University of Virginia Library

EXPERIENCE OF A MECHANIC.

“Two young men, both of them mechanics,
were married about the same time, and entered
life with apparently equal prospects—except that
one was rather given to extravagance and fashion,
while the other was more prudent and frugal.—
The wife of the latter, however, being of a different
turn from her husband, became uneasy because
the former, without any superior advantages, made
more show than they did, and had many more
fine things. She told her husband that his income
must be as much as the other's, and that she
knew they were able to appear as well as their
neighbor. “I want to do as other folks do,” was
her all conquering argument. Her husband yielded
again and again to her entreaties, although
professing that he was not able.

“At length his more showy neighbor failed!
And seeing their fine things sold under the hammer
of the auctioneer, his wife, who was far from being
destitute of good feelings, began to mistrust whether
by imitating them, and “doing as other folks

do” they might not meet with a similar fate. She
anxiously inquired of her husband how his affairs
stood. He told her that his expenses had exceeded
his income, but he hoped to get through and pay
what he owed.

“Before long, however, he was sued for debt.
Then his wife was in panics! She knew that his
misfortune was chargeable to her folly; although he
never reproached her, nor cast any unkind reflections.
Disturbed with contending emotions she
tried to plan some way to get along in this terrible
difficulty! But finding all her endeavors fruitless,
she said to her husband, with unfeigned distress,
“What shall we do? What can we do?” “Do?”
he calmly replied, “we must do as other folks do
have our fine things sold under the hammer!”

“This was enough for her. She had seen the
beginning and ending of this common folly, and
she was satisfied. From that time he had no
trouble to persuade her to be frugal and prudent.
They were both agreed in pursuing the same
course. And it is almost useless to say, that their
prosperity was in proportion to their wisdom and
prudence.”