Year: 1869

into an old grandfather before Your time; A
pretty wife's pretty thing, Mark, and 4 pref
ty house is a pretty thing, but one must have
a little of life"


Mark Mcriden stood al his desk, giving a
last look at the books. viii Ben Sanford the
roguish the merry. the song singing, the Ben
otall Bcns, was urging on him the claims of a
projected trolic that evening. Now Ben was
precisely the messenger for such an embassy
there was fun in the twinkle of his blue eve,
and world Of waggery in the turn of his
head, and Il pair Of broad roguish dimpes
that went mcrrily lodging in and out of his
cheeks every time he spoke, and he had laid
hold of Marks arm to drag him away. But
Mark shook off his hand, and finished sum-
ming up column of figures, put the blottino
paper into the book. and the book into the
place. wiped his pen, all with an air ofthought-
tulness, and at last turning to Ben, said:


81 think won't 90 this timc


"Why not? asked Ben.


because l fancy that | should like Mrs.
Merden's company BETTER


''llang Mrs. Merdcn-beg pardon Mark.
hang myself for saying so-but one don't like
to Il fine fellow buried alive. Come, take
a real wake up with u.s.


''Thank you Ben, but | haven't been asleep
and don't need it. So I'll 90 home and see
my wife, and thereat turned a resolute step
homeward as q well-trained husband ought.


Now, says one of our readers, .'who was
Mark Meriden9" You would not have asked.
good reader, if you had lived in the town
Oh, when his name first appeared on the
outside of one of the most fashionable shops.
''Mark Meriden,' surrounded by those way
ing insignia of grace and fashion that Young
bellies need to have their eyes turned off from
behoding. Everything in the tasteful estab-
liShnent told Of the well arranged business,
and Mark himself. the mirror of fashion
taultless i'll every article of costume, quick.
attentive was every day to be seen there,
winning "golden opinions from all sorts of
people" Marks shop became the resort for
high ton--the fashionable exchange. the
promenade of beauty and wealth, who came
here to enlightened rs to the ways and means
OF disposing of their surplus reyenue-to see
and to be seen


So attentive, polite and considcrate was
| Mark, SO profound his bows, so bright his
eyes, uncNceptionable his whiskers, that it
might have proved dangerous resort for the
ladies, had not neat, tasteful house going
up in the neghborhood, been currently re-
/ ported rs the future residence of an already
elected Mrs. Meriden, and in q few months
the house neatly furnished, received a very
pretty lady who called herself to that effect
She was as truly refined and lovely woman
| II
tie boquet and Mark might justly be pardon
ed for having as good again an opinion Of
himself for having been fortunate enough to
secure her.


Mark had IN extensive circle Of business
and pleasure acquaintanccs, for he had been
one of the social, companionable sort, whose
money generally found its way out of his
pockets in very fair proportions to the rate it
came. In short. he was given to clubs, oyster
suppers, and now and then wine party, and
various other social privileges for eeyatino
ones spirits and depressing ones cash, that
abound among enlightened communities


But nevertheless, at the bottom of his head
there was q very substantial stratum of a GER
tain quality called common sense, trait
which, thought it was never set down in any
chart OF phrenology, may very justly be called
q faculty, and one, too, which makes a very
striking ditferance among people.


In consequence of being thus constituted,
Mark, when he found himself engaged to a
very pretty girl, began to reflect with more
than ordinary seriousness, on his habits, ways,
and manner of life He also took an accu-
rate survey of his future income on the sober
est probabilities, and determined to live q
little even within that. He also provided
himself with a small account book, with which
he intended to live in habits of very close
acquaintance, and in this book he designed to
note down all the savings consequent upon
the retrenchment Of certain little extras, in
which he had been in the habit of induleino
himself
| Upon the present occasion it had cost him
Il something of an effort to say ''no,'' for Mark
was one of our easy fellows to whom the
cnunciaton of this little syllable caused as
much trouble us the gutterals of the German.
However, when he came in sight of his parlor
| w tbron norh v,lio oh b,.o,
shining, when he entered and found the clean
Il glowing hearth, easy chair drawn up in front
and pair of embroidered slippers waiting
for him quite at their leisure and above all
when he read the quick glances of welcome
in pair Of very bright eyes, Mark forgot all
about Ben Sanford, and all bachelor friends
and allurements whatever, and thought HIM
self tho haprnst fellow on earth


The evening passed off rapidly, by the help
OF music, reading, and the small tales of
which new ly married people generally have a
supply, and next morning found Mark at early
business hours with as steady hand and
as cool head as if there had been no such
things rs bachelors frolics in existence.
Late in the forenoon Ben Sanford lounoed
in TO ogle a few of the ladies', and above all
to rally Mark on losing the glorious fun the
evening before.


"Upon my word, Mark" he began, swe
must have you put up for Selectman, you are
| becoming so extremely ancient and venerable
in your ways-however you are to be excus-
cd" he added, circumstances considered
female influence ah well it is u fine affair,
this marriage"


''Better try it Mr.. Sanford" said a bright
saucy girl, who with her laughing compan-
ions, was standing by while Ben was speak
| ing.


"Ah! madam! the wherewithal!" said Ben
rolling up his eyes with a tragic expression.
eff some clever old fellow would be so obie-
ing as to die now, and leave me few thou
sand-then, ladies, you would see"


But speaking of money!" said Mark, when
the ladies were busy over some laces he had
just thrown on the counter''-"w what did your
glorious fun cost you.''


"Pooh! nothing only a ten dollar bill
nothing in my purse you know"


Nothing in your purse; not an uncommon
incident after these occasions" said Mark,
laughing.