The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1865-12-09

|
which a bright fire was shining, when he en-
tered and found the glowing hearth, the easy
chair drawn up in front, and pair of en-
broilere,ssippers waiting for him quite at
their leisure, and, above all, when he read
the quick glance of welcome in a pair Of
very bright eyes, Mark forgot all about Ben
Sanford and all bachelor friends and allure
ments whatsoever, and though: : 1sclf about
the happiest fellow on earth.
The evening passed off rapidly by the help
of music, reading and the small talk Of which
newly married people GENERALLY find sup
ply, and the next morning found Mark at
carly business hours, with as steady a hand
and na cool head as if there had been no
bachelor lroiCs in existence.
Late in the ahcrnoon Ben Sanford lonng-
cd in to rally Mark ON losing the glorious
fun of the night before:
"Upon my word, Mark" he began, we
must have you put up for sclectnan. You are
becoming so extremely ancient and vcncra-
excused" he added, circumstances con
sidered-female influence. All. well it is a
fine affair. this MARRIAGE
"Retcr try it, Mr.. Sanford" said bright,
saucy girl, who, with her laughing compan-
ions, were standing close by while Ben was
speaking.
"Ah! miss, the whcrewithal !" sail Ben
rolling ny his eyes with a tragic expression.
"If some clever old fellow would be 50
obiging as to die, now, and leave me a few
thousands-then, ladies, you scc.'
"Bnt. speaking of money" said Mark,
when he saw the ladies busy over some laccs
he had just thrown on the counter, "what
did your glorious fun cost your
"Pooh! nothing! only a ten,dollar bill.
Nothing in my purse, You know
Nothing in your purse no uncommon
incident after these occasions?" said Mark,
| laughing.
"Oh hang it all said Ben. TOO true,
can get no remedy for this consumption Of
the purse, as old FalstaiT says. However,
the world owes me living; and so, good
morning.
young men Of whom common report goes
that they can consider this point as so well
! established that they don't think it Unnecessary
to illustrate it by doing nothing at all. He
was lawyer of good talents. and would
| have had an extensive ran Of business had
he not been one of that class Of people meter
to be found when wanted. His law books
and law Office saw far less of him than Ger
tain fashionable places Of resort, where his
| handsome person and various social accom-
! plishmcnts always rendered to him a welcome
reception. Ben had some little property left
him by his father, just enough, as he used to
laughingly quote, "to keep him in gloves
and cologne water" and for the rest, he
| seemed vastly contcntcd with his old maxim.
- the world owes me a living, ">4orgcttng
that the world can sometimes prove as poor
| n pavmastcr as the most fashionable young
gentleman going.
Bat to return 10 Mark. When be had set
tied his accounts at night, he took from a
pigeon hole in his desk the little book aforc-
named, aud entered as follows: "ro one
real wake up, ten dollars'' which being
done, he locked his desk and returned once
more to Mrs Meridian.
Time flew on and the shop of Mark be-
came increasingly popular, and still from
time to time he was assaulted by the kind Of
temptation we have described. Now, it was
"Mark, my dear fellow, do i~;t, US in our
trips" now, 'Comc, my old fellow, let us
| have a spree = now it was the club, and
now the oyster supper; but still Mark was
| invnciblc, Mnd as one or another rccounted
| the history of the scene, he silently COM
mittcd the amount of expenses to his little
book. Yet was not Mark cynical or unsocal.
His relusals, though firm, were invariably
good-naturcd, and though he could not be
drawn abroad, yet he was unqucstonably
opcn-handed at home. No h-,sza had so
warm y 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 uncxccp-
tionabc toast, and there was no evening
/ lounge more easy, homcilkc and cheerful
shan on the sofas in the snug parIors Of Marx
Meridian. They also gave evening parties,
where all was brilliant, tasteful and wcll-or
dercd; and, in fnc, notwithstanding his
shortcomings, 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 nightly
asonished at it. for, with all his ideas Of the
powers Of numbers, lie had no idea that the
twos aud livcs and tens and ones, which on
greater or smaller occasions had found their
way into his columns would amount to a sum
so considcIaDic Mark looked about him.
The world was doing well his business ma
chncry moving in exact touch and time
his housc-where was there a pretter one ?
where place more replcte with home draw
ing comfort? Had he lost anything in plea
sure the year past? Mark thought not, and
therefore, as he walked homewards, he ei.J
into the bookseller and ordered some books
of superb engravings for Mrs. Meridian, and
spoke to "A gardener to send some elegant
Towering cxotics for which he had heard her
express an admiration some evenings before.
| The same evening came in Ben Sanford,