Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-08-02

be of the utmost service to me in this
business and here / had been almost
tearing my hair in my anguish at think
ing that none of my powers were of the
least avail in the bread and butter ques-
tion.
And so we purchased the business by
selling some of our furniture, and we went
to Plainville to live. seriously believe
that there is niche for everyone.
Looking back on my time of despair,
and comparing it with my present. | am
gateful that ] can say that when thou ght
was so constituted that | could be neither
useful nor happy in life, | now find that
| have been endowed with abundant
capacities for both usefulness and happi-
ness, and that no talent | possess has
failed of bearing some fruit. And Flor
ence says the same thing about herself.
Let me elaborate:
That tin peddler is useful as well
as an honest member of society, who can
doubt: He deals in simple, necessary
articles, and by carrying them from door
TO door he saves inconvenicnces to nu-
merous people. So much for use.
The cottage we lived in was not strictly
beautiful, but it was comfortable, and in
pleasant place, with an orchard before
and we trained cree pers on tre'lises about
it, and planted roses and Towering shrubs
along the walls. 1t was a fresh, sweet
place TO live in, and the children had a
lovely play ground. 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 in our old
home with thousand and one society du-
ties from which she was exempt now.
"And the balance in favor ofthis is; she
added, THAT now get tired in accom-
plishiug something
| enjoyed my life even the first day for
as nobody knew me, had no loss of caste
to fear, and it was amusing to see the
puzzled faces of my customers, who SEEM
ed to feel that in some way was not to
the manner born, and were evidently
pleased with my humble airs and
graces.
| liked TO study human nature and now
saw much OF it at home and off its
guard. This delighted me- Two rules
observed which made me respected and
popular; first, never entered a house
unless | was invited; second, never in
sisted that people should buy what they
did not want But | always had an cx-
cellent assortmen, of things and any little
novelty | might have. took pains should
be seen at glance, that it might recon-
mend itself
am passionatetely fond OF out door air
and scenery. | used to enjoy fast horses,
but have my dreamy side, and | hardly
know anything more exquisite than TO
jog leisurely along the country road at six
o'clock on May morning, when the buds
are all bursting and the birds are all
singing, or 20 return quietly home in the
late June twilight just as the stars are
coming out like to be out in a soft sum-
mer rain, too. There is enough to see
and enjoy in the crisp autumn weather to
reconcile We to the unwieldy cart | ride
in. Even on runners it is not to be
despised. | believe like all winds and
weathers. Then used to give myself
holidays, often in winter, when Florence
and the children and | had no end of fun.
OF course, we helped Florence do the
housework first, and then had the day for
pleasure.
From May to October | hardly ever
went alone on my journey. Every pleas
ant day Florence or one Of the children,
or all of the family went with me on my
rounds. How exciting it was, and how
happy we were
If had TO go alone, often took a
book : sometimes learned poem, some
times | even composed one, and, strange
to say, the magazines which had disdain-
ed my contributions in the days when !
desperately needed money, now often ac-
cepted my etiusions with compliments.
In the evenings Florence and sang
duets, and popped corn, and read novels.
As we had no social dignity TO keep up,
we felt at liberty to enjoy ourselves even
better than in the law days, which is say
ing a great deal, for we always had such
good time then.
Then my business kept improving, so
Florence could have a servant. Then
we had more time for "larks than ever.
We got acquainted with our neighbors.
There was not person Of any literary
pretension in town except the minister
and doctor. This state of things had its
advantages, because it is pleasant to be
Caesar even in country village. Flor
ence and | wrote a comedy for the sons
of temperance, and performed it with
great applause. l suppose Shakespeare
went to his grave without such recogni-
ton as we received. Florence sang in
the choir so sweetly that several people
who had hardly been to church twice a
year before began to go regularly. We
formed reading club of all the young
people who showed spark of promise,
and we had delightful time, and the
modest consci business that we were grea,
benefactors of our race.
Once year we put on our best clothe:
and went to the city for a week, ant
went to the theatre, opera, concerts ano
art galleries, and came home tired and
happy. and convinced that tin peddline
was far healthier and happier life thar
| :, was vyas nossihle IN lead in the mids,