The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1859-09-21
MONEY IN THE BANK.
BY MARGARET VERNE.

VI " u IL i " 1 III u ID Il u HI
BY MARGARET VERNE.
When | went to the obscure little vii
lage Of Grafton TO spend the forty-fifth
summer of my bachelor existence. gave
out among my fashionable New York
friends, that in retiring from the pleasures
and luXuries of city life, | was only fol-
lowing the suggestion of my medical ad-
wiser. If the assertion was falsehood. /
have at least the consolation of knowing
that it vSas very small one considering
who told III, and that, in the great debt
and credit account which the angels are
supposed TO keep up above somewhere, it
will never be set down against nv name :
for the reason that the particular page or
pages dedicated to my service being cram
med full of larger iniquities, there is no
room tor such little trash.
Now don't go to imagining me an un-
truthful person. Slight prevafications
are often the innocent means of doing a
great amount Of good, and saving amiable
people like myself from a vast deal of an
noyance and trouble. As a general thing,
| detest ibbing, but | assure the reader,
that but for the delicate exaggerations of
which have had the honor Of being au-
thor, my disposition, which is one of the
sweetest and most placid. would long ago
have been as sour as a last years churning.
In soliciting loans from ones friends, in
evading the cruelty Of thoughtless credit
Ors and in the thOusand-and-one exigen.
cIes of this mortal life which it would be
useless To attempt to particularize, slight
cvaSions of the truth are indispensibly
necessary. ! can recall an instance where
! should have lost an excellent boarding
place, because happened so take a fancy
to 90 home one night in a zig-zag way. in
stead of following the old-fashioned meth
cd of walking straight ahead. A white
lie saved me, not only from the expected
consequences Of nv eccentric stvle of
pedestrianism, but also from the wrath of
my landlady's daughter, whom | had at
tempted to kiss on the stairs.
Pardon the DEPRESSION. | merely wish
ed To stand fair in the eyes of the world.
and to show that, although occasionally
Tor convenience sake indulge in a little
necessary tibbing | have yet no sympa-
thy or patience with persons who are not
truthful. As ! said before, nv temper
would long ago have exploded, but for
steam of once in awhile: and as con-
slider it a Christian duty to preserve ones
good nature at all hazards. why, my con-
science never reproaches me.
Well, ! went TO Grafton. That's no lie
by my dyed beard it isn't wish it was,
for thereby hangs a tale which has made
my name a by-word and laughing-stock.
NJ name Ye gods and little fishes that
q,
this Of himself.
A. said, ! went to Grafton and if nv
medical adviser didg't counsel me to such
proceeding. he might have done so. and
reflected more credit upon his profession
than physicians usually do by their pre-
scriptions. To explain myself | must
admit that ! was sick. By these individ-
uals. who, like myself, have deigned to
take upon themselves the troublesome
and responsible burden of human exi,-
tence; in other words, have econdescended
to be born, and thus condescending. con-
slider their earthly duties at an end. and
wash their hands of all further concern
in the matter from that time forward
who think il ought to be the pleasure as
the duty of the world at large to support
them comfortably-who scorn the idea, OF
| personal exertion as degrading, and look
upon labor as the birthright of their in,
! feriors-whO manage in divers genteel
! ways, beyond the comprehension of vul.
/ gar minds, to get along in life without
any visible means of support" by these
/ individuals, ! say, sweet fellOw-sutferers
have no doubt ! shall be able to make
myself understood why | reiterate the
/ word sick
Sick-not in body, but in mind and
/ heart. Prostrated-not by physical i'll
ness, but by the base ingratitude of q
| heartless. selfish world, Every sensitive
nerve in my body set ajar 10y the coarse
] and meddlesome opportunities of those
! unfeeling worldlings, dEas creditors who
| could not comprehend the delicacy of my
! organization, or understand how essentia
were peace. and harmony, and luxuriou:
ease, to keep in tone the tinely-strunl
chords of such a soul as mine.
1t is painful task to write down tn,
failings of ones friends, especially afteI
the lapse of years has taught us the sub
lime lesson Of forgiveness; and yet | fee
it to be my distressing duty in this in
| stance. In no other way can | hope L
excite the sympathy which ! feel is du,
toGme.
1tseems impossible to believe, and it i
true. nevertheless, that about the time o
which write, the friends, whom | hat
loved and trusted most implicitly eve
since nv remembrance: to whose pecu
MARY care had contided myself with al
fectionate pleasure; in the sunshine @
whose prosperity ! had reposed as a chill
in the bosom of its mother, actually turn
ed the cold shoulder to me, and all, de
clninc further connection with my fate
and relentlessly giving me over to tn
hungry pangs of poverty. And this, too
after had been as faithful to them as tn
needle to the pole. with the exception {
one unfortunate creature who was FOOLS
enough to fail in business, and whose di
honorable acquaintance as matter c
course, | could no longer tolerate.
The first suspicion had of the change
state of my affairs, was the refusal of on
of my most intimate friends to loan me a
Y. Gracious heavens and ! had dine
with him twice a week regularly for yea
drank his wine, smoked his cigars, dri
en- his horse, and never failed spending a
evening with his pretty wife whenever i
was out of town. This was the return ii
wretch made me!
The ball once set rolling, there was 1
such thing rs stopping it. Every day-a
most every hour, my heart was pierced {
the core by some new exhibition of crut
tv and ingratitude. | could have endure
il all with heroic fortitude, had not Il
plebeian herd who held trifling accoun
against me got wind of it. | soon four
that Matthew Henderson, Esq, friend
= the rich Messrs. A, b, and c. was alt
Cether different fellow from plain Ma
( | thew Henderson. Bills began TO pour
upon me from all directions-tailors' bill
= shoemakers' bills, hatters' bills, char
pagne bills cigar bills, and so on and
3 forth, at IN fai,l0n. One ragged old W
b man (mv nose elevates its aristocratic t
D in disgust at the very thought of the oC
p Gus creaturel. had the impudence to bril
, in an account of nine dollars and seyent
y I>ix odd cents against me; because, fC
sooth. humanely wishing to benefit II
old lady. and firmly believing that stea,
% industry, according to physiological rule
!. is the best exercise for old people. h,
overcome for once my natural dislike
the lower classes, and allowed her
cleanse my linen for me weekly 1t W
70 the old story of warming an adder in on,
bosom to have il turn and sting its ben
factor. By the way, did you ever see
child in worm-fit? If so, imagine VIII
f, effect her audacity had upon me.
This was why was sick.
O. As | think | have told you before
went to Grafton And surely never COS,