The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1869-10-16
My Newspaper.

My Newspaper.
Who can estimate the value of a newspaper?
No one, until he has lost it-until the pleas
ant periodical; visits like the face of "A dear
friend, bringing such fund of wit, news and
general intelligence, which is always greeted
with hearty welcome are withdrawn. II is
IN one sens, the light of the world-withOut
which the mental universe would bc ~ much
an darkness as the terrestrial world without
the sun.
There are books, it is true, good. wise, in
structing and entertaining, Int they do not
tell Us OF what want to know of passing
events, or direct us to the best places of bust
ness 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 IL trip thither etc.
did not think Oi this until had formed
the foolish resolve not 10 take my paper an
other year The pressure of the times was
severe, business dull, my family expensive,
and il really seemed necessary To rctrcnch
somewhere To make both ends meet at the
end of the year. 80 thought, as | sat alone
one evening in dressing gown and slippers
with my feet upon the fender. had my last
paper in my hand, which peruscd with IA
greater degree Of interest than ever before: it
may be because had resolved ,o part with il
II tell you, 4" said 10 my wife, lit won't
do; We must curtail our expenses; and will
begin by withdrawing my advertisement and
ordering the paper discontinued. Taxes will
soon bc due, which must he paid; wood is
enormously high hut we can't do Vithout il
--nur groceries and provisions, lights. cloth
ing. and many other incidental expenses ""
have plenty Of books and magazines, old to
br sure, still they are readable and We mast
do without the paper for the year To come"
1t Is only Eve dollars - year. said my
wife, quietly.
II know 1T" replied, but every dollar
counts nuw-a-days. 80
but do you not believe that it will have a
tendency to render business still more dull
not To ADVERTISE" she asked.
Nonsense! 4 place so we'll established
needs not SO questionable lever Ia help il on.
do not suppose that II will make any differ
ence while the cos; Of Advertising amounts to
considerable" replied mpaticntly.
but what will you do for the news" She
vcnturcd again.
"Oh, can get enough of that 10y inter
course with others, and occasionally buy or
borrow u copy"
"John smith" said my wife, now fully as-
Surcd II am ashamed uf YOU What, too
poor To take paper yourself, aud yet willing
TO hlch information from others whose money
Is paid for what they learn. and at the eunr
time dcfrnud the honest publisher who is con
stantly iabOrlng with head aud hand Tor
others good. Talk about rctrrnchincnt Won
had better stop your bills ut the saluuns for
ale and cigars needless expenditures for
SoufNcn hlph'' ~hlie the newspaper ls per.
pctual intellectual feast for the whole family.
yourself not excepted, and it costs the mcrcst
trihe III comparison to the money Won
spend every week for tobacco aud drink Iou
have not spoken Of the increased prices ui
those articles. stop the paper. indccd,' and
my wife jerked her chair around with not a
very graceful movement and sat with her
back towards me in utter contempt of my
penny wise and pound foolish resolution"
Now, make II a point To never yield 10 my
wife or amy of my family, If ! can help il, ~
in case | should would become a secondary
consideration in my own fnmly--n position
hy no means intended to occupy; so | said
nothing, hut sat aud puflcd my fragrant IIa.
vana, watching the graceful folds of smoke as
1t wound itself in little wrcaths about NV
head | resolved that come what would
would not yield Indulgence in tho delicious
weed for the sake Of IA newspaper.
The next day ! called on my publisher
settled my account and ordered my paper
discontinued
'On what ground?" he asked, in some sur
prise.
Nothing" ] said, al can't afford it and
walked away, leaving him to his reflections
Time passed on the day un which it was
duo could not feel quite contcntod ut tn,
nOn-appearanCe Of my ncwsDnpcr | missed
the bright, cheerful iaco of the little carrier
and the interesting news he was wont to brinl
on return of each week, through fair wcathe
and foul. There were other papors about
for bought one occasionally. but they wor,
published in large cities, and contained II,
local news Of my own home.
At night. when reached home. my cldcs
daughter, Mary, met me in tho hail.
"Whoro is the paper, papa?" said shc
..Oh, am in such hurry to see II. Matte
IrucwOrth's marriage is in IT, and tho cdilo
has published such an appropriate verse il
connection with Il, am told
But | put her aside, saying: "Thc papc
viii pot come any more; | have ordered II dis
continued"
Why, fatherl" shc exclaimed. chow en-,
wo do without it2"
as passed on 10 tho supper room.
After supper, instead Of reading 10 m