Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-08-02
IIarper's Bazar
UNAVAILABLE TALENTS.

Ny wife and looked at each other in
blank despair We are such lively people
tha, it is very seldom that we are both
blue at once, but this time we had good
and sufficient reason. We had come 10
our last dollar. We had no certainty Of
getting any more money, and we were too
honest to wish to be in debt. This was
an extraordinary position for us, as we
were considered by all who knew us to be
such "uncommonly talented people. !
was always told in college tina, il | would
apply myself, might easily stand first in
my class, though in poin, of fact stood
somewhere in the twenties, believe. |
have since sometimes wondered if appli-
cation may not be itself separate talen,
instead of being within the reach Of all,
as is often supposed. My wife was always
the life of any company. She was as
pretty and trim woman as you would
wish to see, and she sang ballads with
really wonderful expression. 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
beautifully that everybody cried: and.
on the other hand she was so fond Of
mathematics that she studied comic sec.
,ious one winter by herself, "ior fun
We were both versatile, We were both
lively, we were both mercuial,
Now. however, we had no money, and
very little -four in the house. My wife had
made nice johnny-cake for the delec,a-
ton of the children at supper, and they
had gone to bed conten,ed, and were
now peacefully sleeping. Meantime, it
became absolutely necessary for us to
face our fate. | was lawyer. | chose
that profession. not from any sympathy
with it, but because could not be cler-
syman, and would not be physician.
Of course began 10 practice in the city;
for though there seemed to be no opening
there, liked to live in the city. You
know the theatre, and music, and books,
and pictures, and society, can hardly be
had in the country.
IL | had been less talented-a mere
clodhopper-I could have gone withou,
the reinements Of life and been happy.
As it was it did not once occur to me that
could live in the country. / need not
say my practice amounted to nothing.
Those who have tried the same expert
ment know that some years elapse before
a maintenance can be counted upon.
Howev er, l lived meanwhile, on modest
legacy which had descended to me from
an aunt, and married wife.
Florence had no money, and no expert
ence of housekeeping; but hope l should
not marry as l would select servant.
We got on beautifully in spite of the
quicksands which already present them
selves to the readers mind.
In the first place we had no end Of good
times together, so our life was success
so far and l knew we were so happy
that we made everybody around happy
too. And we lived within our means,
small as they were. We would have
liked million, and l really think we
could have spent it proftably; still we
were not extravagant, and both Of US
were honorable and conscientious. We
were at peace with all the world, and con-
sidered ourselves 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 we should respect
ourselves more if we were brave. And
our friends said we bore it charmingly.
"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 how l hated it. l was
not meant for a lawyer, and to speak
after the manner Of the Methodists, it
would have been "indulging false hope"
to suppose ! ever should succeed. It