Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-09-17
stlttt storp.
BY MRS. II. Il. STOWE.

Come, Mark Meriden, don't settle
down into an old grandfather before your
time pretty wife's apretty thing, Mark,
and pretty house is pretty thing, but
hang il, one must have little of life.
Mark Meriden stood at his desk, giving
a last look at his books, while Ben San
ford. the roguiSh the merry, the song
singing. the Ben of all Beus, was thus
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 twinkhng
of his blue eye. and world OF waggery
in the turn of his head, and a pair ofbroad
roguish dimples that went merriy dodg-
inc in and out of his cheeks every time
he spoke, and he had laid hold OF Mark ;
arm 10 drag him away. But Mark shook
off his hand and finished summing up a
column of figures. put the bloiting 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 90 this time"
Now. why not2' said Ben, very
eagerly.
"Because-because said Mark, smil-
ing; .because have an odd fancy that
should ike Mrs Meriden' S company
better this evening"
Hang Mrs. Meriden-beg pardon
Marx, hang myself for saying so-out
one don't like 10 see q fine fellow buried
alive. Come, take 4 real wake up with
u.s.
Thank YOU. Ben, but haven't been
asleep and don't need it. SO I'll go home
and see my wife, and thereat turned a
resolute step homeward Is we'll trained
husband ought.
Now. saws 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 first
appeared on the outside of one OF its most
fashionable shops, Mark Meridcn," sur
rounded by those waving insignia OF
grace and fashion that young bellies need
10 have their ewes turned Off from behold
ing. Everything in the tasteful establish
ment told of the we'll arranged business,
aud Mark himself, the mirror of fashion,
faultless in every article of costume,
quick, attentive. polite, was every day to
be seen there winning golden opinions
from all sorts of people" Marks shop
became the resort for high ton-the
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-to
see and to be seen.
So attentive, polite and considerate was
Mark. so profound his bows, so bright his
ewes, SO unexceptionable his whiskers,
that il might have proved a dangerous
resort for the ladies, had not neat,
tasteful house going up ia the neighbor-
hood, been currently reported as the
future residence of an already elected Mrs.
Merideu, and in few months the house
neatly finished, 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 the centre flower of domestic
boquet, and Mark might justly bepardon-
ed for having as good again an opinion
of himself for having been fortunate
enough to secure her.
Mark had an extensive circle oil business
and pleasure acquaintances, for he had
been one oil the social. companionable
sort, whose money generally found Its
way out of his pockets in very fair pro-
portions TO the rate il came. In short, he
was given to clubs, oyster suppers, and
now and then wine party, and various