Year: 1865

so profound his bows, so bright his eyes
so unexceptionable his whiskers, that i
might have proved dangerous resort fol
the ladies, had not neat, tasteful house
going up in the neighborhood, been re.
ported as the future residence of an al.
ready elected Mrs, Meriden and in q
few months, the house neatly finished,
and tastefully furnished, received very
Ipretty lady who called herself TO that
effect She was as truly refined and
lovely woman as ever turned the center
flower in domestic boquet, and Mark
might justly be pardoned for having as
good again an opinion of himself for hay
ing been fortunate enough to secure her.


Mark had an extensive circle OF bust
ness and pleasure acquaintances, for he
had been one of the social, companion
able sort, whose money generally found
its way out of his pocket in very fair
proportion to the rate it came in.


In short he was given to clubs, oyster
supper8, and now and then a wine party,
and various other social privileges for
elevating ones spirits and depressing
ones cash, that abound among enIigbt,
ened communities.


But nevertheless, at the bottom of
Marks head, there was very substan-
tial stratum of certain quality called
common sense, a trait which, though it
was never set down in any chart of phre-
nOlogy, may very justly be called faculty,
and one, too, which makes very strik-
ing difference among men as the world
goes. In consequence of being thus con-
stituted, Mark, when he found himself in
love with, and engaged to very pretty
girl, began to reflect with more than or
dinary seriousness on his habits, ways
and manners Of life. He also took an
accurate survey of his business, formed
/ an average estimate of his future income
on the soberest probabilities, and deter
mined to live even with 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
savings consequent upon the retrenching
of certain little extras, before alluded to,
/ in which he had been in the habit Of
/ pretty freely iudulging himself


Upon the present occasion, it had cost
! him something of an effort to say no,
/ for Mark was one of the easy " fellows,
to whom the enuneiation Of this little
syllable causes as much trouble as all the
gutterai of the German. However,
when he came in sight of his Parlor win
doWs, through which a bright fire was
shining, when he entered and found the
clean glowing hearth, the easy chair
drawn up in front, and pair of en-
broidered slippers waiting for him ct
their leisure, and above all, when he
read the quick glance Of welcome in
pair Of very bright eyes, Mark forgot all
about Ben Sanford, and all bachelor
friends and allurcments whatsoever, and
thought himself the happiest fellow on
earth.


The evening passed of rapidly by the
help of music, reading, and little small
talk, of which married people generally
find supply, and next morning saw
Mark, at early business hours, with as
steady hand and cool head as if there
had been no such thing as bachelor
frolics in existence.


Late in the forenoon, Ben Sanford
lOunged in to ogle few Of the ladies,
and above all, to rally Mark on losing
the glorious fun Of the night before.


" Upon my word, Mark" he began,
" we must have you put up for Select
man, you are becoming so extremely an
cient and venerable in your ways-how-
ever, you are to be excused" he added,
circumstances considered-female in
fuence ah well, It's a fine affair, this
marriage I"


Better try it, Mr.. Sanford, said
bright, saucy girl, who, with her laugh
J ing companions, was standing by while
Ben was speaking. -.-.


"Ah, madame the wherewithal l' said
Ben, rolling up his eyes with a tragicez-
preston. q If some clever old fellow
would be SO obliging as to die now, and
leave me few thousands-then, ladies,
you would see


But speaking of money" said Mark,
when he saw the ladies busy over some
laces he had just thrown on the counter,
what did your glorious fun cost your"
"Pooh nothing! only ten dollar
bilI-nothing in my purse, you know !"


Nothing in your purse mot an un-
common incident after these occasions, "
said Mark, laughing.


"Oh, hang 1t ALI" said Ben, too
true! I can get no remedy for this con-
sumption of the purse, as old Flagstaff
says; however, the world owes me liv-
ing, and SO good morning"


Ben Sanford was just one of that class
Of young men Of whom common report