Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1865-07-12

well esta blished, that they do not thinl
| it necessary to illustrate it by doing any
thing at all. He was lawyer of talent
and would have had an extensive run O
business had he not been one of the elias.
of people never to be found when wanted
His law books and law Office saw far less
of him than certain fashionable places
of resort, where his handsome person and
various social accomplishments always
secured to him welcome reception
Ben had some little property left him by
his father, just enough, as heused laugh.
ingly to quote to keep him in glove:
and cologne water, and for the rest he
he seemed vastly oontented with his old
maxim, " the world owes me a living, .
forgetting that the world can sometimes
prove as poor paymaster as the most
fashionable young gentleman going.
But to return to Mark. When he had
settled his accounts at night, he took
from pigeon hole in his desk, the little
book aforenamed, and entered as follows:
" To one real wake up, $40, which being
done, he locked his desk, and returned
once more, to Mrs. Meriden.
Days few on, and the shop of Mark
became increasingly popular, and still
from time to time he was a8sailed by the
kind of temptation we have described
Now it was; "Mark, my dear fellow, do
join US in trip to G-'s;" and now,
" Come, my old boy, let US have a spree
at F--'s;" now it was the club, now
an oyster supper-but Mark was invinci-
bic, and still as one and another gaily re-
counted the history of the scene, he
silently committed the amount of the ex-
pense to the little book. Yet Mark was
not cynical nor unsocial, His refusaIs,
though SO firm, were invariably good
natured, and though he could not be
drawn abroad, yet he was'unquestionably
open-handed and free in his own home
No house had so warm a Eelcome-no
could be mora bountiful or
more freely open for the behoof Of all
gentlemen Of the dining out order-no
tea-table presented more nnexceptionable
toast, and no evening lounge was more
easy, home-like and cheerful, than on
the warm sofas in the snug parlor of
Mark Meriden. They also gave evening
parties, where all was brilliant, tasteful
and well-ordered and, in fine, notwith-
standing his shortcomings, Mark was set
down as fue, open-handed fellow after
all.
At the end of the year, Mark cast up
his account in the little book, and was
astOnished at it, for with all his
ideas of the power OF numbers, he had no
idea that the twos and fves and tens and
ones which, on greater, or smaller occa-
sions, had found their WY into his
columns, would amount up to sum 50
Mark looked about him
the world was going weli-his business
machinery moving in exact touch and
time-his house, where was there a
prettier one where place more replete
with every home-drawing comfort? Had
he lost anything in pleasure the past
year? Mark thought not, and therefore,
as he walked homeward, he stepped into
a booksellers aud ordered some books
of superb engravings for Mrs. Meriden,
and spoke to gardner to send some ele-
giant Towering exotios, for which he had
heard her express an admiration some
evenings before.
That same evening came in Ben San
ford, as he expressed it, in this very
depths of indigo !" for young gentlemen,
whose worldly matters invariably 60
wrong end foremost, will sometimes be
found in that condition, however exuber-
ant may be their stock of animal spirits.
PRAY, Ben, what is the matter p
said Mark, kindly, as Ben stretched him
self at length in an arm chair, groaniug
audjbly.
"Oh, bilious attack, Mark shoe
makers bills, tailor's bills, boarding
house bills-all sent in for New Years
presents--hang 'em ALL
Mark was silent for a few moments,
and Ben continued: Confound it.
Mark what's the use of living, if q fell
low is to beso cursedly poor. Here you.
Mark, born in the same town with me
and younger than I am by some two
years, you have a house as snug and
cosy and comfortable as a man need ask
a wife like anangel peace and plenty
by the bushel, and all comes of having a
good ruu Of luck in the money line -
and Ben kicked his slippers against the
aDdiron most energetically.
What has become Of Emily P-Y'
asked Marx, after pause.
Poor soul!' said Ben; there she is
yet; with all sweetness and patience,
waiting till such luckless sCapegraCe as
I can give her home and husband.
wish to my soul, for her sake, I could
afford to get married, and have a home
Of my own; besideE, to tell ths truth, I