Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1869-04-07
For the Urblna Uninnl
DICK RIARCF7S BANK.
BY LADY GAY

Maggie Marcy was whole-senled gen.
erous woman.
When she was very young, she had
the misfortune to marry Dick Marcy,
one of the most narrow-minded, penuri-
Gus creatures, the world ever produced.
He was almost too stingy to breathe the
, fresh air of heaven. Tall, gaunt, and
caddverous looking, he worked day, by
day in his little shop, (he was a mechan-
ic,) rarely raising his cold gray eyes to
look at anything but a customer, and
never stopping to exchange a friendly
greeting with a neighbor, but pursuing
from year to year, the same routine, 20
, Ing home TO his meals, and returning to
his work. No one ever saw him laugh.
Few had heard him speak, as he never
talked except to those who patronized
him, and then mostly in monosyllables.
How the cheerful, light hearted wo-
man he claimed for a wife, ever consen-
ted to marry him was mystery. She
was lively as a cricket, with a smile and
kind word for all.
The house they occupied, and which
belonged to Dick was a small cottage
situated on the suburbs of the village in
which they lived. Contracted as it was
it bore the impress of the bright spirit
which dwelt within it.
The bare, uncarpeted floors were as
white as brush, and water could make
them; and the little bed with its coarse
counterpane, was the picture ofneat-
ness. The small amount of furniture
/ the house contained was kept in order,
and in fact every thing about the small
establishment bore marks of a tidy,
thrifty housewife.
The yard attached to the dwelling,
( decorated with roses, huneysuckles, mar
( IigOlds, bachelor buttons, and its wealth
of common flowers, spoke volumes in
favor Of the hand which nurtured them.
None knew, save the busy housekeeper,
the battlesshe had to fight for even these
simple luxuries. (for to those who re-
ally love them, flowers are a luxury
When Dick Marcy saw Maggie stopping
among her blooming favorites, he would
say in a gruff voice:
"What are you fooIing your time away
over them things! why don'tyou plant
something you can eat, or something
that win yield"-
why Dick!'interTupted Maggie laugh (
ing, "GOd made the flowers, aud you are
not wiser than he is. He surely made |
them for 8onaething,"
These words made no impression upon
Lick Marcy. He was one of the many, /
who think human prudence eiseverything.
He did not know, (or ifhe had, he would
nothave believed) that the Divine Prov
idence ofthe Lord overIooks the actions
Of men, and that worldly caution is of
no avail in itself. Dick could see nothing
beautiful in any object that could not be
/ turned to profit. He kept COW, and
raised two pigs every year. Regularly
when fall came on, this. pet stock was
turned in upon the yard. The one to
horn, and break everything that came
within her needless reach-the other
+ to rootup every thing that it was posi-
ble to root. So the pretty cedars "came .
to grief, " as did all the other ornamental
shrubbery.
Maggie, at first eXpostulated, and cri-
ed, (as all women will,l but finually |
submitted; but the next Spring would 90
to work with the same aIacrity, and
make all clean again. cherishing the
lovely fragrant flowers, until the
time rolled around, for them to be trod-
den down by the same ruthless inva-
sion.
Most women would have given up,
and lost all courage, but Maggie was
not easily disheartened, she might have
suffered, if it had not been for her indom.
liable industry and perseverance.
Notwithstanding she had to do all
her own work, and most ofthe gardening,
she found time to take in sewing. In
this branch of feminine employment
she displayed so much skill, and taste,
that after while, she became the head
dressmaker of the village. By this means
she was enabled to hire aservant, and
furnish herself many comforts beside.
Many a spicy quarrel sprung up be-
tween her and niggardIy husband, be-
cause she refused to give him her hard
acquired earnings! For days he would
not speak to her, after these disputes in
which she "held her own" SO firmly.
Maggie was only sixteen when she
married Dick Marcy. An orphan, home
less, and friendIess she needed a protec-
tor. Il
Dick was quiet, and not dissipated and
could be quite agreeable, when it suited
him, though Maggie could not have
sworn that she loved him; still he was
not disagreeable, and she accepted him.
She did not love any one else, and if !
Dick Marcy had been disposed, he could
by kindness, and the trif1ing little en- ]
dearments, that are a sure passport to
woman's heart, have made his lively, |
goodtempered wife, almost worship !
him, but there was about as much DO. {
etry in the composition of Dick Marcy, ]
as there is "bloOd in turnip." He did
not care so that he had a wife to cook {
milk-wash-irOn-and keep his clothes 6
in order. He thought of nothing but
making money, and cared for nothing
but boarding it, after it was made. He
was never the man, after vowing at the :
altar to love, and cherish his bride. Ht
is doubtful if he was conscious of the ,
sanctity and nature of the marriage
VOW TO offer her a cent of money. 8
When the new goods arrived every ,
spring, and fall, an event which aIwavs Z
creates more or less excitement in viii Z
iage, among the ladies, Maggie saw I
other mems wives buy the numerous ar {
ticles which are indispensable in every {
well-regulated household, and also wit {
messed many ladies, whose husbands ,
were nOricher than Dick Marcy, indulp- :
ing their tastes in selecting new Dress
cs, mantles, gloves, parasols, fans, and !
the like, and often over, even, her light ,
heart feeling Of sadness, and disap- q
pointment would steal, when some par
ticular article she fancied, was COM ?
placently purchased by another, she q
could only swallow her mortifcatiOu I