The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-07-21
The Tradesman's Crisis.
"Then let us begin at once"

"Then let us begin at once"
II will be sufficient for the readers pur-
pose, If, passin q over the herone's early his.
tory, we observe that, at the period our mar
rative commences, Mary Norton, the soul
and sunshine Of her parental home, was en-.
tertaining the very serious intention of leav.
ing it. "How her father and mother will
ever bring their minds to part with her,
can't think p was the somewhat concerned
remark of a neighbor, and (here our story
must proceed in the words of the narrator.)
"Poor Mary, herself, felt that it would be a
very, very hard thing to leave the dear little
cottage in which she had passed so many
happy days, and above all, to live no longer
under the same room with her parents. But,
then, she loved Edward Norris very much,
and she was sure he would be a good, kind
husband, for he had always been SO steady,
and such dutifu son, and affectionate bro.
ther." And so Hope chased the tear from
Mory's eye, and the passing pang from her
heart.
1t was the eve of her wedding day, and
she was sitting in the arbor. and talking with
Edward about their future plans and pros.
poets. They were quite alone, too; for Mrs.
Norton was in the house, busily making pre-
paratons for the next day, and Mr.. Norton
| was out.
"Mary, dear ~ said Edward; "Tm SO
afraid you won't be able to reconcile your
self to living in town, after being used, all
your life, to this pretty, quiet cottage. -
c. is such butling place, too; great
deal more so than L.. twill seem such
a change!'
"Never fear, Edward" replied Mary; {" |
think l could make myself happy anywhere
: with some one to love; and, besides, I shall
find so much to do, that shall have no time
to waste upon discontented musings" Anc
t Mary's eyes looked SO bright and hopeful
that Edwards misgiyings passed away, aHo
!, he thought if love could make her happy, i
should not be wanting. He was rather dis
h posed to be desponding, and cast down BY
difficulties; but, since his engagement will
: Mary, he had been often re.assured by he
: calm, hopeful spirit, and cheered by her en-
: couraging words.
The next day they were married, ard in
e week were settled in their new home o
D c.. There Mary found (os she had said
h plenty to employ her time and thoug hts
' Edward (who had served his apprenticeship
to a bookseller and Stationery was now
shopman in the establishment, and was muc
: esteemed by the principal of the concern
q for uniform steadiness and attention to busi
e ness. His house was near the shop, so tha
: he always came home TO his meals; and ve
) ry comfortable meals they were, for Mar
was an excellent housewife, and, thoug
hey had only slender income, she was de
If termined that what they had should be lai
out to the best advantage, as far us she wa
D concerned. Edward loved his wife dearl
y aud increasingly, and had reason to do so
for "good wife is from the Lord" and
among the most precious and valuable Of hi
earthly gifts. And Mary aDas a good wifi
in the best sense of the word; for she was
ID Christian, and had learned to make tn
ID Word of God her guide and counsellor, b,
Iieving that the Lord alone could enable HI
h faithfully and diligently to perform her ne
e duties Regulated and controlled by Divir
is grace, her naturally cheerful temper was
constant source Of enjoyment, both to he
self and her husband, and to all who can
'r within the sphere of its influence.
rs Five years passed away, and Mary was tt
mother OF three children, while death HI
K deprived her of her kind, good parents. E
ward had taken small shop in count
ye town. few miles from c., and had col
menced business for himself. But he so
found that young tradesnan has many di
fculties and struggles to surmount before
can be fairly established. Instead of t
es small, but certain salary, which he had bit
'ir erto punctually received, he found that the
3, were considerable expenses to meet,
's, stocking and altering the shop, while, at t
- same time, the returns were scanty and u
an certain. What could he do >! He dread
Sc getting into debt, which he had hithel
pit scrupulously avoided. The only alternati
US seemed to be to retrench their expenses, a
ut yet he hardly knew how to do that, sin
they had already lived as prudently and et
nomically as possible. Their present {
*. tablishment consisted of himself and wi
ut. their three children Gall very young), an {
an perienced servant, who mad lived with th'
ng ever since their marriage, young girl W
BY, acted as nurse, and shop-boy. 1t seemed
nd Edward out of question to part with one
their three assistants, and yet there appear
no other way Of saving. Mary had but
,ed Gently recovered from her last confineme
70. and he was unwilling TO distress her W
en-: fears that perplexed his own mind.
1t was late one evening, when, after h
ing closed his shop for the night, be ent
ed their small siHing-room, with wei