Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-07-05

worldly matters invariably go on wrong
end foremost will sometimes be found in
this condition, however exuberant may be
their stock of animal spirits.
Pray, Ben, what is the matter?' said
Mark kindly as the latter stretched him
self at length in an arm chair, groaning
audibly.
20, bilious attack-biark l-shoema-
kers' bills, tailors' bills-boarding house
bills all sent in for new years presents
hang EN- all r.
Mark was silent for few moments, and
Ben continued, "Confound it, Mark !
what's the sense of living, if fellow is
to be so very poor Here you, Mark,
born in the same town with me, and
younger than by some two years-you
have house. as snug as cozy, and com
Portable as man need ask-a wife like an
angel-peace and plenty by the bushel,
and all comes of having a good run Of
luck in the money line'-and Ben kicked
his slippers against the andiron most en-
ergetically
What has become of Emily P-?'
asked Mark, after pause
i" Poor soul!' said Ben, 'there she is
yet, with all sweetness and patience, wait
ing until such n luckless scapegrace as
can give her home and husband
wish to my soul for her sake, | could af-
ford to be married, and have home of
my own; besides, to tell the truth, / am
tired of this rumbling, scrambling, out at
elbow, slip shod life. !"
why don't you get married?' said
Mark.
Why don't t? to be sure-use nv
tailors bills for fuel, and my board bill
for house rent, and my shoe bill for bread
and butter-hey? World you recom-
mend poor girl TO try me, Mark-all
things considered p said Ben bitterly
Mark reflected awhile in silence, and
then drew out his book-his little book to
which he have before allucded.
" Just look at this account, Zen" said
he; | know you hate figures, but just for
once" Ben glanced at it impatient Y
laughed when he read over the first two
or three items, but his face heightened as
he proceeded, and Mark detected a sort of
whistle of astonishment as he read the
sum total
Wei, Markr' he exclaimed, "what a
very old gentlemanlv, considerate trick is
this of yours-to sit behind your curtain
so cody noting down the "cost and come
to" of all our little frolics-reallv it is
most edifying How much you must have
enjoyed your superior discretion and fore
tho3ght," and Ben laughed, but not with
his usual glee.
"Nav, you m stake" said Mark "I
kept this account merely to see what I had
heen in the habit of spending myself, and
as YOU and | have been always hand and
glove in everything, it answers equally for
you. 1t was only yesterday that | sum
med up the account, and | assure YOU the
result surprised myself; and now Ben,
the sum here set down, and as much more
as you please, is freely at your disposal, to
clear off old scores for the year, provided
Won will accept with il this little book as
a new years gift, and use it one twelv,
months as have done; and if at the end
Of that time. you are not ready to intro
duce me to Mrs Sanford, | am much mi.
taken"
Ben crasped his friends hand-but Just
then the entrance of Mrs. Meriden pre-
vented his replv-Mark, however, saw
with satisfaction that he put the book care.
fully in his vest pocket and buttoned up
his coat with the mir OF man who is but
toninC up n new resolution.
When they parted for the night Mark
said, with a smile ''In case of bilious
du1cks, YOU know where to send for medi j.
cine" Ben answered only by fervent
grasp of the hand, for his throat felt too
full for him TO answer
Mark Meriden's book answered tho pur
pose admirably In less than two years
Ben. Sanford was the most popular lawyer
in -, and as steady a househo der as
YOU would wish to see
In conclusion, we will ask our lady read
ers their opinion on one point, and it is
this:
If Mrs Meriden had been woman
who understood what is called 'catching n
beau" better than securing husband
if she had never curled her hair except
for company, and thought it degrada-
ton to know how to keep n house COM
Portable, would all these things have hap
pened.
Eg Pope once engaged in an argu-
ment on an abscure line in Horace A
Il