Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1874-11-26
THE HOLE IN THE POCKET.

for defraying the necessary expenses /;
but as he,was a good mechanic, he
could generally find employment in
his native village, and she being an
industrious little woman, besides do
ing her housework, earned considera-
ble in the course of a year, by doing
plain sewing. But still they did not
seem to prosper as did Ned Bowen
and his wife, who commenced house
keeping near them, about the same
time, under similar circumstances.
The reason why, and the way he
made the discovery, we will let him
tell in his own words:
NY wife said to me one evening,
"Mr. Slack, wish to getsom thread
and needles at the store, and l want
little change
| felt in my pocket, examined my
wallet thoroughly, but could find
nothing that would pass for currency
at the store, and reported the un-
pleasant fact to her.
why" said she, "what has be-
come of the halfdollar | gave you
this morning." (She had always
made me cashier of the frm.)
After another unsuccessful attempt
to Gnd it, said:
Mrs. Slack, l think there must be
a hole in one of my pants, for certain
ly have not got it, and | do not
think of anything | have paid i; out
for"
Il will look at your pockets, this
evening" said she, mildly, "and will
mend them if they need it"
1t was not long after this conversa-
ton that | remembered having treat
ed myself and three friends to ice
cream, but concluded 10 keep the
discovery to myself.
Il couldn't fnd any hole in your
pccSet last night" said my wife, the
next morning, in a gentle tone, ana
with look that my feelings prevent
ed,me from scanning closely; and all
the reply | felt willing to make was,
"Ah, couldn't you ?"
a few days afterwards she called
on me for twenty-five cents she had
lately deposited in my sub-treasury
for safe keeping.
Really, Mrs. Slack said ], think
ing it best to show bold front,
there must be some corner or seam
in NY pocket that is open" though
really could rot find one, any more
than | could the missing quarter.
"if there is, it is singular that /
di dnot find it the other evening"
said she, in her usual quiet way, but
1 will be sure to find it this evening
if there is any"
On the way to my work after din
ner, while passing cigar store, the
fate Of my wife'S quarter came dis
tinctly to my mind. 1t had vanished
in smoke /. e., it had paid for five
finely favored cigars, which some Of
my village friends had helped me to
dispose of, while discussing politics
there the previous evening.
Mrs. Slack had never told me
whether she found any hole in my
pocket or not and did not feel dis
posed to push the investigation on
the subject any further at the time.
Although | was seldom entirely
out of change, still it was frequently
unpleasantly scarce. In fact, | spent
more than was aware of, in small
items, from day to day, aud the re-
suit was, that | did without things at
home which my wages would have en-
abled me to buy, aud left some for
charitable purposes.
One day | was presented with a
subscription paper, for the benefit of
an orphan asylum, which | reluctant
" handed back without signing, with
the remark, that l really could not
afford it.
Ny wife smiled sadly, as she said
to me, in an undertone:
"Ned Bowen subscribed FIVE dol
lars
81 don't see how he can afford it,
I replied, "as he does not get any
better wages, or work more hours,
than | do
A few days after the foregoing
event, on an invitation from Ned
Bowen and his wife, we spent an
evening at their house. which we
found much better furnished than
our own, though there was no appar-
ent attempt to make any needless
display of furniture.
The evening passed pleasantly
away, but | could not avoid some un-
pleasant feelings whenever contrast
ed their home with the appearance of
our own.
81 wonder" said | to my wife, on
our way home, "if Bowen doesn't 60
in debt for some of their furniture.
"He does not shereplied, "for his
wife told me they did not owe dol
lar in the world
"But how can they live as they are
doing on his wages, If he gives five
dollars at time for charitable pur-
poses
81 think I can tell you," said my
wife, in hesitating manner.
"Well, do, ifyou please" / replied,
not little curious to know what her
ideas on the subject were.
"Well. she continued. Gin the first
place. she never buys for herself any
unnecessary 6nery, and takes cool