The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-05-20
ST, MAINE, THURSDAY, MAY 90 1869.
MY NEWSPAPER.


pleasant periodical visits, like the face of a
dear friend, bringing such fund of wit,
news and general intelligence that it is always
greeted with hearty welcome, are with
drawn. 1t Is in one sense, the light Of the
word-wthout which the mental universe
would be as much in darkness as the terrestri~
al world without the sun.
| There are books, it is true, good, wise, in
structive and entertaining; but they do not
tell US what we want to know of passing
events, or direct us to the best places of bus
mess. Neither do they inform us who of our
friends are passing away or getting married,
or who has sailed 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 the paper and
other year. The pressure of the times was
severe, business dull, my family expensive
somewhere to make both ends meet at the end
of the year. So thought as | sat alone one
evening, in dressing gown and slippers, with
my feet upon the fender. / had my last pa
per in my hand which perused with q great
er degree of interest than ever before it may
be because / resolved to part with it.
81 tell you," said | to my wife, sit won't
do; we must curtail our expenses; and will
begin by Withdrawing my advertisements
from the newspaper and order it discontinued
Taxes will soon be due, which must be paid ;
wood is enormously high, but we can't do
without thor groceries and provisions, nor
lights nor clothing, or many other incidental
expenses. We have plenty of books and mag
azines, old to be sure, still they are readable
and we must do without the paper for the
year to come''
''It's only two dollars a year." said my wife,
quietly. Il know it," replied, ''but every
dollar counts nowadays"
"But do you not believe it will have a tend
ency to render business still more dull not to
advertiser she asked,
"Nonsense! A place so we'll established
needs not so questionable a lever to help it
on. | do not suppose that it will make any
difference, while the cost of advertising
amounts to considerable" ;" replied, impatient
ly.
''But what will you do for the news!' she
vcnturcd again.
''Oh, can get enough of that by the in
tcrcourse with others, and occasionally buy or
borrow a copy"
John Smyth." said my wife, now fully
aroused, Il am ashamed of you. What !!
too poor to take q paper yourself, and yet
willing to fch information from others whose
money is paid for what they learn, and at the
same time defraud the honest publisher who is
others good. Talk about tretrenchment-you
had better stop your bills at the saloons for
ale and REPRESENTATIVES expenditures for
yourself alone while your newspaper is a per-
petual intellectual feast for the whole family,
yourself not excepted, and it costs but the
merest triflc in comparison to the money you
spend every week for tobacco and drink. You
have not spoken of the increased prices of
these articles. Stop the paper! indeed"' And
my wife jerkcd her chair around with not
a very graceful movement, and sat with her
back toward me in utter contempt of my
"penny wise and pound foolish resolution
Now | make it q point never to yield to my
wife or any Of my family, if | can help it, as
in case | should, l would seem secondary
consideration in my own family-a position
by no means intend to occupy; so [ said moth
ing, but sat and puffed my fragrant Havana
watching the graceful folds of smoke as il
wound itself in little wreaths about my head
| resolved that come what would, 1 would moi
yield indulgence in the delicious weed for tho
sake OF a newspaper.
t The next day / called on my publisher, set
tlcdmy accounts. and ordered my paper dis
continued.
''On what ground?" he asked, in some sur
prise,
, Nothing" said, 81 can't afford it," and
} walked away. leaving him to his own re
; Election.
Time passed on the day on which it was
due | could not feel quite contented at the
disappearance of my newspaper. misset
the cheerful face of the little carrier and the
interesting news he was wont to bring on re-
: turn of each week, through fair weather anC
foul. There were other papers about, for
bought one occasionally, but these were pub
lished in large cities, and contained no loca
: news OF my own home.
AT night when I reached home, my eldes
daughter, Mary, met me in the hall.
''Where is the paper, papan said she. ''Oh
l am in such a hurry to see it. Matte True
worths marriage is in it, and the editor has
published such an appropriate verse in con
nection, am told"
But | put her aside saying, 1.-The paper
will not come any more, | have ordered il
, discontinued"
'Why, fatherr she exclaimed, chow can
we do without it ~
eve must learn to do without it, repli-
ed as | passed on to the supper room.
After supper, instead Of reading to my
family, sometimes leading their minds away
off to other scenes and distant regions, beau
tiful countries that others have explored at
great expense and some risk of life some
times to the fierce fields of blood and carnage
pictured 50 wildly that they seemed indeed,
before us, while we were safeand comfortable
in our little home; or singing over the stray
waits of real poetry which often find their
way into the newspaper, touching a tender
chord in every heart-as was wont to do
stretched myself upon the sofa and tried to
sleep.
Tommy whispered Mary, 'run over to
Mr.. Wild's and see if you cannot borrow his
paper"
But Tommy soon returned with the answer
that Mr.. Wild was reading it himself
"Then go to Mr.. Browns, and if you can't
get his, 60 to Mr.. Gates
But Tommy was not more successful at any
of these places. Mr. Brown had taken his
paper down town, and Mr. Gates didn't like
to lend his; thought his father took it. A
disappointed sigh was Nary's only answer.
1.-The particulars Of that murder affair are
in the paper this week." said my wife, with
a slight frown upon her brow, land would
really like to see it,
and Minnie Milford's new story was to
come out in this weeks paper. l really wish
l could borrow it somewhere" said Mary.
Here, Tommy said l, taking five cents
from my pocket run down too the news Of
flee and buy copy if it's not to late, and the
publishing Office shut up
Tommy soon returned out of breath. 1--WE