotten
how to sweep, and make beds, and bake
Try me, and you shall see that am as
good cook as your French artistic. We
will be happy yet, Robert. Riches are
comfortable, but poverty shall not make
us miserable"
Cheered in spite of himself by his
wife's spirit, Mr.. Durand began to talk
of the future; and the evening, which
began so gloomy, ended quite pleasantly
Robert Durand felt already like new
man his wife's sympathy lightened the
load which had well nigh crushed him,
and he set about the settlement of his
business with fresh courage
From the wreck of his fallen fortune,
he came out with large stock of self
respect-for no man could charge him
with dishonorable conduct-and a very
small stock of capital with which to be-
gin the world anew.
Mrs. Durand, meantime, was not idle,
II was her part to see to the settlement
of the domestic affairs, and though head
and limbs ached, yet she never complain
ed. But to her surprise, her slecpess
nights vanished-what opiates had failed
to do, the magic fatigue accomplished ;
and when at last the family were settled
in a small but comfortable house, though
she was very tired she yet felt that she
was really better than she had been for
long time.
As months passed, her appetite, which
had been capricious and variable, became
natural and healthy; dyspepsia slowly
yielded its hold upon her, thin features
became rounded, her figure gained plump
ness, and at last a faint color tiDged her
checks. In one short year, the invalid
Mrs Durand was transformed into a
fresh looking matron
With her health her spirit returned,
and the children astonished her one day
by telling her that they loved her a
great deal better than they used to, be-
cause she was so nice" which adjective,
when she pressed for its Interpretation
was further explained to mean that "shc
didn't tell them to keep still all the time
and she baked them nice cakes, and she
told them pretty stories, and she looked
great deal prettier."
This latter compliment, Mr.. Durand
who had been listener to the CONVEX.
sation, emphatically pronounced true
enough. "And she is as good as she is
pretty, little folks" he added, passing
his arm around her waist.
Mrs. Durapd looked up with smile
"We are not so very miserable, after
ALL" she said slyly. Her husbands only
reply was closer embrace
Years had passed, and Mr.. Durand
again was rich man; once more his
wife was mistress of fine establishment
once more she attended and gave par
ties. But now she sat among the older
people, and looked on to see her girls
and boys enjoy, with all the zest of youth,
the music and dancing.
She was still healthy, comely ma
iron, whose sparkling eyes, blooming
checks, luxuriant hair, many young
woman envied.
She was sitting one evening at party
with a knot of her friends, when pale
young creature joined them. She looked
so listless, so feeble and miserable, that
Maria's thoughts at once reverted to her
own past-for Mrs. Tyler seemed per-
feet counterpart of what she had been at
her age So absorbed was she in her
own thoughts that she hardly needed the
conversation around her, till the mention
of her own name startled her.
Il was telling Mrs. Tyler" continued
Mrs. Lorimer, "that she reminded me
of you when you were so i'll many years
ago 1t was the water-curc, think,
that restored your health was it not,
Mrs. Durand?"
&C No, it was the poverty cure"
"The what ?" cried chorus Of voices.
The poverty cure" repeated Mrs.
Durand. 1T was not very pleasant to
take, but it restored me to health"
You are talking enigmas-pray ex-
plain" said Mrs. Tyler, reused to some
little animation.
Thus pressed Mrs. Durand gave, brief
ly, the history Of that period Of her life
which followed their reverse of for
tune. As she concluded her story,
her husband joined the group to conduct
her to the supper room. Rising and
taking his arm, she said:
"And so | regained my health but
that is not all for which | have to thank
the poverty cure"