The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-04-02

Paul Wyman and John Edward,
were both good mechanics, thorough
ly understood their business, and
could command the highest wages
They had been playmates and school
fellows In youth, and now, as they
reached maturer years, were very
good friends. Both were married,
and the home of the one could be
plainly seen when standing on the
threshold of the other. Although |
John Edwards was quite rs industri-
Gus as Paul Wyman, the latter owned |
the neat little cottage In which he |
lived, while the former rented the |
implanted, commissioning house
which he occupied. One had lust as
much leisure time as the other but
Notwithstanding this, the Edwardses
were always wondering how the
Wymans managed to keep everything
in such nice order. it was q COM
plete mystery to them why Paul
Wyman always had the largest and
finest vegetables in his garden, why
his vines Invariably prospered why
his rOse-bushes never looked scraggy
and blasted and why his fences never
got out of repair; or his doors and
windows broken, like those of other
people. These and numberless other
queries were. never satisfactorily
answered by the questiOners, who
finally came to the conclusion that
Paul Wyman was one of the lucky
ones of earth, whose general success
and good fortune were not the result
of any effort on his part, but came
unaided and unbidden. Though they
argued thus, yet an under-current of
thought often suggested that this was
not rational CONCLUSION, as effects
could not result without causes but
as neither husband nor wife was of q
logical turn of mind, the idea was
usually lost in conversation of the
following nature.
81 don't understand it, that is Ger
tain," said the former, musingly.-
~ have the same wages as Wyman,
and we have but two children to feed
and clOthe, while they have three !;
| l don't believe but he receives help
from somebody"
'"The same idea occurred to me-"
replied Mrs. Edwards, 'and imme-
diately took the privilege of an old
acquaintance to tell his wife what
thought"
"What reply did she maker" de-
manded the husband.
"She laughed good and
said ! was wholly mistaken; for that
they had nothing and received moth
ing but what her husbands labor
justly entitled them to. But, OfcOurse,
she would say so, be the case as it
might"
"One thing is CERTAIN" rejoined the
other, "and that is, they are much
better off than we are; but how such
a state of things is brought about,
unless they do have assistance, is
more than 1 can tell. l only wish we
had as good chance, for Pm sure l
work hard enough"
John Edwards spoke i'm lightly
bitter tone, he sincerely believed that
circumstances were very much against
him; that everything had cOnspired
to prevent him from rising above q
certain position.
81 have itv' exclaimed Mrs. Ed
wards, suddenly, "she takes in sew
ing; l am just as sure of it rs though
/ had seen her at work for Others
That's the way she manages to get so
many new things"
"But If you have no knowledge of
the fact, we are just as much in the
dark as ever. / don't think Mrs.
Wyman would be ashamed to tell it,
even if she did take in sewing ;
there's nothing. wrong about honest
labor, I'm sure. Her neither worked,
why shouldn't she?"
'They've got a new sofa, too
where did that come from? Out of
his wages, / suppose they would say,
but you and i know better; for what
we can't do, Pm precious certain they
can't. A dollar is a dollar, the best
way you can fix it,"
John Edwards lookedas perplexed
as ever, and did not seem inclined to
accept his wife's version of the mat.
ter. He entertained a high respect
for Mrs. Wyman's character, and was
not quite ready to believe that she
performed any labor she would wish
to keep secret. He sat and unused
some time, and then putting on his
hat, went over to his neighbours to
borrow his last paper: for John Ed
wards was fully persuaded that he
was not able to take weekly journal,
although none were more fond OF
reading than he.
"You are quite welcome to read my
paper, friend Edwards, but pray tell
me why you do not subscribe for q
copy yourself? A years subscription
is but a trifle," said Mr.. Wyman good
humOredly.
"ShOuld be glad to, hut the truth
of the matter is, cannot afford it,"
was the reply.
"But you spend double that sum,
every month, for what consider of
far less Importance"
"In what way?" asked Edwards,
in some surprise.
sin horse and carriage hire" was
the quiet rejoinder.
Edwards cOlOred, and seemed rath-
er embarrassed.
"But people that work hard all the
the week need some recreation" he
stammered, after short pause.
81 allow that; but find sufficient
exercise and recreation in attending
to my little garden, and walking with
my family, after my work for the
day is done. And then reading is
source of great enjoyment to me. Did
you ever think, my friend, how many
valuable books you could buy with
the same amount of money that you
pay to livery-stable proprietors ?"
Edwards confessed that he had
never viewed the subject in that light
before, and admitted that his brother
mechanic had the best side of the
argument.
"But," he added, "you have more
inducements to stay at home than /
have. The house you live in is your
own, and everything you attempt to
do prospers. With me 1t Is differ
ent.D ss
"But 1t should not be different"
said Wyman, earnestly. "YOu might
have just a. good success, If you ex-
erted yourself as much and were will