East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-03-07
THE CLERKS MARRIAGE.
"You are brave young man, or u
very foolish one.n

~ NN JNWo"g NhHN
"To think of marriage"
"What has bravery or folly to do il
the case Z"
"The young lady is poor"
81 do not wed her for money"
"There would be some hope for you i
she were the possessor of twenty or thir
ty thousand dollars. But being as poor
as yourself, the folly of this purpose
stands out in bold relief. Look before
you leap, my friend; there's trouble fol-
you on tie other side"
"I am not sordid, Mr.. Blair" The
young mans fine face glowed, and hi,
eyes flashed with repressed indigna
tion.
"Not sordid enough Adrian for mar.
riage, as society is now constituted
There are two sides to the question OF
marriage: the sentimental side, and the
matter Of fact side, Now, you have look
ed only at the sentimcnlal side. Sup
pose we consider the matter of fact as
poets. You are clerk receiving q sal
airy of one thousand dollars. How much
have you saved ~
Nothing to speak Of ?'
"Nothingl So much the worse. II
it costs you thousand dollars a year to
live, from whence is to come the means
of supporting wife and family"
ooh I've been careless and wasteful in
expenditure as most young men are. /
had only myself to provide for, and was
self-indulgcnt. But that will cease, of
course"
"Grantcd, for argument sake. The
young lady you propose to marry is nam
ed Rosa Newell"
"Yrs.n
"A charming young girl; well cduca
ted; finely accomplished used to good
society, as we say; and just suited for my
friend Adrian, il she had money, or he
an income of three or four thousand a
year. But the idea Of making her hap
py wife, in the city Of New York, on a
thousand dollars, is simply preposterous.
1t can't be done, sir f.; and the attempt
will prove ruinous TO the happiness Of
both parties to so foolish an arrange
ment. 1t is q matter of the easiest dem.
onstration, Adrian; ald wonder so good
an accountant as you are, should not, ere
this, have tried this question by mathe-
matical rules. Let me do it for you.-
And first, we will look at Rosa's present
sphere OF life. She has a home with a
Mr. Hart, an uncle, and is living in rath.
er a luxuriant way. Nv. Hart is a man
who thinks deal Of appearances, and
maintains domestic establishment that
does not cost less than four thousand
dollars year. His house rent is equal
to your whole salary. Now, in taking
Rose from this home, into what kind OF
a one can YOU place her :"
\ sober hue Of thought came over the
young mans face.
"Yon cannot afford to rent house at
even one-half the cost of Mr. Hart's even
Il you were able to buy furniture, con-
tinued Mr.. Blair.
ave will board, Of course" said Adrian.
housekeeping is not to be thought Of
in the beginning"
"Ifn in the beginning, how after
wards ~
The young man looked trife be-
wilderod, but did not answer.
"What are younow paying for boardY'
"Fivc dollars week."
"You would require parlor and bed
room, after marriage ~
"Yps.n
"At cost OF not less than fifteen dol
lars week.
Adrian sighed,
awe could hardly afford the rarlor."
"Hardly," said his friend. "Well, we
give up the parlor, aud take pleasant
front chamber on the second floor, at
twelve dollars week, Bat the house is
not first class, nor the location very de-
sirablc. These are not to be had in New
York &C twelve dollars a week. You
cannot afford for Rosa the elegance of
her present home. Three dollars more
week for washing and etceteres, and
your income is drawn upon at the rate
of seven hundred and eighty dollars a
year. Two hundred and twesty left for
clothing aud all other expenses And
so far It has taken nearly three times
that sum to meet your own demands.-
1t has bad look, Adran."
81 was wasteful and selfindulgent," /"
said the young man in voice from which
the confident tone had departed. ait will
scarcely cost Rosa aud me for clothing
one-half of what ! expended" J."
"Say onc-half, and your income will
not reach the demand. What was your
tailor's bill last year ?"
cone hundred and sixty dollars"
"Say two hundred including boots,
hats, etcetera y
eyes" ~
"You could hardly get this below g
hundred and ffty."
"Perhaps not"
The young mans voice was growing
husky.
"That will leave seventy dollars for
your wife's clothing, and nothing foi
pleasures, reoreations, little luxuries, OF
unanticipated but unavoidable expenses
And if it be so with you two in good
health, what will be the condition oi
things in sickness aud with children to
support and educate. Adrian, my young
friend, there is debt, embarrassment, dis
appointment, and miserable life before
won panse anil rctrace your stems be-