The daily gazette., 1876-04-19
THE GIFT.
BY j. II. A.

WIN pO thO lubt duy
of the old year," remarked the
young and handsome Mrs. Harmon
to her husband, as they sat down at
breakfast. 81 hope, my dear you
have fixed on q nice New Years
present for me.
Mr.. Harmon pushed back his
chair and looked abstractedly into
the fire, as if matters of more weight
than New Years gifts were passing
in his mind.
His young wife did not observe
his inattention, but continued her re.
marks.
81 saw a magnificent shawl in
Pages to-day, and so cheap too
positivly, they only asked ninety dol
lars for it! Would yon have believ-
ed it! They have rich cloaks too;
one-but | will leave it all to your
own choice. 1 know you will be
sure to give me an e.egant pre-
sent"
"Hum-yes-the thirtieth to-
day." observed her husband, as if
awakening from reverie. Smiths
note falls due to-day, and that draft
of thousand tomorrow. Dear
dear-how the time flies"
"Going to the Office soc arly? |
have several things to arrange with
you about our party next week and, ,
you know, | must get some more
money from you to procure dresses
and various articles. Well, if you
must 60 now we will talk it over in
the evening. Goodbye, mind the
day after tomorrow is New Years S
day
Mr.. Harmon took his way to the
office in a very thoughtful mood.
He had been married about ten
months, and during that time bis
domestic peace had been undisturb-
ed by a single breeze, and and yet
the latter part of the time he had
been anything but happy man.
A cloud lowered overhis spirits,
and the cloud gathered density every
day.
Whea he married he was a mer-
chant in fair way of business.
His wife was taken from the upper
circles, and was consequently accus-
toned to gayties and luxuries to
which be had been stranger. He
could not, however, find it in his
heart to deprive her of anything to
which she had been accustomed,
and so he KEEP tup an expensive style
of living. utterly unsuited to his
means. He had given his wife
two thousand dollars on their we'd
ding day ,aud the extravagant expen-
diture Of his houshold being added
to this, soon crippled his resources.
Lattcrly he had became painfully
conscious Of his downward course,
and he was more aware of it on that
December morning, when he found
a note due and hardly a possibility
of meeting it, lie had determined
frequently for the last two months to
look into his affairs, but never could
summon suilicie t resolution to
face the dreadful array Of figures
and facts. On this day he deter
mined to SCI about it in earnest.
He directed the book-keeper to
draw up statement of the position
of the business,and then he pro-
ceeded to cast around for means to
pay the note. Eventually this
was accomplished and the evil day
put off.
That there was torrent OF play
full questions poured on him as to
the nature Of the intended pre-.
sent, and his pretty wife guessed
and wondered what it could be
that he kepO SO secret and appeared
so grave about it.
The next day the book-keeper
handed Mr.. Harmon the balance
sheet. The first glance at it st uck
chill to his heart. He passed into
his private room, and placing the
paper on the table, sat down and
looked at it as if it were o deadly
serpent. At last he summoned his.
courage, q with countenance rigid
as marble, went through all thewith.
ering details. There was no error
no miscalculation, the book -kee pei
had performed his task too correct
ly, and had stated in incontroverti.
BILE figures that the merchant was
ruined! Hoplessly, irretrievably
ruined.
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