Page:The Ladies' Cabinet of Fashion, Music & Romance 1832.pdf/19

Rh the deuse ails you?" looking steadfastly at my wo-begone countenance.

"I am as poor as a rat.”

"So much the better; you have all your life been suffering the penalty of riches, and now you will be good for something. But how?"

"A speculation!" said I, shrugging my shoulders.

"Is all gone?"

"Not quite-I have a few hundreds left."

"So much the better ; you shall marry my cousin, and we will join stocks together as merchants. You shall furnish the capital, and I'll manage it."

"I marry your cousin! When I was rich I had some hopes-now I have none. I mean to go to South Australia."

"Go to the -9 but I say you shall marry my cousin- that is to say, if you love her?"

"Perdition catch my soul, but— ”

"Pshaw ! none of your heroics-do you or do you not?”

"I do, most truly with all the ardour of youth, and all the steadiness of an old bachelor. And yet I will not marry her, even if she is willing."

"No-why?"

"She has twice the merit-twice the fortune-and a hundred times the beauty I have ; the balance would be all on one side."

"Very well, we shall see," answered he, and away he went, leaving me in a flutter of timidity and hope. This is not intended for a love tale, I shall therefore hurry over this part of my story. It is sufficient to say, that my little school-mate behaved nobly. I went to see her. " You would have bestowed your fortune upon me when you were rich- I will bestow mine upon you now you are poor. True, it is but little--but I will make it up in prudence and affection." We married, and I entered into trade with my active merry friend. For some years we toiled through the vexatious routine of bargain and sale, buying and selling, and not making much for our pains. In the meantime a little flock of boys and girls sprung up about me, and like the fresh brooks and fountains, which attract the roots of the old trees that lack refreshing moisture, called off my gnawing anxieties, and carking cares, towards objects that excited a more wholesome, gentle, nay, delightful solicitude. Toil, exertion, and economy, became pleasures, because I had somebody to strive for ; and I felt myself every day gaining courage, confidence, strength, and hilarity, in the