The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-05-31
M A r z NJ e RI D EN-.
BIZ MRS. n. B. STOWE.

down into an old grandfather before your
time--a pretty wife $ pretty thing, Mark
and pretty house is a pretty thing-but
hang itl--one must have little Of life'
I Mark Meriden stood at his desk giving
last look at his books, while Ben San
ford--the roguish-the merry--the song.
singing-the Ben of all Bens, was thus
urging on him the claims of projected
frolic that evening. Now Ben was pre-
cisely the messenger for such embassy
there was fun in the twinkle of his blue
leyes. and world of waggery In the turr
of his head, and in pair of roguist
ldimples that went merrily lodging in anc
lout of his cheeks every time he spoke
land he had laid hold of Marks arm tc
ldrag him away.
| But Mark shook off his hand, and fin
lished summing up column of figures
put the blotting into the book. AID tn.
book into the place, wiped his pen--ail
with an air of great thoughtfulness--and
at last, turning to Ben Yid--"I think
won't 60 this time. J."
"Now, why motif" said Ben, eagerly.
"Because-because," said Mark, smil-
ling, "because I have an odd fancy that ]
should like Mrs. Meriden's company bet.
ter this evening""
Hang Mrs. Meriden-beg pardon
Mark-hang myself for saying so--bu'
one don't like to see a 6ne fellow buried
Ialivel-eome, take real wake up with
US"
"Thank you, Ben, but havn't beeu
asleep and don't need it. SO l will &c
home and see my wife, and thereat Mark
turned resoldte footstep homeward, as a
lwcll trained husband ought.
"Now," says one Of our readers, twhc
was Mark Meriden?" You would moi
have asked, good reader, if you had lived
in the town Of --, when his name first
appeared on the outside of one Of the
most fashionable shops, Mark Mcriden,
surrounded by those waving insignia OF
grace and fashion shat young ladies used
to have theii eyes turned off from behold
ing. Every thing in the tasteful estab'
lishment told OF we'll arranged business,
and Mark, himself the mirror Of fashion
faultless in every article of costume
auici, attentive, polite, was every day to
be seen there, winning ''golden opinions
from all sorts of people" Marks shor
became the resort Of a high tone of beau
/ ty and wealth. who came there to be en-
lightened as to the ways and mtaas ot
/ disposing of their surplus revenue--tc
see and to be seen. So attentive. polite
and considerate was Mark, so proiounc
his bows, so bright bis eyes, SO unexcep
tionable his whiskers, that it might hay,
i proved dangerous resort for the ladies
had not neat, tasteful house, going III
in the neighborhood, been reported as th,
future residence of an already elected Mrs
Meriden, and in few months, the hous
neatly finished. and tastefully furnished
received very pretty lady who calle,
herself to that effect She was as trul.
refined and lovely woman as ever forue'
the center flower in domestic boqutt.ah
Mark might justly be pardoned for hav
J, ing as good again an opinion of himsel
for having been fortunate enough to Sc
jcure her.
| Mark had an extensive circle Of busi
5 ness and pleasure acquaintances, for h
, had been one OF. the social, companiona
: bic sort, whose money generally f5tfnd 1t
t way out of his pocket in very fair Pre-
) portion To the rate it came in.
/. In short he was given to clubs, oyste
VI suppers. and now and then wine party
r and various other social privileges for e
4 eynting ones spirits and depressing one
cash, that abound among enlightene
t communities,
j But nevertheless, at the bottom {
/ Mark head, there was very substanti;
q stratum Of certain quality called con
t mon sense. "a trait, which, though it wt
il never set down in any chart of phrenolc
s gyi may very justly be called facult.
y and one. too, which makes very strik
d ing difference among mcn as the worl
goes In consequence of being thus cor
lstituted, Mark, when he found himself
o love with. and engaged to very prett
/ girl, began to reflect with more than o
T diuary seriousness on his habits ways an
L manners of life He also took an accl
n rate survey Of his business, formed an a'
lerase estimate Of his future income c
1.-The soberest probabilities. and determiI
5. ed to live little even with that. He a
$50 provided himself with small accour
5. book, which he intended to live in habi
iof very close acquaintance. and in tn
!. book he designed to note down all saving
Iconsequent upon the retrenching of ce
s. ltain little extras, before alluded to,
(which he had been in the habit of preti
freely indulging himself
. Upon the present occasion, it had co
him something Of an effort to say ssno
for Mark was one of the easy "fellows
to whom the enunciation of this lit
!, Esyllable causes as much trouble as all II
: gutterali of the German. However, whe
! be came in sight of his parlor window
:, through which bright fire was shinin
- when he entered and found the cles
. glowing hearth, tho easy chair drawn I
{ in front. and pair of embroidered sill
pers waiting for him at their leisure, ar
above all, when he read the quick CLAM
n of welcome in pair of very bright eye
Sc Mark forgot all about Ben Sanford, ar
,r all bachelor friends and allurements wha
d soever, and thought himself the happie
Il fellow on earth.
10 The evening passed off rapidly by Il
n help of music, reading. and little sma
d talk, of which married people general
d find a supply, aud inext morning sa