The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1867-04-04
MY NEWSPAPER.

AZ u 1S IL w CA n kAAAs
Who can estimate the value Of a
newspaper? No one, until he has lost
it-until the pleasant periodical visits,
like the face ofa dear friend, bringing
such fund of wit, news, and general
intelligence that he is always greeted
with hearty welcome, are withdrawn.
1t is, in one sense, the light of the world,
without which the mental universe
would be as much in darkness as the
terrestrial is without the sun.
There are books, it is true good, wise
instructive, and entertaining bat they
do not tell of what we want to know Of
passing events, or direct us to the pla-
ces Of business. Neither do they in
form US who Of our friends are passing
away or getting married, or who is do
ing a driving business, or who has sail
ed for the Eastern Continent, or who
has returned from tour thither. etc.
did not think of this until / had
formed the foolish resolve not to take
my paper another year, The pressure
Of the times was severe, business dull,
my family expensive, and it really
seemed necessary to retrench some
where, in order to make "both ends
meet at the end Of the year, So l
thought, as l sat one evening in dress
ing gown and slippers, with my feet
upon the fender. / had my last paper
in hand, which perused with a greater
degree OF interest than ever before )
it may be because / had resolved to
part with it.
Il tell you, Katie said to my wife,
cit won't do, we must curtail expenses
and will begin by withdrawing my ad-
yertisement from the newspaper, and
ordering it discontinued. Taxes will
soon be due, which must be paid :
wood is enormously hi oh, but we cant
do without it-nor groceries and pro
visions, norlights or clothing, or many
other incidental expenses. We have
plenty of books and magazines, old to
be sure, still they are all readable and
we must do without paper for the
year to come"
lit is only two dollars year." said
my wife, quietly.
4 know it, I replied, 'but every
dollar counts now days.
''But do you not believe that it will
have a tendency to render business still
more dull not to advertise? she asked.
Nonsense! A place so we'll estab-
l;shed needs not SO questionable lever
to help it Oh. / do not suppose it will
make any difference, while the cost
of advertising amounts to cOnsidera.
bic, ] replied a little impatient,
But what will you do for the news ?
she ventured again.
"Oh, can gain enough of that by
intercourse with others, and can occa
sionally buy or borrow q copy
''John Smyth,'' said my wife, now
What! too poor to take a paper your
self, and vet willing to filch informa-
! ton from others whose money is paid
for what they learn, and at the same
defraud the honest publisher, who is
constantly laboring With head and
hands for others good? Talk about
retrenchment. You had better stoI
your-bills at the saloons for ale and ci
gars-needless expenditure for your
self alone, while the newspaper is 6
perpetual intellectual feast for the whole
family, yourself not excepted, and it
cost but the merest trifle in compari-
son to the money you spend every
week for tobacco and drink. I on have
not spoken of the increased price OF
these articles. Stop the er,intleed
And my wife jerked her chair around
with not very graceful movement
and sat with her back towards me in
utter contempt ofmy penny wise and
pound foolish resolution.
Now Imake it point never to yield
to my wife or any of my family, if ]
can help it, as, in case / should,
would become q secondary considera-
ton in my own -family-a position ]
by no means intend to occupy; SO I
said nothing. But sat and puffed my
fragrant Havana. watching the grace
ful folds Of the smoke as it wound itself
IN little wreaths about my head / re-
solved that come what would, would
not yield indulgence in the delicious
weed for the sake Of a newspaper.
The next day | called on my pub
Usher, settled my accounts, and ordered
my paper discontinued.
'sOn what ground: - he asked in
some surprise
Nothing" I said, "only can't af
ford it, and walked away leaving him
to his own fefectians.
Time passed on, and, on the day
which it was due, could not feel quite
contented at the non appearancee of
my newspaper. | missed the bright
cheerful face of the little carrier, and
the interesting news he was wont to
bring in return OF each week through
fair weather and foul There is other
papers about, for / bought one occa-
sionally, but these were published in
Eastern cities, and contained no local
news of my home.
AT night when / reached home, my
eldest daughter, Mary, met in the hall.
Where is the paper, papa?' said
she. ooh, am in such 4 hurry to see
lit Matte Trueworth's marriage is in
it, and the editor has published such an
appropriate verse in connection, / am
toldn
Rut I put her aside, saying, ''The
paper will not come any more. have
ordered it discontinued"
''Why. fatherr' she Sclaimed, chow