The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-10-17

rlous other social privileges Tor eieVatlng
ones spirits and depressing ones cash
that abound in enlightened communities
But nevertheless, at the b)ttom OF
Marks head there was a very substan.
tial bump of certain quality called COM
mon sense, ,atrait which, thought was never
set down in any chart of phrenology may
very Justly be called a faculty, and one,
too, which makes great difference as
the world goes. In consequence of being
thus constituted, Mark, when be found
himself in love with, and engaged to,
very pretty girl, began to reflect With
more than ordinary seriousness on his
habits, ways and manners Of life. He
also took an accurate survey of bis busl-
ness, formed an average estimate of his
future income on the sobersst probabili-
ties, and determined to live little even
within that. He also provided himself
with little account book with which he
intended 20 live in habits of very close
acquaintance, and in this book be de-
sigued to note down all the savings con-
Isequeut upon the retrenchment Of certain
little extras, before alluded to, in which
be had been in the habit of pretty freely
.indulging himself.
Upon the present occasion it had cost
him something of an effort to say "no'
for Mark was one of your easy "clever
fellows" to whom the enunciation of this
little syllable causes as much trouble as
the gutteral8 of the Germans. However,
when be came in sight Of his parIor WIn-
dows, through which a bright fire was
shining-when he entered and found the
clean glowing hearth, the easy chair
drawn up in front, and pair of en-
broidered slippers waiting for him quite
at their leisure, and, above all, when be
read the quick glance of welcome in a
pair Of very bright eyes, Mark forgot all
about Ben Sandford and all bachelor
friends and alIurements whatever, and
thought himself about the haPpiest fel-
low on earth.
The evening passed of rapidly by the
help of music, reading and little smal!
talk of which newly married people gen
orally find a supply, aud the next morn
ing found Mark at early business hours
with as steady hand and as cool head
as if there had been no such things as
bachelor frolics in existence.
Late in the afternoon, Ben Sandford
: loupged in to ogle few of the ladies, and
above all to rally Mark on losing the
glorious fun of the evening before.
upon my word, Mark" he began,
"we must have you put up for Seiectman,
you are becoming SO extremely ancient
aud venerable in your ways; however,
you are to be excused" he added, "cir-
cumstances onsidered-female infu-
ence !-ab well, it's fne affair, this
marriage !"
Better TRY it, Mr. Sandford," said a
bright, saucy girl, who, with her laugh
ing companions, were standing close by
while Ben was speaking.
"Ah . madam, the whcrcwithal r said
Ben, rolling up his eyes with a tragic
expression. "If some clever old fellow
would be so obhging as to die now, and
leave me few thousands-then, ladies
you should see."
"But speaking of money" said Mark
when he saw the ladies busy over some
laces be had just thrown on the counter
.-"what did your glorious fun cost you?"
"Pooh nothing only a ten dollar
bill, I've nothing in ny purse now, you
know !"
"Nothing in your purse mot an un-
common incident after these occasions, 3"
said Mark, laughing.
"Oh hang it all" said Ben-"too
true l can get no remedy for this 'con-
sumption of the purse, as old Falstaf
says; however the world owes me a liv-
ing, and so, good morning p'
Il Ben Sandford was one Of that class of
young men of whom common report goes
that they can do anything that they
please, and who consider this point so
well established that they do not consider
it necessary to illustrate it by doing any
thing at all. He was a lawyer of good
talents, and would have had an extensive
run Of business had he not been one of
those Kind OF people who can never be
found when wanted. His law books and
office saw far less of him than certain
fashionable places of resort, where his
handsome person and various social &C.
complishment8 always secured to him
welcome reception. Ben had some little
property left him by his father, just
enough, as he used laughiDgIy to say,
''to keep him in gloves and cologne wa
ter, and for the rest he seemed vastly
contented with his old maxim, "the
world owes me living" forgetting that
the world can sometimes prove as poor a
paymaster as the most fashionable young
men going.
But to return to Mark. When he