Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-12-21
The Hole in the Pocket:
OR, THE SECRET OF SUCCESS.

|
housekeeping, as many other young
people do, with little means for defray-
ing the necessary expenses, but as he
he was good mechanic, and could
generally find employment in his native
village, and she being an industrious
little woman, besides doing her house
work, earned considerable in the course
of year by doing plain sewing. But
still they did not seem to prosper as did
Ned Bowen and his wife, who COM
menced housekeeping near them about
the same time, under similar circum-
stances. The reason why, and the way
he made the discovery, we will let him
tell in his own words.
My.wife said to me one evening
''Mr. Slack, I wish to get some thread
and needles at the store and want lit
tie change" I felt in my pocket, ex-
amined my wallet thoroughly, but could
find nothing that would pass for cur
rency at the store, and reported the IN
pleasant fact to her.
"Why !" said she, "what has become
Of the half dollar l gave you this morn
ing, that I got of Mrs. Jones for sew
ing (she had always made me cashier
of the frm.)
After another unsuccessful attempt
to find it, l said :-''Mrs. Slack, l
think there must be hole in some Of
my pockets, for certainly have not
got it, and do not think of anything
[ have paid it out for.''
"I'll look to your pockets this eve
ning," said she, mildly, and mend
them if they need it."
1t was not long after this converse
ton, that l remembered having treated
myself and three friends to ice cream
and oranges at confectioner's shop,
but concluded to keep the discovery to
myself.
Il could not find any hole in your
pocket last night said my wife, the
next morning, in gentle tone, and
with look that my feelings prevented
me from scanning closely, and all the
reply l felt willing to make, was, "Ah
couldn't you 20
A few days afterward, she called-or
me for twenty-five cents she had lately
deposited in my sub treasury for safe
keeping. A thorough search proved
unavailing.
Greatly, Mrs. Slack" said l, think
ing it best to show bold front. "there
must be some corner or seam in my
pocket that is open," { though really
could not find one, any more than
could the missing quarter.
eff there is, it is singular that die
ct. not find it thu other evening }" said she
in her usual quiet way =; but | will be
sure to find it this evening, if there j;
any,"
On the way to my work after dinner
while passing the Arcade Saloon, thu
fate Of my mind, it had vanished in
smoke in front of that institution, i. e.
it had paid for five finely favored CT
gars, which some Of my village
had "frients'' helped me to dispose o
while discussing politics there the pre-
yious evening,
Mrs. Slack never told me yhethe
she found any hole in my pocket or not
and did not feel disposed to push th'
investigation on the subject any furthe
at the time.
Although I was seldom entirely GU
Of change !; still it was frequently IN
pleasantly scarce, intact, spent more
than was really aware Of, il
small items from day to day, for tht
double purpose Of maintaining my rep
utation of being a "clever fellow" ant
to crafty my appetite or fancy fol-
things l could have done very well with.
out.
The result was, that we did without
things at home which my wages would
have enabled me to buy, and left some
thing for charitable purposes.
Ore day | was presented with a sub
scription paper for the benefit Of the
Orphan Asylum, which I reluctantly
handed bocl, without signing, with the
remark that I really could not afford it.
by wife smiled sadly, as she said to
me in an under tone:
Med Bowen subscribed FIVE dollars -
II don'C see how he can afford it,"
I repliei, "as he does not get any bet
ter wages, G; work more hours than I
do"
4 few dlysaNter the foregoing event,
or al invitation from Ned Bowen and
his wife, We spent an evening a. their
house, wh.cl we found much b tier fur
nishcd tnan our own, though there was
no apparent attempt to make my need
less display OF furniture.
Yh? evening passed pleasantly away,
but could net AVOID some unpleasant
feelings, whenever contrasted their
hone with or own.
Il wonder" said | to my wife, on
our way home If Bowen does not 60
in debt for some Of their furniture %
''iLs docs not,' she replied, "for
his VI, til ne ina: they did not owe
a duI,-r the wofi!."
',Da: h,~ can they live as they arc
doing On his wage, il ii, gives five
dollars &c q tine for charitable pur-
poses :"
u th.ll, 7 ear tel you," said ny
wife, in hea;ta.iug manner.
"Wol do: il YOU p:ease," ! replied,
not liii!o curious to know what her
ideas on the subject were.
"We!.," she contained, Sin the first
place, she never buys for herself any
unnecessary fncfy, and takes care that