The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-08-05

purse but az old Falstaff says, the world
owes me q living so good morning."
| Ben Sanford was one Of that class Of young
men, of whom common report goes they can
do anything they please, and who considered
this point so well established, that they do
not think it necessary to illustrate it by doing
anything at all He was lawyer Of good
talents and would have had an extensive run
Of business had he not been one of the class
of people never to be found when wanted.
His law books and office saw far less Of him
then certain fashionable places of resort,
where his handsome personal and various
social accomplishments always secured to him
! q welcome reception Ben had some little
property left to him by his father, Just enough
as he used laughngly to quote ''to keep him
/ in gloves and cologne water" and for the rest
! he seemed vastely contented with his maxim,
1.-The world owes me a living, forgetting that
the world sometimes proves poor paymaster
rs the most fashionable young men going.
But to return to Mark When he had set
tied his accounts at night, he took from a
pigeon hole in his desk the little book afore-
named, and entered as follows: .sTo one
real wake up, So" which being done he
locked his desk aud returned once more to
Mrs. Meridcn.
/ Days flew on, and the sh p Of Mark became
increasingly popular, and Still from tineAtel
| time he was assailed by the kind of tempta-
! ton we have described. Now it was ''Mark,
my dear fellow do join us in trip to
G-'s,' and now. ''comc, my old boy, let
us have a spree at F-'s;" now it was the
club, now the oyster supper, but Mark was
invincble; and as one after another gaily re-
counted Of the scene, he silently committed
the account of the expense TO his little book
Yet Mark was not cynical or unsocial His
! ,o1, ,l1
naturcd, and though he could not be drawn
abroad, yet he was unquestionaby open hand
ed at home. No house had so warm wei
come, no dinner table could be more beauti-
full or more freely open for the behoof of all
gentlemen of the dning-out order-no tea
table presented more uneXceptionable toast,
and no evening lounge was more easy home
like and cheerful, than on the sofas in the par
lors of Mark Meriden. They gave evening
parties where all was brilliant, tasteful and
well-ordered and, in fine notwithstanding
his short-comng, Mark was set down as a
fine, open handed fellow, after all
AT the end of the year, Mark cast up the
account in the little book, and was nightly
astonished at it. for with all his ideas Of the
power of numbers, he had no idea that the
twos and lives, and tens and ones, which on
greater or smaller occasions had found their
way into his columns, would amount to a sum
so considerable. Mark looked about him
the world was going well, his business ma
chincrv moving in exact touch and timc-his
house-Where was there a prettier one where
a place more rcpletc with home drawing COM
fort? had he lost anything in pleasure the
past year? Mark thought not, and therefore.
as he walked homeward, he stopped into
booksellers and ordered some books Of sup
erb engravings for Mrs. Meriden, and spoke
to the gardener to send her some elegant
Towering eXotics, for which lie had heard her
express an admiration some evenings before.
That same evening came in Ben Sanford,
as he expressed it. '.in the very depths Of in
digo,' tor young gentlemen whose worldly
affairs invariably 90 on wrong end foremost,
will sometimes be found in this condition,
however eXubcrant may be their stock Of ami
nal spirits
Pray, Ben, what is the matter?" said Mark.
kindly. as the latter stretched himself at length
in an old arm chair, groaning audibly.
"Oh, q bilious attack, Mark--shoemaker's
bills! tailor's bills. boarding bills all sent for
| New Years presents! hang 'em all
! Mark kept silent, and Ben continued:
''Conlound it, Mark what's the sense of
living, if fellow is to be so very poor?
Here are you, Mark, born in the same town
with me, and younger than | by some two
! years, you have house as snug us man need
to ask a wife like an angel, peace and plenty
by the bushel, and all comes of having a
good run of luck in the money lme;n and
Ben kicked his boots against the andirons
most cncrgetcally.
"What has become of Emily p" asked
| Mark, after Il pause.
'Poor sou!' said Ben, s.there she is vet,
with all sweetness and patience, waiting till
such q uckless scapc@race as l can give her
| buSI I u-;ab f,.b ba, al
| could afford to be married and have q home
of my own besides | am tired Of this ram
bling, serambling, out-at-elbow, slip-shod
life''
''Why don't You get married." said Mark
''Why don't |? to be sure-use my tailol's
bills for fuel, and my board bills for house
rent, and shoe bills for bread and butter
hey? Would you recommend poor girl to
try me, Mark, all things considcrcd9' said
Ben, bitterly.
Mark reflected while in silence, and then
drew out his book, his little book, to which
we have before alluded
''Just look at this account, Bcn,'' said he !;
81 know you hate figures, but Just for once
Ben glanced at it impatiently, laughed when
he read over the first two or three items but
his face heightened as he proceeded, and
Mark detected a sort of whistle of astonish-
mcnt when he read the sum total.
'Well, Markt he exclaimed ''what a very
old gentlcmanly, considerate trick of yours
to sit behind your counter us coolly noting
down the 'cost and come to- of all our little
follies; really it is most cdifying. How
much have you enjoyed your discretion and
forethought,' and he did laugh, but not with
his usual glee.
''You mistake" said Mark. II keep this
account merely to see what | had been in the
habit of spending myself and as you and |
have been hand in glove in everything, it an
swers equally well for you. 1t was only yes
terday | summed up the account, and | as
sure you the result surprised myself? And
now, Bon, tho here set down. and as
much more as you please, is at your disposal,
to clear off old scores for the year, provided
you will accept with it this little book as a
New Years Gift, and use it twelve months as
l have done, and if at the end of that time
you are not ready TO introduce me to Mrs
Sanford, l am much Mistaken
Ben grasped his friends hand; but Just
then the entrance of Mrs Meriden prevented
his reply Mark, however, saw with salts
faction that he put the book carefully in his
vest pocket, and buttoned his coat with the
air of a man who is but toning up good
resolution.
When they parted for the night, Mark said
a