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

Decaue Interestingly POPN
from time to time he was assalled by the
kind of temptation we have described.
Now it was "Mark, my dear fellow, do
join US in our trip to G-'s ;"and now,
"Come, my old fellow, let Us have
spree at F-s;" now it was the club,
now the oyster supper-but still Mark
was invincible, and as one or another
recounted the history of the scene, he
silently committed the amount Of expense
to bis little book. Yet was not Mark
cynical or unsocial His refusals though
firm were good natured, and though be
could not be drawn abroad, yet he was
unquestoDably opeuhanded at home. No
house had so warm a welcome-no dinner
table could be more bountiful or more
freely open for the behoof of all gentlemen
of the dining out order-no tea table
presented more unexeeptionable toast,
and there was no evening lounge more
easy, home like and cheerful than in the
snug parlors of Mark Meriden. They
also gave evening parties, where all was
tasteful and well ordered and In fnc,
notwithstanding his short comings, Mark
was set down as fine, open handed fellow
after all,
/ At the end of the year, Mark cast up
the account in his little book, and was
Imightily astoHisbed 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 Oh greater or smaller occa-
sions had found their way into bis COL
umns, would amount to a sum so consld
erable. Mark looked about hlm-the
world was going well-his business ma
chinery moving in exact touch and time
his house-wbere was there prettier
! one ?-where 2 place more replete with
every home drawing comfort? Had be
/ lost anything in pleasure the year past ]?
Mark thought not, aud therefore as he
walked homeward he stepped into the
/ booksellers and ordered some books of
superb eugraviugs for Mrs Meriden, and
spoke to a gardener to send some exotics,
for which he had heard her express an
admiration some evenings before.
That same evening came in Ben Sand
ford, as he expressed it, 'In the very
depths of indigo!" for young gentlemen
whose worldly matters invariably 60 on
wrong end foremost, will sometimes be
found IN this condition, however exuber-
ant may be their stock of animal spirits.
"Pray, Ben, what is the matter p said
Mark, kindly, as the latter stretched
himself at length, in an arm chair,
groaning audibly.
ooh. a bilious attack, Mark-shoe.
makers bills tailor's bills boarding
honse bills all of them sent for New
Years presents hang 'em all -
Mark was silent for a few moments,
and Ben continued, ''Confound it, Mark ,
what's the sense of living if a person is
TO be so very poorY Here you, Mark,
born in the same town with me, and
younger than l am by some two years
you have a house as snug as a man need
ask-a wife like an angel-peace and
/ plenty by the bushel, and it all comes by
having a run of good luck in money
and Ben kicked his slippers against the
andiron most energetically.
"What has become of Emily P-?"
asked Mark.
"Poor soulw said Ben, "there she is
yet, with all sweetness and patience,
waiting TIL such luckless scapegrace as
can give her home and husband.
wish to my soul, for her sake, l could
afford to be married, and have a home of
my own. I am tired of this rambling,
scrambling, out,of. elbow, slip-shod life "
/ "Why don't you get married?" ques-
toned Mark.
"Why don't L to be sure, use my
tailor's bills for fuel, my board bill for
house rent, and my shoe bill for bread
and butter-hey Would you recom-
mend poor girl to try me, Mark-all
things considered?" said Ben, bitterly.
! Mark reflected a little while in silence,
and then drew out his book-his little
book, to which we have before alluded.
"Just look at this account, Ben" said
he II know you hate figures, but just
for once" Ben glanced at it i'm patiently
laughed when he read over the two or
three first items, but his face heightened
as he proceeded, and Mark detected a
sort of whistle of astonishmeut as he read
the sum total.
"Well, Mark" he exclaimed, what
considerate trick this is of yours, to sit
behind your counter so coolly noting
down the "cost and come to" of all our
little frolics really it is edifying How
much you must have enjoyed your supe-
rior discretion and forethougbt~ and
Ben laughed, but not with bis usual gee
"Nay, you mistake" said Mark. IL
kept this account merely to see what l
had been in the habit of spending my.
self, and as you and | have always been