This is the little book I
have found. How simple, how touching, how laconic, how full of
souvenirs it is!
"We were wonderfully honest on the first of every month. I read at
the date of November 1st, 1843, 'Paid Madame Bastien forty cents
for tobacco due.' We paid, too, the grocer, the restaurant, (I
declare there is 'restaurant' on the book!) the coal-dealer, etc.
The first day of this month was a merry day, I see: 'Spent at the
_cafe_ seven cents'; a piece of extravagance for which I am sure
you must have scolded me that evening. The same day you bought
(the sight still makes me tremble!) thirteen cents' worth of
pipes. The second of November we bought twenty-two cents' worth of
ribbon: this enormous quantity of ribbon was purchased to give the
last touches to our famous sofa. Our sofa's history would fill
volumes. It did us yeoman's service. My pallet on the floor,
formed of one single mattress and sheets without counterpane, made
a poor show in our 'drawing-room,' especially as a
restaurant-keeper lived in our house, and you pretended, that, if
we made him bring our meals up to our 'drawing-room,' he would be
so dazzled by our splendor he could not refuse us credit.
Pages:
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92