Year: 1860




John Slack and his wife commenced
house keeping, as many other young peo-
pie do, with little means for dcfraying the
necessary expenses, but as he was a good
mechanic, and could generally find employ
ment in his native village, and she being
an industrious little woman, besides doing
her house work, earned considerable in the
course Of a year by doing plain sewing
But still they did not seem to prosper as
did Ned Bowen and his wife who com
mcnceH housekeeping near them about
the same time, under similar circumstan-
ces. The reason why and the way he
made the discovery, we will let him tell in
his own words:


s My wife said to me one evening, Mr.
Slack, | wish to get some thread and nee
dies at the store, and want a little change
[ felt in my pocket, examined my wallet
thoroughly, but could find nothing that
would pass for currency at the store, and re-
ported the unpleasant fact to her.


Why! said she, what become Of the
half dollar | gave you this morning, that I
got from Mrs. Jones for sewing (she had
always made me cashier of the firm


After another unsuccessful attempt to
find it, [ said - Mrs Slack, think there
must be a hole in some Of my pockets, for
certainly | have not got it, and do not
think of anything / have paid it out for


4 Ii look to your pockets this evening"
said she mildly, 'and mend them if they
need it..


1t was not long after the conversation
that | remembered having treated myself
and three friends to ice cream and oranges
at confectioner's shop, but concluded to
keep the discovery to myself


{ / could not find any hole in your pock-
ct, last night, said my wife, the aext
morning, in gentle tone, and with look
that my feelings prevented me from scan
ming closely, and all the reply felt willing
to make, VS. All couldn't you?'


\ few days afterwards, she called on me
for twenty-five cents she had lately deposi-
ted in my sub-tTeasury for safe Keeping
A thorough search proved unavailing.


Really, Mrs. Slack said I, thinking it
best to show bold front, there must be
corner or seam in my pocket that is open,
Though really | could not find one, any
more than | could the missing quarter)


IF there is, it is singular that did not
find it the other evening said she in her
usual quiet way; but I will be sure to find
it this evening, if there is any


On the way to my work after dinner,
while passing the Arcade Saloon the fate
of my wife's quarter came distinctly to my
mind 1t had vanished in smoke in front
Of that institution; i. e. it had paid for
finely favored cigars, which some Of my
village friends had helped me to dispose
Of while discussing politics there the pre-
vious evening


Mrs. Slack never told me whether she
found any hole in my pocket or not, and |
did not feel disposed to push the investi-
CATION on the subject any further at the
time.


Although | was seldom out of change,
still it was frequently unpleasantly scarce.
In fact, | spent more than ! was really
aware of, in small items from day to day,
for the double purpose of maintaining my
reputation Of being a clever fellow, and to
crafty my appetite or fancy for things I
could have done very we'll without
The result was, that we did without
things at home which my wages would
have enabled me to buy, and left some
thing tor charitable purposes


Cone day | was presented with sub
scription paper for the benefit of the Or
phan Asylpm, which | reluctantly handed
back without signing, with the remark that
| really could not afford it.


Ny wife smiled sadly, as she said in an
under tone.


Ned Bowen subscribed FIVE dollars


L don't see how he can afford it, | re-
piled, as he does not get any better va
ges, or work more hours than do


A few days after the foregoing event, on
an invitation from Ned Bowen and his
wife, We spent an evening at their house,
which We found much better furnished
than our own, though there was no apparent
attempt to make any needless display of
furniture.


The evening passed pleasantly away, but
| could not avoid some unpleasant feelings,
when ever I contrasted their home with
our OVID.


I wonder said I TO my wife, on our
way home, if Bowen does not go in debt
for some Of their furniture p