Year: 1859

z
es that some people are bonn with silver spoons
in their mouths, and some with wooden ones. y


"Very likely, John, very likely; but the ac-
cident of birth is nothing, and the wooden
spoon, if rightly handled, will carry more meat
to the mouth than the silver one. All depends
on the management


The old gentleman took up his cane and
went out of the shop, saying, pleasantly, "You
must learn to carry your spoon more steadily,
friend John, or you'll never find it of much use,
be it silver or wooden"


"Just like Uncle William" said John East
man to himself as he locked up his shop and
turned toward home, "he is always laying the
blame of my misfortunes on my own shoulders,
and yet one cannot get angry with him
Heigho this has been an unlucky day to me.
would not care so much about the land if it
were not for Mary, she will be dreadfully dis
appointed that the money is gone"


As he opened the door to enter his home, his
wife looked up from her sewing. with happier
expression on her pale face than he had seen
there for long time, as she eagerly asked,
Have you seen Mr.. Ward since morning
| John I"


"No-why do you ask !" replied he, with an
involuntary sinking of his feelings as he half
guessed the reason. .
1
this morning, and told me to tell you, in case
he should not see you, that he had decided to
sell the house and lot about which you spoke
last summer, and if you wished still to purchase
he would make easy terms with you. You
might pay three or four hundred down, and the
rest as you were able. l am so glad John that
we have at last chance for home; that place
you know is exactly what we want, and the
terms sre so reasonable" .-.


"But, Mary" began her husband, with the
cir of man who does not know what he is
saying, 81 have about decided not to buy this
year, my business"


"Oh, John, do not go to objecting. You have
always been going to buy merit year ever since
we were married. There is nothing now in the
way-the money you have in the Bank is just
enough for the first payment"


"WeH. Mary, you may as well know first as
last that invested nearly all that money few
months ago in western land. I did not say
anything to you about it, for l knew it would
worry you, and had no doubt of being able to
replace the money fourfold before we should
want it, and so should but for my wTetched
luck"


In spite of his efforts, John Eastman looked
ashamed, and felt very much as if he had been
robbing somebody, and in truth he had robbed
his wife and children of pleasant home, to
crafty his propensity to try experiments in
making haste to be rich. No wonder he felt
this when he looked at his wife, as she sank
back in her chair, and gave utterance to de-
spairing sigh. In the ten years of her married
life che had learned some hard lessons, and it
| was not often now that she looked forward to
the future very hopefully, but all this morning
her heart had been dwelling on the sunshiEy
picture of home that was to be her own;
home that she might make beautiful for her
children that they might have it for a pleasant
memory all their lives, linked with the thought
of their mother. This was all lost now, and
for moment it was hard to let it go, but she
was one of those women whose characters are
| best set forth in the few words, slowing apd
patient, and long before John Eastman finish
ed his dinner and left for his shop, her face was
as calm and sweet ss ever, and her husband
carried its image away with him, to haunt him
all the rest ofthe day


"Well, l do declare" exclaimed Miss Sally,
the neighborhOod gossip, as she watched from
| frIm her window the comers and goers, 81 do
declare there is John Eastman gone right by
Smiths without stopping. Something must
be to pay with his folks"


Smiths was the village grocery, and, as a
sign over the window declared, the post office,
a favorite resort for that class of male goSsips
so numerous in most vicinities, and it had long
been habit with John Eastman TO call in on
his way to and from his shop. This day, to the
astOnishment of others besides Miss Sally, he
walked rapidly past Something was evident
ly ''to pay" that lady confdentialIy asserted.
and as the young man took up his tools and
set himself earnestly to complete long neg
lected job, there was look ef resolution in his
face that was an encouraging promise for the
future.


Towards evening the gentleman who had
brought the work to be done, came in evident
ly surprised to see it nearly completed, as he
had been put of SO long. Before he left he men
toned, in hesitating manner, that he had
some more that he wished done. 81 like your
style of finishing rather better than Jones'
but" and he seemed unwilling to finish his
sentence.


81 understand you SIR" said the mechanic,
you fear it will not be attended to in time.
assure you that am determined for the future
to confne myself strictly to my business, and
whatever engage to do shall be done. have
waited for luck long enough, and now am go
ing to make some myself"


That's right, that's right" exclaimed the
gentleman, grasPing him cordially by the band,
II always said there was no better workman in
the land than you if you would only stick to
your shop and let speculating alone, and now
am sure you will succeed"


And he did succeed, although not without a
good many hard struggles with his besetine
faults Several months after the conversation
with Uncle William took place, the old gentle
man looked into the shop where he was busily
at work, and called out in his cheerful voice.
"Well, friend John, what are you about nowl"


Learning to handle my wooden spoon, On
Gle William. and find it does very well since
gave up all hopes of finding silver one," wa
the young mans laughing answer It seems
to be pretty generally understood that JOIN
Eastman's luck has turned -s