The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1869-12-22
MARK MERIDIAN.
By MRS. H. B. STOWE.

m<A0A MGnxOAV.
By MRS. H. B. STOWE
Come, Mark Meridian, don't settle down
into an old grandfather before your
| time; pretty wife's pretty thing. Marx.
and a pretty house is a pretty thing, but
hang it, one must have a little of life."
Mark Meridian stood at his desk, giving a
last look at his books, while Ben Sanford,
the rOguish. the merry, the song-singing, the
Ben of all Bens. was urging on him the claims
OF projected frolic that evening. Now Ben
was precisely the messenger for such an
embassy; there was fun in the twinkle Of his
blue eye. and a world Of waggery in the turn
of his head, pair of broad. roguish dimples
that went merrily lodging in and out of his
cheeks every time he spoke, and he he'd laid
hold Of Marks arm to drag him away, But
Mark shook off his hand and finished sum-
ming up a column of figures, put the blotting
paper 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:
Il think won't 60 this time.''
''Ncw, why not ?" sa id Ben. very eagerly.
Because because" said Mark. smilingly
Because I fancy that should like Mrs.
Meridan's company bet ter this evening""
Hang Mrs. Meridian beg pardon, Mark,
hanglmysef for saying .,o-but one don't like
to see a fine fellow burit ID alive Come, take
real wake up with u.s.
Thank you, Ben, but haven't been
asleep and don't need it. So I'll 90 home
and see my wife," and tEereat turned reso-
Lutte step homeward, as a well-trained hus-
band ought. a
MaMSe MM Mers'dHaH asH ~? You 10 aId not hsvs asked.
good reader. if you had lived in the town of
-, when his name first apr cared on the
outside Of one of its mo st fashionable shops,
MARX Meridian 7" surro unded by those wav-
ing insignia of grace ard fashion that young
bellies need to have thei eyes turned off from
beholding. Every thing in the tasteful estab
lishment told of the we'll arranged 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 "golden OPT Mons from all sort
of people," Marks shop became the resort
for high ton-fashionable' exchange, the
promenade Of beauty and wealth. who came
there to be enlightened as to the ways and
means of disposing of their surplus revenue
Ito see and to be seen.
So attentive, polite, and considernte was
Mark, SO profound his bows. so bright his
eyes. so unexceptionable his whiskers, that
it might have proved dangerous resort for
the ladies, had not a neat, tasteful house
going up in the neighborhood, been currently
reported as the future residence of an already
elected Mrs. Meridian, and il, few months
the house neatly furnished, received very
pretty lady, who called herself to that effect
She was as truly refined and lovely a woman
as ever formed the center flower of a domes.
tic boquet, and Mark might jus tly be pardon
ed for having as good again and opinion Of
himself for having been fortun ate enough tc
secure her.
Mark had an extensive circle of business
and pleasure acquaintances. for he had beer
one of the social. companionable sort, whose
money generally found its way out Of his
pockets in very fair proportion to the rate it
came in. In short. he was was given tc
clubs, oyster suppers, and now aud then 9
wine party, and various other social privile-
ges for elevating ones spirits and dep:es.
sing ones cash. that abound among enligh.
tened communities.
But. nevertheless. at the bottom of his
head there was very substantial stratum Of
certain quality called common sense, q
trait which. thought it was never set down in
any chart Of phrenology, may very justly be
called faculty, and one, too, which makes
| a very striking difference among people. as
the world goes.
In consequence of being thus constituted.
Mark, when he found himself engaged to a
very pretty girl, began to reflect with more
hOh 20
| ways and manner 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 pro-
with which he intended to live in habits OF
| very close acquaintance, and in this book he
designed to note down all the savings, conse-
quent upon the retrenchment of certain lit
| tie extras. before alluded to, in which he had
been in the habit ofpretty freely indulging
himself.
| Upon the present occasion it had cost him
something of an effort to say no. for Mark
was one Of our easy clever fellows to whom
the enunciation of this little syllable caused
as much trouble as the gutturals of the Ger
man. However, when he came in sight oi
| uiS p0'oI "uoo"' euio"S" "niC" oIiRut
fire was shining. when he entered and found
the clean glowing hearth. easy chair drawn
up in front and a pair of embroidered slippers
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 oil about Ben Sanford, and all bache-
lor friends and allurements whatsoever, and
thought himself the happiest fellow on earth
The evening passed off rapidly. by the
help of music, reading, and the small talk ol
which newly merried people generally have
a supply, and the next morning found MARI
at early business hours with as steady q
hand and as cool a head as if there had beer
no such things as bachelors frolics in exis
tence.
/ Late in the forenoon Ben Sanford loungei
i c. xho lad and ahoxo m xx