Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-12-02

She knows nothing about the theory,
but her practice is exquisite; so oi
course she cannot give lessons.
She sews very well, believe-at least
we are all kept neat and whole-and she
has good taste; but she says her
stitches will not bear examination, and
if she tried to sew better, she should
work SO slowly that she could not earn
her salt. Her housekeeping is very
pleasant, know; but we have hun
dred little idiosyncrasies which would
make taking boarders impossible, even
if it were not intolerable, SO we have
never seriously considered that ques-
ton.
1t will probably be thought cold
blooded in me to speak in this way of
my wife's earning anything, especially
when, now we had dismissed our girl,
she had everything to do for the chill
dTen and for me; and, in fact, did not
mean she should do anything, but she
was always poudering the matter, and
in some dark moments | gave in little
myself. l thought l would commit
suicide, and let her support the chill
dreni
1t is obvious that now neither OF US
felt as sure of our elevated character or
of our talents as before the legacy was
lost, and we had at last arrived at the
aforementioned state of blank despair.
g 1t is really too bad," said Florence,
at last; it would take so little to make
US happy, and yet we can't have it."
"There is nothing under heaven to be
| done, said /, gloomily, g but for me to
go as a day -laborer in a factory; and as
| am unskillful, and very old for u be-
ginner, cannot earn enough to support
the family, so think, my dear, that you
had better go into the same factory !:
| that is, if we can find work, which
think doubtful in these times. And we
will apprentice the children to the trade,
so they will be better able to take care
of themselves than we were when they
grow up"
Florence made no reply to this re-
mark, but shortly after began short
catechism.
Van, are you aristocraticP"
No, not exactly, said L; "Il like the
things aristocratic people have, you
know, but it is not for fear of losing
caste that object to the factory"
8 thought not" {" said Florence. COM
placently; 9 but of course you object to
the grind and so do l. Now the ques-
ton is, what are the necessities OF life
to youP"
"Oh, yes," said 1. "First, you and
the children; second, house that does
not leak to cover u.s. third, corn cake
and salt fish; fourth, good fire in thr
winter; fifth, a warm wooden suit foe
each OF US; sixth, some light active out
door employment. which will not re-
duce my spirits to such point that |
can't enjoy your society when | have
leisure to sit down in the evening""
8 And you would like to keep
EorseP" said Flor nee, confidently
why, yes." said, rather surprised !;
: but since we have never kept one since
we were married, it seems to me we
might dispeuse with it now"
Unles it came lin the way of bust
ness" said Florence, calmly. Now
that | know what your real views OF
the necessaries OF life are, have plan
which I had hesitated to propose be-
fore, thinking you might demand more"
She unfolded newspaper, and pointed
to an advertisement.
EOR SALE The horse, cart and complete
IL stock ct tin peddler. Excellent route.
Bnsiness psys well. Sells only because Ia niiy
matters require removal to the West Terms
easy. Address A. WIoKs,
Plainville
l felt spark of hope. 81 suppose
| really think | should not hate this as
much as anything else i see any pros
pect of trying However it will proba
bly, amount to nothing"
1t then appeared that it was several
aUa cinoo ElOrop hod som +bo ,,0Hi0o
and she had taken paios to inquire into
the matter before speaking to me. She
Knew some one in Plainyille who had
learned all the particulars. 1t really
was true. The business was good. that
is, of its kind. eOf course,n our in
formant said, sit did not pay anything
like the law;" and we hoped he was
right. The peddler really was goinz
West, for he had money enough to live
on, and his wite's health demanded
change of climate. He would sell cheap,
and let US pay in installments, and we
could rent his cottage for very small
sum.
1t did seem providential. Riding
about the country, even in a peddler's
cart, had far more attractions for me
than toiling in a factory. Besides, / had
secret assurance that I had no capacity
for " toll, +" and | knew | could drive
any horse in-Plainville at least Then
the selling, my gooi looks I believe |
forgot to men ion that before), my gen
tlemanly manners, my gool-nature, my
persuasive address, on which | had
been complimented again and again,
would all be of the utmost service to
me in this business; and here l had
been almost tearing my hair in my
anguish at thinking that none of my
powers were Of the least avail in the
bread and-butter question.
And so we purchased the business by
selling some OF our furniture, and went
to Plainville to live. Iseriously believe
that there is niche for every one.
Looking back on my time of despair, and
comparing it with my present, | am
grateful that | can say that while then
thought / was so constituted that I
could be neither useful nor happy in
life, now fad that have been endowed
with abundant capac ties for both use
fulness and happiness, and that no
talent / possess has failed of bearing
some fruit. And Florence says the same
thing aoout herself.
Let me elaborate:
The cottage we lived in was not
strictly beautiful. but it was comfort
able, and in pleasant place, with an
orchard before it. and we trained creep
ers on trellises about it, and planted
roses and towering shrubs along the
stone walls 1t was fresh, sweet place
to live in, and the children had lovely
playground. AT first Florence had no
servant, and worked very hard, but she
was young and well and strong, and she
declared that she did not get so tired as
she had often done II our old home with
The thousand and one society duties
from which she was exempt now.