Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-27
UNAVAILABLE TALENTS.
THaYpsf's RazaY.l

a
despair. We are such lively people that IL is
very seldom We are both blue at once, but this
tine we had good and sufficient reason. We
had come to our last dollar. We had no GER
too honest to wish 10 be In debt. This was an
extraordinary position for Us, as we were con-
sidered by all who knew US 10 be such 'uncom-
monty talented people: was always told in
college that If ] would apply myself might
easily stand first In my class, though in point
Of fact i stood somewhere In the twenties,
believe. / have since sometimes wondered
II application may not be itself a separate
talent, instead OF being within the reach OF all,
as is often supposed. Ny wife was always the
lie Of any company. She was as pretty and
trim a woman as you would wish to see and
she sang ballads with really-wonderful express
sion. never saw woman who appreciated
Joke so quickly, and In amateur theatricals
she was irresistible. Her talents went even
farther than this. She read poetry so beauti-
fully that every body crIei; and, on the other
hanu, she was so fond OF mathematics that she
Tor fun.s We were both versatile, we
we're both lively, we were both mercurial.
Now, however, we had no money. and very
little fiour in the house. Ny wife had made 9
nice johnny cake for the delec;ation of the chill
dren at supper, and they had gone to bed con-
tent and were now peacefully sleeping. Mean
tine IL became absolutely necessary for Us to
face our fate. was lawyer. chose that
profession. not from any innate Sympathy with
it, but because could not be a clergy man, and
would not be physician. OF course began to
be no opening there, liked TO i've in the city.
You know the theater. and music and books,
and pictures, and society. can hardly be had 10
the country. II had been less talented-a
mere clod- hopper could have gone with
out the reflnements OF life and been happy
AS IL was, it did not once occur 10 me that
could live In the country. need NOT say my
practice amounted 10 nothing. Those VINO have
tried the same experiment know that some
years elapse before q maintenance can be
counted upon. However, lived meanwhile on
a which IpSppn6pi
from an aunt, ard married a wife. Florence
had no money and no experience OF house.
keeping; put | hope ] should not marry as |
would select servant. We got on beautifully
III spite OF the quickSandS which already pre-
sent themselves 10 the readers mind In the
first place, we had no end Of good times TO-
getheT, so our life was success so far, and
know We were so happy thaJ we made every
body around US happy TOO. And we lived within
our means. small as they We're. We would have
liked million, and really think we could have
spent it prortably; still we were not eXtray-
agant, and both or as were honorable and con-
scientious. Wewere at peace with all the world,
and considered ourselves noble in character and
talented In mind.
. Unfortunately the failure OF the bank in
Which my legacy was Invested changed the as
pect OF things. We smiled at first because we
thought We should respect ourselves more If we
were brave. And our friends said We bore IL
charmingly. But or course it is not as If you
hsd not YOUR practice" This was very well,
but privately we knew that the practice would
hardly keep Us ia boots and shoes; and then L
had practiced long enough now to find out
hated 1t. was not meant for lawyer, and, to
speak after the manner OF the MethodStS it
would have been 'indulging a false nope TO
suppose ever should succeed. Ii seemed i'm
peratiye that should look TO some other source
Tor an income. had written a play for the
'Grecian Club to which We belonged, the year
before, which had been received with prolonged
applause: but now, when | wrote another, and
oliered 1t TO manager. he declined With thanks.
] had also written reTs De sociefe which had
been pronounced by good critics as witty as
Holiness; but when sent them TO the maya
zines received neat printed circular SAYING
that lowing to the overcrowded state of the
market they could not accept anything more
at present, but urging me to believe that want
OF literary merit" had nothing whatever to do
with their rejection.
private pupils ia mathematics; but the only
one who appeared was bent on studying loga-
T1thms, which she had found so tedious when a
school girl that she had skipped them alto
getheT. This was too bad for she is really
splendid mathematician, as far as the princf-
pies go, and that Is probably the reason she
hates eternal figuring so much.
WIN ner music the contrary Is true. She
knows nothing about the theory, but her prao.
tlce Is exquisite; SO OF course she cannot Civ
lessons.
She sews very we'll, oelieve-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 10 sew Better she
should work so slowly that size could not earn
her salt. Her housekeeping is very pleasant,
know; but We have hundred little idioSyncra-
sizes which would make taking boarders impos-
sible, even II Ii were not tntOlerable SO we have
never seriously considered that question.
1t VIII probably be thought cold blooded In
me to speak in this way or my wife's earning
any thing, especially when, now We had dis
missed our girl, she had everything TO do for the
children and for me; and, In fact did not mean
sne should DO anything, but she was always
pondeT1ng the matter, and III some dark mo-
ments | gave In little myself. ! thought
would commit suicide, and let her support the
II 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 a.
last arrived at the aforementioned state of
:. 1t is really too bad" said Florence at last:
III would take so little TO make us happy, and
yet we can't have it,
said ], glooInily, "but for me to go as a day
laborer Into factory; aud as am unskilled.
and very old for a beginner, cannot earn
enough a no 10 support the family. SO think, my
factory; that is. If we can find work, which l
think doubtful In these times. And we will
apprentice the children to the trade, so they
VIII be better able to take care OF themselves
than we are when they grow uD.r
Florence made no reply to this remark but
shortly AFTER began short catechism.
van, are you driStOcrattc?"
mo, not exactly" said l; 81 like the things
ar1stocratic people have you know, but it is not
for fear of losing caste that 1 object to the
factory
81 thought not, said Florence. complacently:
but OF course you object 10 the grind and so
do l. Now the question is, what are the neces-
sites OF life TO your
''Oh yes" said /. First you and the child
zen; second a house that does not leak to cover
us; third. corn cake and salt fish: fourth a
good fire in the winter; fifth. warm wOolien
suit for each Of u5; sixth, some light active
outdoor employment. which will not reduce
my spirits 70 such point that [ can't enjoy
your society when / have leisure to sit down In
the evening
''And you would like to keep horse:" said
Florence, confidently.
Why, yes,'' | said, rather surprised; s'but
since We have never kept one since we were
married. it seems to me we might dispense
with IL now.r
Unless it came In the way of busine7s," said
Florence, calmly. ''Now that / know what
Your real views OF the necessareS OF life are
have plan which had heSItated to prop ost,
before. thinking you might demand more She
un1olded newspaper, and pointed to an ad-
vertisement.
INOR SALE-The horse, cart and complete
II stock OF tia peddler. Excellent route. Bus
lhess pays well. Sell only because family matters
require removal to the West. Terms easy Adj
dress A. wICkS PiaIpviIIe
felt spark OF hope. 81 suppose you are In
fun, Florence" | said; "but | really think
should not hate this as much as anything else
see any prospect OF trying. However it will
probably amount to nothing"
IL then appeared that it was several days
since Florence had seen the notice, and she mad