Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-02-25
#isftIIauy.
HOLE IN THE POCKET.


as they sat beside their coy parlOr
fire, one evening, Il want to do a little
shopping tomorrow. Can't you let
me have some money!"
"Why yes, my dear, l guess can,"
said Mr.. Danforth, slowly drawing
out his pOcket-book. "How much do
YOU want?"
"How much can you spare?" asked
Mrs. DanfOrth, smiling.
well, | think ! can do pretty well
for y0u Tonight, Will twenty-five
dollars answer?"
Yes" replied the lady, 50 cheerful
ly. Upon which Mr.. Danforth settled
himself easily in his chair, and began
laying the bills from his purse across
his knee to count them. Presently he
sat up and counted the bills again,
and then he looked about him with a
perplexed air.
"Why, Sallie," he said, 81 thought |
had more money than have. | surely
did have more when we closed the
store tonight"
How much have you now 2" asked
Mrs. DanfOrth, with slight change
in the cheerful accent of her voice.
why, I've only got twenty-five
dollars altogether"
"And how much did you think you
hadW 81 thought | had thirty, for
remember of putting it in my pocket
book. Where can that extra five have
gone"
perhaps you spent some on the
way homer observed Mrs. Danforth.
"No, that is not much; only a trife.
| met Willis and Parker in Eighth
street, and we dropped into Brooks
and took dish of oysters"
"And cigar or two" suggested
Mrs. Dantorth.
"Ob, of course; but that was no.
thing, you know"
"And glass of wine to wash the
oysters DOWN." suggested Mrs. Dan
forth.
"Well, yes, a glass or two. But that
didn't cost five dollars, you know"
Now Mrs. Danforth did not know,
and she did have her suspicious; but
like a wise little wife, she kept silent
and let Mr.. Charles go on.
"Where eau the money have got hid
away! Pm sure | had it, and I've
ransackcd every pocket in vain"
perhaps there is!-perhaps there
isw-cagerIy cried Charles, beginning
to turn his pockets wrong side out
"Yes-Just as | expected. Here is ,
hole, and that bill must have slipped
out of my pocket and got here. Look
Sallie, | shall have to get you TO sew
it up"
Sallic obediently looked, and could
hardly restrain a smile as she saw
Charles, with such an innocent face
hold out the pocket in which indeed
there was a hole, but so exceedingly
small one, that, by no manner o.
means, could tivc-ccnt scrip have
made its way through, much less 4
large bill.
81 don't see how tcould get through
such small hole," she could not help
saying.
"But it must, you see, because there
was no other way" argued Charles,
logically. Il declare I'm sorry, Sallie,
for shall have to cut you of with
fifteen dollars this time. I'm obliged
to have a ten to pay a tax bill in the
morning. Can't you get along with
fifteen Z"
~ must, suppose" said Mrs. Dan
forth, with light sigh.
well, that's a good girl. Here,
then; I'm sorry to give you so little ;
and, if it hadn't been for that unfortu-
nate hole in my pocket, you should
have had more"
"Yes, think it must have been the
hole in your pocket" said Mrs. DAN
forth, as she arose to put her money
away. The peculiar emphasis in her
voice caused her husband to look Gu
riOusly up 10 her; hut the calm, sweet
face, told him nothing, so he speedily
forgot the tone she had just used.
As Mrs. Danforth, tastPfully dressed
for the street, passed through the hall
next morning, she picked up a tiny
bit of white paper, which looked as
though 1t might have fallen from her
husbands pocket the night before. 1t
appeared 10 be a little memorandum,
or something Of that sort, and smooth
ing out its crumblcd folds, Mrs. DAN
forth read it:
G. II. Danforth,
To Brooks Il Go. DR..
For oysters, self aud friends, - 00
cigars, +" " | 90
vino, A" . 90
Total, s. 90
Received payment
Brooks Il 60.
Little Mrs. Daniorth's pretty face
wore a variety of curions expressions
as she put the little paper into her
purse.
l. Il A., a ll.,,l. |