Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1881-01-01

and l really think We cOuiu nave spent
it proftably; still we were not extray-
agant, and both of US were honorable
and conscientious. We were at peace
with all the world, and considered our
selves noble in character and talented
in mind.
Unfortunately the failure Of the bank
in which my legacy was invested
changed the aspect OF things. We
smiled at first. because we thought VIC
should respect ourselves more if We
were brave. And our friends said we
bore it charminglJ. '.But Of course it
is not as if you had not your practice"
This was very well, but privately we
knew that the practice would hardly
keep us in boots and shoes; and then |
had practiced long enough now to find
out I hated it. Twas not meant for a
lawyer. and, to speak after the manner
of the Methodists, it would have been
''indulging false hope" to suppose l
ever should succeed. 1t seemed imper-
alive that l should look to some other
source for an income. had written a
play for the ..Grecian Club" to which
we belonged. the year before. which
had been received with prolonged ap-
plause; but now, when / wrote another,
and offered it to q manager, he declined
with thanks. had also written GERS de
societe which had been pronounced by
good critics as witty as Holmes; but
when l sent them to the magazines, l
received neat printed circular saying
that, lowing to the overcrowded state
of the MARKET" they could not accept
anything more at present, but urgingme
to believe that 'want Of literary merit"
had nothing whatever to do with their
rejection.
Florence. getting desperate, adver-
tised for private pupils in mathematics;
but the only one who appeared was
bent on studying logarithms, which she
had found so tedious when a schoolgirl
that she had skipped them altogether.
This was too bad, for she is really
splendid mathematician, as far as the
principles go, and that is probably
the reason she hates eternal figuring so
much.
With her music the contrary is true.
She knows nothing about the theory.
but her practice is exquisite; so of course
she cannot give lessons.
L
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 coald not earn
her salt. Her housekeeping is very
pleasant, know; but we have num-
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 for me; and, in fact, did not
mean she should do anything, but she
was always bordering the matter. and
in some dark moments | gave in little
myself. thought would commit sui
eide, and let her support the children!
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.
1T is really too bad" said Florence
at last; lit would take so little to make
us happy. and yet we can't have it,"
"There is nothing under heaven to
be dOne," said 1, gloomily, ''but for
me to 90 as day-laborer into factory;
and as l am unskilled, and very old for
beginner. l canlpot earn enough to
support the family, so / think, my dear.
that you had better 60 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 are
when they grow up"