Year: 1864

Some time ago, [ called on a cousin ofmy
wife who resided in the city of Philadelphia.
l had not seen him for a long time, but hav-
ing understood that he was in affluent cir
cumstances l was but little prepared for the
condition in which | found him. Through
information derived from Philadelphia Di-
rectory, went to one of those alleys with
which that city abounds, and found
his name on a ign-board, associated with
that Of another man, over dark and dingy
shop. The sign purported that they were
locksmithsand bell hangers also that locks
were repaired and keys fitted. Without GER
emony, walked into the gloomy recess,
where there was blacksmith's forge, and
where, among several muscular looking men
up to their armpits in work, was "my
wife's cousin" He received me most cor
daily, and for moment intermitted filing
huge brass key on which he was engaged,
and the shake of my own dexter by one of
his broad. brawny hands, l can liken to moth
ing nearer than the shock Of young earth
quake.


Take seat, take seat" he observed,
and Just as soon as | finish this key, well
make tracks for home"


of course replied that [ was in no hurry
and at once became interested in the facile
manner in which he was metamorphorsing a
rough casting into polished key AS soon
as it was completed, he washed the worst
dirt from his hands, hung up his work apron
and putting on his coat and hat, remarked
in a cheerful tone, "Come now cousin Aleck,
let's go home and see whether wife has got
any tea for us"


After we were in the street, our CONVEX
sation insensibly ran on business, and l took
occasion to say to him that had been of
the opinion that he had retired from his
trade on handsome competency. Don't
say word about retirement" he replied ;
4" it really makes me sick to think of it. Peo-
pie talk of retiring from business while they
are healthy and able to work; why, [ tell
you, Aleck, they don't know what it means
| didn't know what it meant until tried it,
but now, retirement and misery sound to my
ears like words Of the same meaning"


Perceiving that he had struck subject
on which he could easily be communicative,
looked enquiringly, when he rejoined,
Perhaps you never heard the particulars
of my retireing."


On my replying that had not, he pro
ceeded:


You see Aleck, it is about three years ago
that having as you would say competency,
| made up my mind to stop work, and move
into the country. So sold out my share
of the business to my partner, spent a year
or more looking at two or three score of coun
try places, and at last found one that wife
and myself were considerably pleased with.
Fine double house, four acres beautifully
shaded, vegetable garden not to be beaten,
and soil of a superior quality The place is
still in my possession, but before I'd go and
live on it again I'd give it away; yes, Aleck
I'd see it sunk in the middle of the Dead
Sea- But [ am getting little ahead of my
story For two or three mouths matters
and things went on very we'll because l had
something to attend to in making few i'm
provements about the house, and in furnish
ing number of the doors with locks of my
own invention but as the whole premises
were in excellent repair when l bought them,
/ soon came to point where there was moth
ing to look after but the cultivation of the
garden l was not long though in making
the discovery that had no genius nor taste
either for digging around roots, Or pulling
up weeds, and so, as wife didn't wish the
garden to run to waste, 1 employed a reg
ular English gardener to carry the thing
handsomely through.


We'll, i didn't mind the expense he put me to
in way of guano, new-fangled gardening
tools, and patent watering apparatus; for L
had fully expected to spend mony, and
thanks to our previons economy, we had the
money to spend but Aleck, it was really
amusing too see what fruit and vegetables
raised from our garden stood us in. Making
use of the little arithmetic l was master of, l
recollect that cyphered up the cost of some
of the table fxins, and the result was-cu-
cumbers seventeen cents apiece; green peas
dollar and three quarters for half peck ;
currants fifty cents quart; raspberries, 30