The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1865-12-09
MARK MERIDIAN;
OR,
MARRIED AND SINGLE.
BY MRS. II. i. STOWE.

"Come, Mark Meridian, don't settle down
into an old grandfather before your time
A pretty wife $ pretty thing and pretty
house is pretty thing; but, hang it! one
must have little of life
Mark Meridian stood at his DESK giving
last look at his books, while Ben Sanford,
the roguish, the merry, the song-singing,
the Ben of all Bcns, was thus urging on him
the pleasure of projected fro'ic that even
ing. Nov Ben was precisely the messenger
for such an embassy. There was fun in the
twinkle of his blue eye, and Il world Of wag-
gerry in the turn of his head, and pair of
broad, roguish dimplcs that went merrily
lodging in and ont of his cheeks every time
he spoke, and he laid hold of Mark arm to
drag him away Mark shook off his hand
finished summing up column Of figures,
put the plotting paper into the book and the
book into It's place, wiped his pen, and at
last turning to Ben, said
g think won't go this time"
"Now, why not?' said Ben eagerly.
"Becausc, because" said Mark, smiling
". " because | have an odd fancy that |
should like the pleasure Of Mrs. Meridian
company better, this evening""
:. Hang Mrs. Meridan-l beg your pardon,
Mark hang myself for saying so--but one
don't like to see Il fine fellow buried alive
Come. take Il real wake up with us. y
"Thank You, Ben; but I haven't been
asleep, and don't need it. SO III go home
and see my wife"
And tlfen he turned a rcsoutc step home
ward, as Il Well. trgincd husband ought.
Now, who was Mark Meridian? You
would not have asked, good reader, if you
had lived in his native town when his name
first arrcascd on the outside Of ono Of its
most fashionable shops, surrounded by the
waving signs of grace and fashion that young
bellies need to have their eyes turned off
from bchclting Everything in the tasteful
establishment told Of a 55cIl-arrangcd bust
intss and Mark himself, the mirror Of fash
ion, faultlcSs in every article of costume,
quick, attentive and polite, was every day
to be seen there winning golden opinions
from all sorts of people. Marks shop be-
came the resort of high toned pcrsons-thc
fashionable exchange, the promenade OF
beauty and wealth, who came there to be
enlightened as to the ways and means Of dis
posing of their surplus revenue, to see and
he seen. So attentive, polite and consider
ae was Mark so profound his bows, so
bright his eyes, so uncXccptionable his wills
kers, that it might have proved a dangerous
resort for the ladies had not y neat, tasteful
house going up in the nG>ghborhood been
currently reported as the future residence Of
an already Mrs. Meridian; and in a few
months the house, neatly and tastcfully fur
nished, received avery pretty lady who call
cd herself to that effect. She was as truly
ref ned and lovely woman as ever formed
the center flower in domestic bouquet, and
Mark might Just be lardoncd for having so
good an opinion of himself for having been
fortunate enough to secure her.
Mark had an extensive circle of busHcss
and pleasure acquaintance. for he had been
one Of the social, companonable sort whose
money generally found its way out of his
pocket in very fair proportions to the rate it
came in. IN short, he was given to clubs.
ey-tnr Suppcrs, now and then u vine party,
and various other social privileges for cle-
waiting ones spirit and depressing ones cash
that abound among enlightened cofnmuni-
ties. But, nevertheless, at the bottom of
Marks head there was very substantial
stratum of II certain quality called common
sense. trait which, though it was never set
down in any chart of phrenology, may very
Justly be called n faculty, and one too,
which makes a very striking difference among
people as the world goes. In consequence
of being thus constituted, Mark, when he
found himself in love with and engaged to a
very pretty girl, began to reflect with more
than ordinary seriousness on his habits, way.
and manners of life. lie also took an accu.
rate survey of his business, formed an aver.
age estimate of his future income on the so
bcrest probabilities, and determined to live
a little even within that He also provided
himself with small account book, with
which he intended to live in habits of very
close acquaintance, and in this book he de
signed to note down all the savings conse
ouent upon the retrenchment of certain it'll,
extras, before alluded to, in which he ha'
been in the habit Of pretty freely INDUCING
himself.
Uoon the present occasion it had cost hin
something of an effort to say "no," 70
Mark was one of your easy, clever fellow
to whom the enunciation of this little sylla
BILE causes as much trouble as the gutteral
Of the German. However, when he cam