Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-09-22
MARX MERIDEN.
BY MRS. H. B. STOWE.


''Come Mark Meriden don't settle
down into an old grandfather before your
time-a pretty wife a pretty thing-but
hang it lone must have little life
| Marx Meriden stood at his desk, Civ
ing last look at his books, while Ben
Sanford-the roguish-the merry-the
song singing-the Ben of all Bens, was
thus urging on him the claims of a pro-
jeeted frolic that evening. Now Ber was
precisely the messenger for such an en-
bassy-there was fun in that twinkle of
his blue eyes, and a world of waggery in
the turn of his head, and in a pair of
| ing IN and out Of his cheeks every time
he spoke, and he laid hold of Marks arm
to draw him away.
But Mark shook off his hand and fin
ished summing up column of figures
| put the blotter into the book, and the
| book into its place, wiped his pen-all
with an air of great houghtfulness-an
at last, turning to Ben said-"I think /
/ won't go this time.
Now why not p said Ben eagerly.
sBecause-because," said Mark smi-
| lingly; because l have an odd fancy that
I should like Mrs. Meriden's company
better this evening"
Hang Mrs. Meriden-beg pardon,
Mark-hang myself for saying so-but
one don't like to see a fine fellow buried
alive come take real wake up with
us"
"Thank you Ben, but l haven't been
asleep and don't need it. So / will go
home and see my wife''-thereat Mark
turned resolute footstep homeward as a
we'll trained husband ought.
Now" says one Of our readers, who
| L 81 - ha1
in the town Of, when his name first
appeared on the outside of one of the
fashionable shops, Mark Meriden," !"
surrounded by those waving insignia of
grace and fashion that young bellies used
to have their eyes turned off from behol-
ding. Everything in the tasteful estab-
flishment told of well arranged business,
and Mark himself, the mirror of fashion,
faultless in every article of costume,
Iquick, attentive, polite, was every day to
| be seen there winning golden opinions
from all sorts of people" Marks shop
became the resort of high tone of beau
ty and wealth, who came there to be en-
lightened as to the means of dis posing of
their surplus revenue-to see and to be
seen. So attentive, polite and considerate
was Mark, so profound his bows, so
bright his eyes, so uneXceptionable his
whiskers, that it might have proved a
dangerous resort for the ladies, had not a
neat tasteful house, going up in the
neighborhood, been currently reported as
the future residence of an already elected
Mrs Meriden, and in few months the
house neatly flushed, and tastefully furn-
ished, received very pretty lady who
called herself to that effect. She was as
truly refined and lovely a woman as ever
lformed the center flower in domestic bo-
lquet, and Mark might justly be pardoned
for having as good again an opinion OF
himself for having been fortunate enough
to secure her.
4 Mark had an extensive circle of bust
ness and pleasure acquaintances, for he
had been one of the social, companiona.
BILE sort, whose money generally found
its way out of his pocket in a very faiI
/, proportion to the rate it camein.
In short, he was given to clubs, oyster
suppers, and now and then wine party
and various other social privileges for
elevating ones cash, that abound among
enlightened communities.
Bnt nevertheless, at the bottom oi
Marks head, there was a very substan.
tial stratum of a certain quality called
common sense. a trait, which, though il
o was never set down in any chart of phre
nology, may very justly be called fac
ulty, and one too which makes a very
striking difference among men as the
}. world goes. In consequence of beinl
thus constituted, Mark, when he found
himself in love with, and engaged to
very pretty girl, began to reflect will
more than ordinary seriousness on hi
habits, ways and manner of life. He al
so took an accurate survey of his bust
ness, formed an average estimate of hi
future income on the soberest probabil
: tiles, and determined to live little ever
with that He also provided himsel
with a,small account book, with which h.
!, intended to live in habits of very close &C
a quaintance, and in this book be designet
d to note down all savings consequent oil
: the retrenching of certain little extras
, before alluded to in which he had been il
the habit of pretty freely indulging him
self.
Upon the present occasion, it had cos
him something of an effort to say mo
for Mark was one of the easy fellows" &
whom the enunoiation of this little sylla
J. BILE causes as much trouble as all the gut
lturals of the German.-However, whel
{ he came in sight of his parIor windoV
: through which bright fire was shining
e when he entered aud found the cea
e glowing hearth, the easy chair drawn u
VI lin front, and pair of embroidered slip
pers waiting for him at their leisure, an