Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-03-13

ners 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 within that.
He also provided himself with little account
book, with which he intended to live in habits
OF very close acquaintance, and IN this book ne
designed to note down all the savings conse-
quent upon the retrenchment of certain little
extras, before alluded to, in which he had been
in the habit of pretty freely indulging himself.
| Upon the present occasion 1t had cost hl1n
something Of an effort to say mo for Mark
was one of your easy ''cleyer fellows to whom
the enunciaton of this little syllable causes as
much trouble as the gutterals of the Germans.
However, when he came in sight of his parlor
windows, through which bright fire was shi-
nlng-when he entered and found the clean
glowing hearth, the easy chair drawn up in front,
and pair OF embroidered slippers waiting. for
nm quite at their leisure, and, above all, when
ne read the quick glance of welcome in a pair
of very bright eyes, Mark forgot all about Ben
Sanford and all bachelor friends and alIurements
whatever, and thought himself about the hap
pest fellow on earth.
The evening passed off rapidly, by the help
OF music reading and little small talk OF which
newly married people generally find a supply
and the next morning found Mark at early bus
mess hours with as steady hand and as cool
head as If there had been no such things as
bachelor frolics in existence.
Late in the afternoon Ben Sandford lounged
in to ogle few of the ladies' and above all to
rally Mark on losing the glorious fun Of the
evening before
Upon my word, Mark" be began, ''we
must have you Pat up fos Seleetman, you are
becoming so extremely ancient and venerable in
your ways; however, you are to be excused,
he added circumstances cOnsidered-fenale
inilnence !-ah well, it a fine affair, this mar
riager'
Better TRY it, Mr. Sandford," said bright,
saucy girl, who, with her laughing companions,
were standing close by while Ben was speaking.
"Ah madam, the wherewithal - said Ben,
rolling up his eyes with tragic expression IF
some clever old fellow would be so obliging as
to die now, and leave me a 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 did your
glorious fun cost you?'
Pooh nothing only ten dollar bill, I've
nothing IN my purse now, you know -
Nothing in your purse mot an uncommon
incident after these occasions said Mark,
laughing
'sOh! hang it all, said Ben too true! l
can get no remedy for this consumption Of the
owes me living and SO, good morning ~
Ben Sandford was one Of that class of young
men OF whom common report goes, that they
can do anything that they please, and who con-
slider this point so well established that they do
not consider it necessary to illustrate it by do
ing anything at ALL He was lawyer of good
talents, and would have had an extensive run
of business had he not been one of those kind
Of people who can never be found when wanted
His law books and Office saw far less OF him
than certain fashionable places Of resort, where
his handsome person and various social accom-
plishments always secured to him a welcome re-
ception. Ben had some little property left him
by his father just enough, as he used laugh
ingy to say, TO keep him in gloves and CO.
logne water, and for the rest he seemed vastly
contented with his old maxim, ''the world owes
me q living" forgetting that the world can
sometimes prove as pOora paymaster as the most
fashionable young men going.
But to return to Marx When he had set
tied his accounts at night, he took from a pig
con hole in his desk the little book aforenaned,
and entered as follows: ''To one real wake up,
SO, which being done, he locked his desk,
and returned once more to Mrs Meriden.
Days flew on, and the shop of Mark became
he was asssaled by the kind of temptation we
have described. Now it was MARX, my dear
fellow, do join us in our trip to G-'s;" and
now, Tome, my old fellow, let us have spree
at E--s;'' now it was the club, now the oys-
ter supper-but still Mark was invincible, and
as one or another recounted the history Of the
scene, he silently committed the amount of ex-
pense to his little book. Yet was not Mark
synical or unsocial His reftlsals though firm
were good natured, and though he could not be
drawn abroad, yet he was unquestionably open
oInIo NJ la1
welcome-no dinner table could be more boun-
tlfu or more freely open for the behoof of all
gentlemen OF the dining out order-no tea ta-
bic presented more unexceptionable toast and
there was no evening lounge more easy, home
like and cheerful than in the snug parlols OF
Mark Meriden They also gave evening par
ties, where all was tasteful and well ordered
and in fine, Notwithstanding his short comings
Mark was set down as fine openhanded fellow
after all
At the end of the year. Mark cast up the ae-
count IN his little book, and was nightly as
tonished at it, for with all his lucas OF the DOW
er of numbers, he had no idea that the twos
and fives and tens and ones, which on greater
or smaller occasions had found their way into
his columns, would amount to sum so coilsit-
erable Mark looked about hin-the world
was going Well-his business machinery moving
in extact touch and time-his house-where
was there prettier one?-where place more
replete with every home drawing comfort?''-
Had he lost anything in pleasure the year past !?
Mark thought not, and therefore as he walked
homeward he stepped into the booksellers and
ordered some books Of superb engravings for
Mrs. Meriden, and spoke to gardener to send
some exotics, for which he had heard her ex-
press an admiration some evenings before.
That same evening came in Ben Sanford, as
he expressed it, in the very depths ofindigol'
for young gentlemen whose worldly matters in
varlably go on wrong end foremost, will some
times be found in the condition, however exu-
berant may be their stock of animal spirits.
Pray, Ben, what is the matter? SAID Mark,
kindly, the latter stretched himself at length,
III an arm chair, groaning audibly.
"Oh! a bilious attack, Mark-shoemaker' s