“He was a fool!” exclaimed Kate, no longer able to restrain her indignation against the young man, and thus breaking in upon her aunt’s narrative.

“But remember, Kate, how contemptuously he had heard her speak of his trade, and even vow that she would rather drown herself than marry a tailor.”

“Suppose she did say this, when a thoughtless girl”—­

“As you are, Kate.”

“Don’t bring me into the matter, aunt.  But suppose she did say so, is that any reason for his starving her?  He was bound to use his best efforts for the support of his family, and ought to have been thankful, under the circumstances, that he was a tailor.”

“So I think.  And his wife ought to have been thankful too.”

“And I suppose she would have been if he had possessed the manliness to tell her the truth.”

“No doubt in the world of that,” returned Aunt Prudence, and then resumed her narrative: 

A week was spent by the young man in another vain effort to find employment as a clerk.  Then he avowed his intention to go to Louisville, and see if nothing could be done there.

“Try longer here, Joseph.  Don’t go away yet, earnestly and tearfully pleaded his wife.  “You don’t know how hard it is for me to be separated from you.  I am lonely through the day, and the nights pass, oh! so heavily.  Something may turn up for you here.  Try for a while longer.”

“But our money is nearly all gone.  If I don’t go now, I shall have no means of getting away from this place.  I feel sure that I can find something to do there.”

His wife pleaded with him, but in vain.  To Louisville he went, and there got work at the first shop to which he made application.  At the end of a week he sent his wife money, and told her that he had procured temporary employment.  She wrote back asking if she might not join him immediately.  But to this he objected, on the score that, as his situation was not a permanent one, he might, in a few weeks, be obliged to leave Louisville and go somewhere else.  This, to his wife, was by no means satisfactory.  But she could do no less than submit.

Thus separated, they lived for the next three months, Fletcher visiting his wife and child once every two weeks, and spending Sunday with them.  During the time, he made good wages.  But both himself and wife were very unhappy.  Earnestly did the latter plead with her husband to be allowed to remove to Louisville.  To this however, he steadily objected.  Daily he lived in the hope of securing a clerkship in some store, and thus, being able to rise above the low condition in which he was placed.  The moment he reached that consummation, so much desired, he would instantly remove his family.