The south-western., 1861-09-25
Hard Times.

not an Ill natured word had been spoken by them. AZ
his marriage Chester had taken small but convenient
house in the upper part Of the city He had been able
to furnish it in plain manner but since his marriage,
his business had added many articles Of luxury to his
small establishment.
'The times" had begun to tighten up, however, and
business was dull The notes due; and he had to
bestir himself to make his payments Fortunately for
him. however as the stringency in the money market
began weigh heavily his fathers administration placed
HMM possession of two thousand dollars which had been
reserved to await the contingency Of lawsuit, and
which had been satisfactorily settled.
With this he had been able to pay his more pres
sing demands, and to lay up surplus of FIVE hundred
dollars to meeta note which would fall due some months
hence
The receipt of this induced him to increase the
uxuies of his house The parlor had been newly furn
shed and the old parlOr furniture placed in the sitting
room They bad everything that was necessary for
comfort or creditabe appearance in the world.
You look so very dull, continued the husband as he
rose from the breakfast table
Ellen looked at him with languid smile, but made
no reply.
y was thinking how lonesome should be here all
day replied she.
Lonesome? Why don't you 20 out and take the air?
Walk down Washington street, and around the common
it will revive your spirits"
How absurd YOU talk Walk around the common in
the month Of December! Why would freeze to DEATH"
Not so bad as that, replied tie husband chuckng
his wife under the chin
GO to the Anthcneum and see the pictures"
q couldn't do that every day and you don't know
,scs,,,t No., ro79,
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90 very much indeed
.,Wr Ellen en- Hbatis lt'i IT,,
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o7Iy had = Mono ), '"tl'
NJ Igcstar,s f,+r,o, voc i,, ,for+ ,.;r,,.+s,.s
I tf I'm i IJ l ~ -
many Irss iob Ie brsa iirtnj would
not hermit him to nroyide
,,I2n+ Eno, I ,.t,,,+ oI;,rl !. ,,i,,, I'll +i,, L,a
mot baon 50 hard for ta, yea,s :,
.yo b,,o ,,at f, raf ,lri,r u ~, hotr
PM rasoive tLat to' nav. nnts ,
Don't YOU expect to make enough to pay it?"
1T is very doubtful my business hardly pays ex-
penses"
sYou will be able to nav that know continued the
petitioner
well nv dear, YOU shall have the piano"
you are a dear husband You will get me one at
Chickeriugsn
''Any Kind YOU please, my dear"
And before dinner time the instrument came home,
and Ms Chester was @ a os 6o2py q Piano. could make
orhree Der cent. a month" and protested Hctes
Men said that the times would be better, but the
prophecy was in vain Merchants failed brokers failed
banks and insurance couDaDies failed business was
duIer than it had been for the last twenty wears Poor
nenoungcd at the corners Of the streets vainy waiting
for lob while their wives and children shvcred with
the cold and blurercd even fora crust of bread Ruin
and disease we're the order of the dav and men won
dercd what would be the end of it all
Fred Cncsters business did not pay his shop expenses