Year: 1860

"wel then, what do you consider the air
WORTH


~ shau't answer any such foolish question:
for, if you go on with your calculations, you'll
make us out millionaires.


"Thats what intend TO do and think |
am safe in putting down the love at a hun
dred thousand Then, there 10 my honor,
which is worth at least us much as the love-
'1ve no doubt Of IL, interrupted my WIFE


"For you wouldn't value the one without
the other. So there you have the sum total of
three items alone-cherubs, seventy thousand
love, hundred thousand: and honor as much
more, making the snug sum Of more than a
quarter of a million Of dollars, TO say moth
ing of other items that might be mentioned
and which would perhaps double the amount,
besides cash on hand amounting to one dollar
and seventy cents"


paused here for my wife TO appreciate the
full force of my reasoning (she is little slow
at fgures) and when she had time 10 turn the
whole subject in her mind, asked,


'What have you to say to thatr'


"All have to thai" replied my wife, is,
that wouldn't advise you to set up car
rage on the strength of your property And
| if | thought we were worth quarter Of that
sum, wouldn't mend such looking stocking
as this" Saying which, she held up the
stocking of our eldest girl minus the heel and
two-thirds Of the toe, with a large rent near
the top of the leg.


"And then look Of that, and that, and that,
she continued, as she successfully presented
for my inspection the various articles which
constitute the juvenile wardrobe; and must
confess that, seen through that medium, my
imposing array Of figures seemed scarcely
large enough to fill one Of the smallest rents
among the multitude. Still l fondly hoped
that my calculations had had tendency TO
raise my wife's spirits, and ] was unwilling
that she should sink back into that slough Of
darnngneedles and yarn. So | continued
the subject


"Clothes, my dear, especially in the case OF
children, are a mere matter Of FORM blind
adherence to tho customs of society. IL il
cost more to wear shreds and patches than
whole garments-if rents and rips could be
rendered fashionable, all the world would be
out at elbows But though society turns up
It's nose at last years fashions-though love
looks askance at seedy lover, and even the
| Church puts its ban ON the threadbare coat,
you and / can jog on our way regardless of
| frowns and favors conscious of that hidden
treasure which gids and brightens our earth
| ly existence.


"And then again compare our condition
with that Of our first parents, when they had
notice to quit from the Great Landlord, and
first commenced housekeeping on their own
account Their wardrobe was extremely linn
tied, and I've no doubt Eve would have been
very thankful for ninepenny Calico and
Adam would not have scorned good satinet,
even though the cut Of the garments had been
n few months old For however rural fig
leaf suit might appear, il is not exactly adapt
ed for general use, especially with the ther-
mometer at zero And don't think that u
lady of your weight in the community would
appear to advantage in that style of dress"


"Perseverance p exclaimed my wife, as she
colored with Indignation at the idea, and laid
down the last of the stockings, preparatory to
seeking her mighty rest.


She never calls me perseverance" except
when she is astonished or indignant and |
knew by the tone Of her voice that it would be
useless to pursue the subject at present So
winding up my argument and the little wood
en- clock that graces our mantle, ] addressed
myself to slumber while that murmured aspi
ration aoated on the midnight air from my
wife $ halfopened lips


ooh dear wish | were rich !"