The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-04-12
wooDsFIELD. MONROE COUNTY. OHIO, APRIL 10, 1865.

waters we're embittered with discomfort
and peevish chickering's.
The wife neglected domestic daty, and
the merchant neglected business till he
was sorely pressed to pay the usurer the
weekly sum which kept sheriff from his
store.
One day he was in very unhappy
mood He had been home fer his din
ner, and every thing about the house
seemed to reproach him. He was tempt
led to open his heart to his fading wife,
but his courage failed him-he returned
to his store, thinking of what his fash
ionable acquaintance might be saying
about the marked change which had come
over him and his wife.
He had not yet been able to cast out
such perplexing reflections when the
usurers collector, with bow and pa
tronizing smile, entered the store and
presented the uneasy merchant with
receipt for another installment Of inter-.
est.
The merchant snatched the piece of
paper and tore it into small fragments
very deliberately, while the astonished
collector thrust his hands very deep into
his breeches pockets.
Get out of nay store" cried the mer-
chant "g 60 and tell your master Eli nev
es pay him another cent. He can sell me
out as soon as he pleases. / have paid
him now in interest more than half the ori-
ginai sum- I'll pay him no more, tell
you; let him get it all. Leave my store,
sir"
Out went the collectorin nervous trep-
idation, and with him went burden the
merchant had borne far too long.
He was entirely prepared to meet the
usurer when an hour afterward he called
to propose a compromise-he would be
very sorry to levy ON any goods, he
thought some arrangements might be
made.
No, sir" answered the merchant
Get your money as best you can. /
made an assignment an hour ago--make
your levy when you please, and sell what
is necessary to pay you, and other credit
ors will take the remainder. I've turned
over new leaf I'm happy man new,
compared to what was yesterday"
The usurer' went away thinking the
merchant demented, entirely out of his
wits, but the merchant fastened home
with the light of JOY in hisseye, a light
which flowed out of heart over which
indecision had for a long time exercised
serrowful influence.
There he met his wife, she looked sad
der to him than she had ever done before.
He had designed @ meet her with a
cheerful face and an affectionate manner
but his loving design was frustrated by
her appearance.
In very sad tore she invited him into
the parlor--there she threw herself upor
her knees and sobbed. "Ohi it's fright
full" Ie would have lifted her up, bu
she begged him to hear her, and she sob
bed again.
i :. 1 was on the street this morning, and
1 l accidentally heard two men talk about
you. They said you were bankrupt
and it was because Of your wife's extray
agrance. Tell me, is it true p
). - l am broken merchant, and that
what makes me happier to-day than 1 wa
yesterday; but be assured, my dear, i
was not because of your extravaganza
, II is because 1 was weak, silly man
now dry up your tears-look at me.
have more cheerful face than you hay
seen me wear for many day" -
80, yes !" answered the wife, "yo,
have been changed man ever since las
, New Years; something happened then
| you didn't fail because / had new bon
net and dress then--that can't be. Yo,
) don't know how | have grieved to see yo,
so changed / feared something I Nigh
' have done made you SO, and have pray
ed to know what it was, but [ have no
: been informed-I dared not ask you, yo'
; looked so forbidding." -
g Would that you could have said thi
t three months ago, it would have save
f me much trouble-we've both been yer
D foolish. No, my dear. l have not faile
because you had New Year presents bu
: before that time we had been trying t
live in as good style as richer and olde
] people; we had too much fine company
: too many carriages came to our house
they cost us a great deal of money, an
: they didn't stop at my store often enough
> or if they did, the fine ladies didn't bu
enough to make up what it cost me I
e live in style corresponding to thei
! ideas SO my business affairs became en-
=, barrassed. | was afraid to tell you
: = could not change my style of living will
out doing so, and l kept on becomin
more AND more embarrassed, and MOI
i. and more miserable, till, finally, ws
a driven to desperation, and now I'm
j broken merchant. I've given up ever,
- thing, and we must take cheaper hous
: and let our rich friends cut our aequain
:. ance.p
With burning kiss the wife assure
q the husband that his plan met her enti
- appreciation, and he acknowledged no
" foolish he had been in not giving her b
= confidence when his troubles began.
a. Wen turn over new leaf" said b
IS You'll never again think I'm rich
of than / am. Hereafter I'll know what Il
ne income is, and we'll live within it. Rit
t. acquaintances, balls and concerts, cost
d, suppers, or none of them-just as we c;
r. afford. I'm not the first man who h
failed from the same causes. l ha
be some friends yet, and / think I can ri
n again. Any how, I'd rather be Gle
ne than such merchant as have been"
j. When must we move ?" inquired Il
asi Wife calmly