Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-08-25
NEARLY A
How a Sewing Machine Came
Near Destroying q Happy
Family.


About two years ago, two young
people, full of hope and Of love toward
each other, joined themselves together
in the holy bands of matrimony, and
after a short pleasure trip, settled
themselves peacefully in a little vine
clad cottage in the southern portion
of this city. Poor, but thrifty, they
had soon made their little nest as at
tractive as heart could desire. But
the wife was human and could not be
perfectly contented until she had just
one thing more. Her affectionate
heart yearned for a sewing machine.
That very wish came near destroying
the happiness of two human beings.
The husband could not afford it and
the question remained unsettled. AT
ter a few days his business called him
to a neighboring village, and packing
his valise he boarded one of Barrett
palace cars and started for the depot.
The car ran off the track, however,
about fourteen times more than was
absolutely necessary, and he missed
the train. Nothing was left for him
to do but return home, and on enter
ing the gate he was started by seeing
some one rush past him, throwing
over his shoulder one beseeching
glance. He could not understand it
at all, but just went around to the
back yard, sawed wood to get dinner,
and said nothing. He noticed a little
uneasy expression about his wife's
countenance, but did not connect it
with the fleeing stranger. Things
went on smoothly enough for a few
days, when, one morning, he returned
home a few hours earlier than usual,
walked in at the side door, and again
was startled by the presence of the mys-
FERROUS stranger, who, as he made his
entrance at one door, made his exit
at the other, saying quickly, BEST
not mention it,"
Then the husband, finding as he
thought, hal his worst suspicious
were well grounded, grOaned, "0h,
the falsity-the inconsistency of wo-
man"
why what is the matter, Char
lie ?"
Great God, is brazenness added to
the list ? Woman How dare you ?
Twice on returning to my home-my
sweet innocent home as l thought
have l found this man. Let me
go p he continued, as she threw her
arms around him and tried to explain
and sooth him. "Let me l say" said
he, thrusting her from him, though
he should fly to the uttermost parts Of
the earth though he should climb to
the top Of the north pole, there will l
in my wrath find him, and wreak a
dark and bloody vengence. The open
polar sea shall be dyed a deep crimson
with the fellows blood"
Then he subsidized, and with a deep
moan, fell. His head struck the cor
ner of a strange piece of furniture.
He opened his eyes. 1t was a sewing
machine. Springing to his feet and
striking an attitude, he exclaimed:
Tell me, woman, on thy life, how
did you come by that, and who was
that fellow. What 1 say did he mean
by telling you '"best not mention it."'
why, my darling" she found
breath to say at last, that was only
Mr.. Blank, the sewing machine agent,
aud this is the machine ne left, telling
me not to tell any lady how low a
price he has offered it to me for"
Peace and happiness once more
reigns supreme. The machine agent
has sought other fields for his opera
lions and the machine working its way
toward the dissolution ofanother fam
lily.