The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-12-28
Sl5Y|istellaug.
From Harper's Monthly.l
MY WIFE AND I.

This remark was extracted from my
| wife las an obstinate molar might be
extracted by dentist) by the con-
temptation of large opening in the
toe of little Persy's stocking, which
she had been trying in vain to devise
some mode of closeing, without de-
stroying the symmetry of the garment,
while pile of similar articles, OF va
rious sizes and patterns, lay at her ell
bow. as much in need of mending as
an old rake's habits There they lay,
seven pairs of little stockings, while
their seven daily occupants were snug
ly snoozing in bed, forgetful of the
many weary stitches their little feet
had caused /; and all around, on tables
and chairs, was scattered promiscu-
GUS assortment of juvenile aprons and
dresses, jackets and breeches, each one
bearing it's owners mark, in the shape
of rips and rents.
81 wish I were rich I" repeated my
wife.
There was strength and heartinesS
in the tone and manner which left no
doubt of her sincerity, and in an in
slant my mind went back some twenty
years, to the time when we had been
rich-rich in our young love, rich in
our mutual dependence, and rich in the
bright hopes which not only gilded but
fairly plated the future all over with
twenty carat plate at least-as togeth-
er we looked down the long vista of
coming years, fair flowers Of JOY around
our feet, ripe fruits of happiness over
our heads, the richest of all riches,
contentment, in our hearts. and -four
at only five dollars barrel.
Almost twenty years ago those soft
hazel eyes that now beam with tender,
matronly love, first told the story of
that love which those rosy lips (their
bloom has not yet faded) confirmed;
and that fair, round face, that has
grown fairer and rounder year by year,
first lay upon my breast in maiden
trustfulness.
We did not fall in love, nor walk in
to it, nor glide into it, but we took to
it by instinct as ducks take to water,
and we were married, with about as
definite idea of the modes and means
of meeting our current expenses as a
raw Irishman has Of Egyptian hero
glyphics, or charcoal peddler of hon
esty.
There must be special Providence
which watches over fools and young
married people.
In point of worldly possessions we
commenced with nothing and have had
it ever since; for, what with the increas-
ed expense Of living, and our success in
adding to the census returns, each year
finds US as far from the possession of a
respectable competency as its prede
cessor Financially we have scrambled
along in helter-skelter way, tumbling
into little puddles of debt from time to
time, with now and then long inter-
terval Of exemption, to be followed by
new tumble and a new scramble for
safety. Until now, on this cold Sat-
urday night in January, my wife and l
sit cozily by our cheerful fire, she with
a load of unmended and to-be-mended
stockings on her mind and l, ostensi-
bly, reading, trying to solve the great
problem of the relation between sup
ply and demand at least, so far as to
make my own weekly supplies cover
the weekly demands Of wife, children,
the grocer, and the landlord And so
l sit, buried in thought, now brighten
ed by remembrances of early happi-
ness, and now darkened by upaid Jan
uary bills, which load my desk, making
the demand for the great staple, mon
ey, far exceed the supply, thereby, &C.
cording to our best political econo-
mists, embracing its value.
Meantime my wife, still laboring un-
der the weight of the stockings, says,
for the third time, with increased fer
vor and a slight degree of asperity,
as though demanding reply,
"Oh dear ! dear | wish were
rich"
Riches, my love, take to them
selves wings and fly away" replied,
with the air of one who had seen myr-
lads Of tender young dollars put on
their pin feathers, become fully hedged,
and soar away to unknown regions like
a flock Of wild geese, leaving not even
the small of money behind.
Well, if they do, they must go to
roost somewhere, and | don't see why
some of them can't settle here as well
as elsewhere" said 10y wife, as she
commenced on a fresh stocking and
then added, with slight dash of aci-
dity, There's no danger Of our riches
flying away !"
No, my dear, the wealth of loving
| hearts, of unstained consciences, and
contented dispositions is a permanent
| investment. and not at all prone to
@rial flights. These are your only