Year: 1866

higher folks than you suppose"


81 do not wish to speak about
family matters at all, 1 said; st 'auy
rate, you need not be sfFaid of me.
But what makes you think they be-
lieve we are better off than We really
are2'


.-Well, my dear" said my wife,
coloring slightly. 81 don't know how
it occurred. but they all believe you
are likely to be taken into the house
as partner"


was exceedingly angry when ]
heard this, and 1 inquired Of my
wife from what source such an infa
nous fslsehood proceeded2


She replied that she did not know;
but implored me so strenuously, and
at the same time with so guilty a
look in her countensnee, that in case
it were mentioned I would not con.
trsdict it, that 1 fully perceived il
vas q piece of boasting of her own.
I scolded her severely on the matter.
and told her il il were spoken of, ]
should certainly contradict it. For
tunately, nothing on the subject was
mentioned during the evening, and
although it was a source OF quarsel
between me and wife for some days
afterwsrd. the affair at last died
away.


We had now to invite the old solici
tor and the family to dine with US;
but before the day arrived. 1 found
my wife hsd got considerably into
debt in the netghborhood, and / was
ssarn obliged to apply to the loan
office for assistance. The secretary
told me they would consider my ap-
plication, and let me know the result;
and in a few days theiradecisien
came. 1t was not only that they re
fused to advance me any more money,
but that when my outstanding bills
were due, they should certainly press
for the full amount


This news came like a clap OF
thunder on me. What to do / knew
not, or where to find the money
To add to my sorrow, six months
rent was owing on the house, and
the landlord was pressing for it
However, l shut my eyes to the cir
cumstance for the moment, resolving
that as the dinner party should be
over, / would turn over a new leaf.
and insist on far greater economy
being practiced in the house.


The day arrived for the dinner
party, for which my wife had made
great preparations. Before leaving
the house, 1 took the opportunity OF
requesting her to be as moderate in
all this as she could, and was ON the
point of leaving her, when a knock
was heard at the door. and q broksr's {
man entered with distress warrant
for six months rent l was perfectly
aghast when he told me his errand;
bat was powerless, had not twenty
shilIings in the house, and il wanted
a month before my next quarter /,
| salary would be dna. / had no al
tentative but to leave him in pos
session; and with a heavy heart ]
proceeded to business.


got on the best / could till the
time arrived when I was accustomed
to take my dinner. Being to dine at
home that day. 1 went to a neighbor-
ing public house to get my lunch
As was seated at the table, the
gloomy aspect of my affairs came
before NE; and my eyes filled with
tears. Ashamed Of my low spirits.
and seeing the necessity of my
rousing myself, ] called for O glass
of spirits, and water, although ordi
harily a most sober man. As ]
drank 1t nv courage revived, and /
began to think in what way / could
retrieve myself But one way pre-
sented itself to my mind, and that
was most rigid retrenchment. This
firmly resolved on practiciLg, even
against any opposition on the part
of my wife; but still the disagreeabls
fact presented itself to my mind
that a brokers' man was in posses.
sion, and that the same day we were
going to give an extravagant dinner
party. Something must be done, but
what? To brighten up my thoughts,
called for another glass of spirits
and water As l drank it the idea
came to my mind that a considerable
sum of money was at that moment in
my possession, but it was my en-
ployers.' Why could l not torroW
some without their knowing it? II
could pay out the brokers' man,
should redeem to q certain extent
my credit. To morrow, ! argued,
will sell off everything, and replace
the amount The sale of my fnrni-
ture would be enough for that. and
the payment Of the money / owed
to the loan Office as we'll The idea
then occurred to me, that my wife
might oppose me. but / silently and
solemnly swore that no persuasion oi
hers should induce me to altar my
determination.


| Inow returned to the house o.
business. There was a considerable
sum in the till, of which I ke Jt The
key-more than cne hundred and
fifty pounds. / took from it, tremb.
ling the while like a leaf, the money
required, and not a shilling more
and shortly afterward, pleading s
violent headache, / returned home
and paid out the broker, to the great
joy OF my wife.


The dinner passed off in q mos
satisfactory manner, although per
haps it appeared more so to me thar
it really was from the quantity Of
wine was obliged to drink to drown
the thought of the action 1 had com.
mitted. The next morning ] ros'
with q severe headache; ard my wifi
was so overcome with her exertioni
4 r n r. 4 u