The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-06-21
1sHaye yoU-What is it ?"


Mrs. Wyman had set her heart upon
new carpet and curtains, and she resolv-
ed not to be frustrated but she would
have paused if she could have seen her
husbands white face or the fearful smile
with which he answered her.
"Why. I've seen to-day the greatest
beauty of Brussels carpet, and a pair Of
lace curtains, that want for the sitting
room. You know our old ingrain and
shades are not fit to be seen ; and beside
Major Morgan's daughter is coming here
for day or two next week, so | want to
order them tomorrow. The whole won't
cost more than sixty dollars and you
.nust lot me have the money"
"Nna" Mr.. Wyman sat down and
laughed--a laugh which fairly made his
Wits heart stand still.
Harry what ails you-what is the
mrtter"
"Carpet and curtains !" the man NUT
tered, more to himself than to his terrified
listener, "when we haven't a roof over
our heads, and the sheriff will soon have
all the furniture that's under this "
"Oh, Harry, what do you mean Z" and
now Mrs Wyman sprang to her feet
with face as white as Der husbands.
at means, Annie" speaking with a
slow, distinct, but unnatural utterance,
"that I've failed to-day-utterly gone to
smash. I'm a ruined man"
Oh, where was her wifely heart, her
woman's true, sheltering tenderness, that
now in the hour of her husbands need
and weakness, she did not spring brave
aud strong, and hopeful, his good angel
to his side?
Alas ! alas what miserable, SELFISH cal
Ious hearts, vanity. and pride, and petty
ambition will make 2
Mrs. Wyman paced ND and down the
room, and wrung her hands and sobbed
"Oh, dear! dear what shall we do! Fl
never show my face on the street again.
| wish we had all died before this ha0
| happened 10 US
a deep, hollow groan answered, her as
her husband buried his face in his hands
Ay-he might well say "all had gone !?
"Papa,-mamma, what is the matter?
The little voices came slipping into the
room, and the two children stood there
golden haired. brown. eyed, boy and girl
and their young sweet faces wee flIec
with wonder and dismay, as they looked
at their parents.
"Matter, Children" answered the moth
er turning wildly upon them. "loul
fathers failed to-day, and there's no hell
for us we must starve."
The little girl stood still a moment
with wondering, frightened, puzzleC
thoughts, going in ard out Of her face
Then she turned and ran very eagerly uE
to her father, and endeavored with he
small hands to lift up his face, and dipped
her little fingers into his thick locks O
hair. Papa she cried, "must VI
starve, you and mamma, and Eddie ano
IIw
"God only knows, my poor child J" an
swered the wretched man, and his tear
fell thick into the golden locks whicI
crowned his fair child's head.
And the wife and mot her kept on bel
walk, meaning and sobbing to herself
and thinking mostly of her own NORTH
cation, of the social caste which she haC
lost, aud Of all those ten thousand petit
trials which her pride must experience
when her husband failure became known
among her fashionable friends.
At last Mr.. Wyman rose up, and rush
ed out of the room, like one driven sud
denly mad. lie went up stairs. He haC
nothing to sustain him, neither faith il
God nor hope in man and the wife, t.
crafty whose tastes he had been reckles
md fooIhardy in his business relations
had failed him in his sorest straits.
There was a quick, sharp report Of
pistol-a heavy tail, and it was ''alI gone
with Harry Wyman
This last blow reused the wife frou
her selfish sorrow; but tears and self
reproaches could not bring back tn
dead.
Oh, wife or mother, who shalI reat
th;s story Though your riches shall tax
to themselves wings and Fly away, ma,
your heart have precious jewels locke'
up, and laid away in its closet, SO tina
whatever may be spoken of you on earth
it shall never be said in Heaven Gal
Gone! Ali Gone VI T.
SOME person in Huntingdon, Pa
writes as follows to friend in Beliefonte
u,hieh lntta- ne find with the anneXel