Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-12-01
Statesnrarr,
MARK NIERIDEN.
BY MRS. II. b. STOWE.


"Come, Mark Meriden, don't settle down
into an old grandfather before your time
pretty wife's pretty thing, Mark, and a
pretty house is pretty thing-but hang 1t
--one must have little OF life."
Mark Meriden stood at his desk, giving a
last look at his books, while Ben Sanford
1 the rOguish-the merry-the sOngsinging-
the Ben Of all Bens, was thus urging on him
the claims of projected frolic that even
ing. Now Ben was precisely the messenger
for such embassy-there was fun in the
twinkle Of his blue eyes, and a world OF
waggery,in the turn of his head, and in a
| pair of roguish dimples that went merrily
lodging in and out OF his cheeks every time
he spoke, and he had laid hold of Marks
arm to drag him away,
But Mark shook off his hand, and finished
summing up a column of figures-put the
| blotter into the book, and the book into the
| place, wiped his pen-all with an air OF
great thoughtfulness-and at last, turning
| to Ben said-"I think l won't 90 this
| time." .rt ...... t.......
"Now, why not?" said Ben, eagerly.
"Because-because," said Mark, smiling /;
"because have an odd fancy that | should
like Mrs. Meriden's company better this
evening" ...-..
Hang Mrs. Meriden-beg pardon. Mark
hang myself for saying sO-but one don't
like to see fine fellow buried alive!-
come, take real wake up with u.s."
THANK you, Ben, but / haven't been
asleep and don't need it. SO will 90 home
and see my wife," and thereat Mark turned
a resOlute footstep homeward, as a we'll
trained husband ought.
Now" says one of our readers, "who
was Mark Meriden?" You would not have
asked, good reader if you had lived in the
town of -, when his name appeared on
the outside of one of the most fashionable
shops, mark Meriden," surrounded by
those waving insignia of grace and fashion
that young ladies used to have their eyes
turned of from beholding. Everything in
the tasteful establishment told of well ar
ranged business, and Mark, himself the
mirror of fashion, faultless in every article
of costume, quick, attentive, polite, was
every day to be seen there, winning gold
Ell opinions from all sorts of people,"
Marks shop became the resort of high
tone of beauty and wealth, who came there
to be enlightened as to the ways and means
of disposing of their surplus revenue-to
see and to be seen. So attentive polite and
considerate was Mark, so profound his
bows, so bright his eyes, so uneXception-
able his whiskers, that it might have proved
dangerous resort for the ladies, had not a
neat, tasteful house, going up in the neigh
borhOod, been reported as the future resi-
dence of an already elected Mrs. Meriden /;
and in few months, the house neatly fin
ished, and tastefully furnished, received a
very pretty lady who called herself to that
effect. She was as truly refined and lovely
woman as ever formed thecenter flower in
domestic boquet, and Mark might justly
ha MOI rfIn q n
opinion of himself for having been for
tunate enough to secure her.
Mark had an extensive circle of business
and pleasure acquaintances, for he had
been one of the social, companionable sort.
whose money generally found its way out
of his pocket in very fair proportion to the
rate it came in. ... ,.
In short he was given to clubs, oyster
suppers, and now and then wine party,
aud various other social privileges for
elevating ones spirits and depressing ones
cash, that abound among enlightened COM
munities.
But nevertheless, at the bottom Of Marks
head, there was very substantial stratum
of certain quality called common sense, a
trait which, though it was never set down
in any chart of phrenology, may very just
ly be called faculty, aud one, too, which
makes a very striking difference among
men 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, ways aud manners of life. He also
took an accurate survey of his business,
formed an average estimate of his future
income on the soberest probabilities, and
determined to live little even with that.
He also provided himself with small ac-
count book, with which he intended to live
in habits of very close acquaintance, andin
this book he designed to note down all
savings consequent upon the retrenchiIg
of certain little extras, before alluded to, in
which he had been In the habit of pretty
freely indulging himself. .--
Upon the present occasion, it had cost him
something OF an effort to say mo-" for
Mark was one of the easy fellows" to
whom the enunciation of this little syllable
causes as much trouble as all the gutterals
of the German. However, when he came
In sight of his parlor windows, through
which bright fire was shining, when he
entered and found the clean glowing hearth,
the easy chair drawn up in front, and a
pair of embroidered slippers waiting for
him at their leisure, and above all, when
he read the quick glance of welcome in a
pair Vi very uIlSuL eyCS, mdIh lOISOI All
about Ben Sanford, and all bachelor friends
and allurements whatsoever, and thought
himself the happiest fellow on earth.
The evening passed off rapidly by the
help of music, reading, and little small
talk, of which married people generally
find supply, and next morning saw Mark,
at early buSlnes; hours, with as steady a
hand and cool head as if there had been
no such thing as bachelor frolics in exist
ence. "
Late in the afternoon, Ben Sanford
lounged in to ogle a few of the ladies, and,
above all, to rally Mark on losing the glo-
rious fun of the night before.
Upon my word, Mark" he began, "we
must have you put up for Selectman, you
are becoming so extremely ancient and
venerable in your ways-howeVer, you are
to be excused" he added, circumstances
considered-female influence! ah!-well,
it's a fine affair, this marriagew DO
'Better try it, Mr.. Sanford" ;" said bright
saucy girl. who, with her laughing COM
panions, was standing by while Ben was
speaking.
"Ah, madame! the wherewithal said
Ben, rolling up his eyes with a tragic ex-
preston. IF some clever old fellow would
be so obligiug as to die now, and leave me
few thousands-then, ladies', you would
see."
"But speaking of money" said Mark,
when he saw the ladies busy over some
laces he had just thrown on the counter,
"what didyour glorious fun cost you?n
"Pooh!-nothingl-only ten dollar bill
nothing in my purse, you knowl" bag
| Nothing in your purseT-not an un-
common incident after these occasions,
4 -.-a = n u l.. Ill