St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03
course she cannot give lessons.

iler SClcueS VIII not Dear examination,
and if she tiled to sew better, she should
work so slowly that she could not earn
her salt. Her housekeeping is very
pleasant, l 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
dren and me; and in fact did not
mean she should do anything, but she
was always pOndering the matter, and
in some dark moments I gave in lit
tie myself. thought l would commit
suicide, and let ber support the chill
dren
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 de-
spair.
at is really too bad" said Florence
at last sit would take so little to make
us happy, and yet we can't have it."
"There is nothing under heaven to
be done,n said 1, "but for me to go as a
day laborer into a factory and as I
am unskilled and very old for a begin
ner, cannot earn enough to support
the family, so l think, my dear, that
you had better go into the same facto-
ry ; that is, if we can find work, which
l think doubtful in these times. And
we will apprentice the children to a
trade, so that they will be better able
to take care of themselves than we are,
when they grow up"
Florence made no reply to this re-
mark, but shorty after began short
catechism.
"Van. are you aristocratic?"
"NO, not exactly" said 81 like the
things aristocratic people have, you
know, but it is not for fear of losing
caste that 1 object to the factory"
81 thought not" said Florence, COM
placently; "but of course you object to
to the grind and so do l. Now the
question is, what are the necessities of
life to yOu7"
"Oh, yes," said I. "First, you and
the children; second, house that does
not leak to cover us; third, corn cake
and salt fish fourth, a good fire in
the winter; fifth, a warm wooden suit
for each of us sixth, some light, active
outdoor employment, which will not
reduce my spirits to such point that
can't enjoy your society when 1 have
leisure to sit down in the evening"
"And you would like TO keep a
horse 7" said Florence, confidently.
"Why, yes" said, rather surprised;
''but since we have never kept one
since we were married, it seem to me
we might dispense with it now"
"Unless it came in the way of bust
ness" said Florence, calmly. "Now l
know what your real views of the nee
essaries of life are, have plan which
l had hesitated to propose before, think
ing you might demand more" She un-
folded newspaper and pointed to an
advertisement.
DOR SALE.-The horse. cart, and complete
stoeK oI I'm on 5ca route Basl
require removal to the West Terms easy. Ad-
dress A. WIcKs, Plainville.
I felt a spark of hope. 81 suppose
you are in fun, Florence" 1 said '.but
[ really think should rot hate this as
much as anything else see any pros
pect of trying. However, it will prob
ably amount to nothing"
1t then appeared that it was several
days since Florence bad seen the no
tice, and she had taken pains to inquire
into the matter before speaking to me.
She knew some one in Plainville who
had learned all the particulars. 1t real
ly was true. The business was good,
that is, of its kind. ''Of course" onr
informant said, sit did not pay any
thing like the law :" and we hoped he
was right. The peddler really was going
West, for he had money enough to live
on, and his wife's health demanded a
change of climate. He would sell cheap
and pay in installments, and we could
rent his cottage for very small sum.
1t did seem providential. Riding
about the country, even in a peddlar's
cart, had far more attractions for me
than toiling in Il factory. Besides l had
a secret assurance that had no capaci-
ty for ''toil," and knew l could drive
any horse in-Plainville, least. Then
the selling, my good looks Il believe l
forgot to mention these before), my
good-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 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. 1 seriously be-
lieve that there is niche for every
one. Looking back on my time of de-
spair and comparing it with my pres
ept, am grateful that can say that
while then thought was so consti-
tuted that could be neither useful nor
happy in life, now find that l have
been endowed with abundant capaci-
ties for both usefulness and happiness,
and that no talent possess has failed
of bearing some fruit. And Florence
says the same thing about herself.
Let me elaborate:
That a tin peddler is useful as well
as an honest member of society, who
can doubt He deals in simple, neces-
sary articles, and by carrying them
from door to door he saves vast incon-
venience to numerous people. So much
for use.
The cottage we lived in was not
strictly beautiful, but it was cOmforta-
BILE and in a pleasant place, with an
orchard before it, and we trained creep
ers on trellises about it, and planted
roses along the stone walls. 1t was
fresh, sweet place to live in, and the
children had lovely play ground. At
first Florence had no servant, and work.
ed very hard but she was young and
well and strong, and she declared that
she did not get so tired as she had Of
ten done in our old home with the