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

had been received with prolonged ap-
plause but now, when wrote to man
ager, he declined with thanks. | had also
written rers de societe which had been
pronounced by good critics, as witty as
Holmes but when | sent them to the
magazines. received neat printed cir
cular saying that lowing to the over
crowed state of the market, they could
not accept anything more at present. but
urging me to believe that "want of liter
airy merit" had nothing whatever to do
with their rejection.
Flor ace, getting desperate, advertised
for private pupils in mathematics; but
the only one who appeared was bent on
studying logarithms. which she had found
so tedious when schoolgirl that she had
skipped them altogether. This was too
bad. for she is really splendid math-
ema,ician. as fer 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.
She sews very we'll believe-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
to sew better, she would work so slowly
that she could not earn her salt. Her
housekeeping is very pleasant, know :;
but we have hundred little idiosyncrasies
which would make taking boarders i'm
possible, even If il were not intolerablc,
so we have never seriously considered
that question.
1t will probably be thought cold blood
ed IN me to speak in this way OF LAY
wife's not earning anything, especially
when, now we had dismissed our girI,she
had everything to do for the children and
me; and in fact. | did not mean she
should do anything, but she was always
pondering the matter, and in some dark
moments | gsve in little myself, and
thought would commit suicide, and let
her support the children.
1t is obvious that now neither ofus 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 above
mentioned state of blank despair.
at is really too bad" said Florence {
last ''it would take so little to make US
happy, and yet we can't have it,
There is nothing under heaven to be
DONE" said |. gloomily, but for me to 60
as a day-laborer into factory; and as
am unskilled, and very old for a beginner,
cannnt earn enough to support the fam
lily; so think, my dear, that you had
better 90 into the same factory, that is II
we can find work, which think doubt
full in these times. And we will appren-
tice the children to the trade so they will
be better able to take care of themselves
than we are when they grow up.
Florence made no reply to this remark.
but shortly after began shor; catechism.
Evan, are you aristocratic =
"No, not exactly" said |; IL like the
things aristocratic people have you know,
but i, is not for fear Of losing caste that
| object to the factory"
al thought not" said Florence, COM
placently; "but of course you object to
the grind and so do l. Now the ques-
ton is. what are the necessities of life to
YOU -
"Oh. yes" said |. First, you and
the children; second, a house that does
not leak to cover us third, corn cake
and salt-fsh; fourth, a good fire in the
winter; fifth, warm woolen suit for
each of us: sixth, some light, out door
employment, which will not reduce my
spirits to such point that l can't enjoy
your society when have leisure to sit
down in the evening"
"And you would like to keep horse y
said Florence, confidently.
why, yes" | said, rather surprised :;
"but since We have never kept one since
we were married, it seems to me we
might dispense with it now"
Unless it came in the way of busi-
ness" said Florence, calmly. Now
that know what your real views of the
necessaries of life are, have a plan
which had hesitated TO propose before,
thinking you might demand more. She
unfolded newspaper, and pointed to an
advertisement.
For Sale-The horse, cart and complete
stock of a tin peddler. Excellent Route.
Business pays well. Sells only because
family matters require removal to the
West. Terms easy. Address
A. WIcKs, Plainville.
felt spark of hope. 81 suppose you
are in fun, Florence" said "but | really
think should not hate this as much as
anything else l see any prospect of try
ing. However, it will probably amount
to nothing"
1t then appeared that it was several
days since Florence had seen the notice,
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 was really
true. The business was good, that is, of
its kind. "Of course" our informant
said, "did not pay anything 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 change of climate. He
would sell cheap, and let us pay in INSTALL
ments, and we could rent bis cottage for