Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-03-23

BY T. o. ARTHUR.

'I've d9Ae one go9A days. work, If
I never as Another, ~ said Mr.. Barlow,
rubbing his hands together, wisely, and
WHY II Is 81 man veFsmuh pleas
"AnM aeshaxe aI.''s Mrs. Barlow's
voice was in lower tone, and Less ex.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES stpeace1
with itself. ha1Hds'lia 10 90 "
'.Lets sis compare notes." said Mr..
BarieSssih the confident manner Of one
whoAknb~s yhat triumph viii be on his
side, sand see which has done the best
days work. ss ''''''
"You of course,' returned the gen
tle-hearted wife. :, ,,.,yoq 90,
"Ws shall See. Let the history of
your daG's ,dQings precede mine" 5.,ts
"No," ssdqsfts! Barlow, "you shall
give the frsso sxperience.s' fo'e'''oa
'sF&ySeiiT'yifA full of his sub
ject, Mh Barlow began: 'y'a'
':You remember the debt of War6eld,
about which spoke few days ago ?"
"Yes." '--'' '' '--
81 considered it desperate would
have sold out my interest at thirty cents
on the dollar when I left home this
morning. Now the whole claim is Sc
cure. l had to scheme q little. 1t was
sharp practice. Idon't believe anoth-
er creditor Of War6eld's will get a
third Of his claim"
"The next operation" continued
Mr.. Barlow, 81 consider quite as good.
About q year ago took fifty acres of
land in Erie county, for a debt, at a
valuation of five dollars an acre. l
sold it to-day for ten. 1 don't think
the man knew just what he was buying.
He called to see me about it, and !
= asked ten dollars an acre at a venture,
when he promptly laid down one hun.
dred dollars to bind the bargain. If |
should never see him again, I am all
right. That is transaction number4two.
Number three is as pleasant to remem-
90 Der. I sold a lot of goods, almost a
year out of date, to a young country
merchant, for cash. He thinks he has
a bargain and perhaps he has but ]
would have let them go at any time
during the past six months at loss of
thirty per cent, and thought the sale. a
) desirable one."
"Now, there is my good days work,
Jenny, and it is one to be proud Of.
take some credit to myself for being,
upon the whole, pretty bright sort Of
a man, and bound to GO through. Let
US have your story now"
The face Of Mrs. Barlow flushed
slightly. Her husband waited for few
moments, and then said:
'.Let us hear Of the yards Of stitch
ing, and the piles Of good things made
''No-nothing Of that" answered
Mrs. Barlow, with slight veil Of feel
Q ing covering her pleasant voice. 81
had another meaning when spoke Of
having accomplished good days
work. And now, as my doings will
bear no comparison with yours, l think
Of declining their rehearsal
GA bargain is bargain, Jenny
said MIR. Barlow. CIV bookkeeping is
cardinal virtue. So let your story
be told. You have done good days
work in your own estimation, for you
said so. Go on. am all attention.
Mrs. Barlow still hesitated. Bu1
after little urging, she began he1
story Of good days work. Her voice
was little subdued, and there was al
evident shrinking from the subject
about which she felt constrained tt
speak.
81 resolved, last night" said she
"after passing some hours Of self-ex.
animation and self-upbraidings, that
would, for one day, try to possess my
soul in patience. And this day has
been the trial day. Shall l 60 on 2"
Mrs. Barlow looked up with timid
half-bashful air at her husband. She
did not meet his eyes, for he had turn.
ed partly away.
eyes, dear Jenny, go on" The
husbands buoyancy Of tone was gone
IN it's place was something tender anC
pensive.
"Little Eddie was unusually fretfu
this morning, as you will remember
He seemed perverse, thought-cross,
as we call it. I was tempted to speak
harshly two or three times; but, re.
Numbering my good resolution, 1 pu
on the armor of patience, and never le
him hear tone. Dear little fellow
When | went to wash him, after break
fast, l found just behind one Of his
ears, a small, indamed boil. 1t has
made him slightly feverish and worry
some all day. Oh, wasn't I glad thai
patience had ruled my spirit
"After you went away to the store
Mary got into one Of Fer perverse hu.
.mors. She didn't want to 60 to school
to begin with then she couldn't fine
her slate, and then her shoe pinched her
I felt very much annoyed but recall.
ing my good resolution, I met her irrl.
tation with calmness, her willfulnes.
with patient admonition, her stubborn
temper with gentle rebuke,; and so
conc uered. She kissed me, and started
for school with cheerful countenance
her slate in her sachel, and the pinch
ing shoe unheeded. And so I had my
reward,
''But my trials were not over. Some
extra washing was needed. So I calico
Ellen, and told her that Mary woulo
require frock and two pairs of draw.
ers to be washed out, the baby some
slips, and you some pocket handker.