Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-01-21
Select Gales.
From PstsrsOn's Magazine for December.
THE NEW C ARPET.
BY ELLEN ASHTON.

How lovely-lS II hol pedutIul!-A He'0'
saw any thing half so elegant to think how
cheap.
Such were the EXPLANATIONS of Harry Howard's
young wife. She was standing with her hus-
band in fashionable carpet store the clerk OF
which had Just unroled piece Of Brussels car
peting, saying;
Now, madam, if you wish a really beautiful
article, here it is; and at price too | almost
ashamed to name, but we bought the goods low
and are anxious to close them out. You see the
superior brliancy of the colors. Indeed In
grain carpetings are going quite out of the fash
ion; for manufacturers now reserve their best
patterns for Brussels. Besides the latter out
wears the former, so that, though the first cost
is higher, in the end the one is no dearer than
the other
Mrs Howard had intended to purchase an in
grain carpet; her old one had been of that kind,
and she had always thought it quite good e.
i, nough. Her husband was not rich, but his bus
siness being excellent, he had saved something
annually and was in fair way to lay up COM
petence for his old age Harry Towards ex-
actness and rectitude were proverbial; ne had the
reputation of being economical also, so that he
was very generally regarded as a rising young
man.
His wife was partner in all respects, sulta-
Bile for him. She was moderate in her wishes,
careful in her household, an affectlonate wife
and provident mother. Harry loved her de-
votedly, for he thought her as prudent as she
was kind But she had her little foibes, as well
as other folks; and her peculiar weakness was
to be proud of her house and furniture
AS the clerk unrolled the piece of beautiful
Brussels carpet, she felt sudden and strong
desire to possess it and his eloquence speed
lily shook the objections which prudence had
at first started in her mind. When he had
finished, she looked wishfulIy at her husband.
1t is very pretty said he.
And SO cheap, replied his wife.
Il am telling you the truth said the clerk
with emphasis, when declare on my honor
that we could not import these goods TO sell al
anything like this price
The ingram looks very dull beside it, said
the wife; 'but still, perhaps, that will do for US
quite as well as this And she turned away
. with sigh, after this effort to resist the tempt
> alton.
: Well, do as you like, my DEAR replied heI
; husband; 4 am sure can trust your good sense
The carpet will cost more than thought of Civ
ing; but then, as you say it will outwear an in
> grain one'
!. Yes, sir, said the clerk, i know a frenc
who bought an article like this five years ago
=. different pattern, you know, but the same quail
:, ity of goods-and it looks as fresh to-day a
" when it was put down. You could not find al
ingram carpet to do that
mo, indeed, SAID the wife looking nquring
ly at her husband.
= well, let us try it, was his reply, for he say
:, his wiles heart was set on the purchase. 1t i
l. but fifty dollars more at any rate, and fifty dol
lars can't break me-
. Mrs Howard had not quite satisfied herseI
- she had done right, for as she walked home sh
= sad:
: Il know some will call it a useless extrava
gance, but in the long run it is cheaper, yo
- know, as the clerk said And besides, ca
:, save it in other things | will manage withou
70 new silk dress this winter, and my old bonnie
i; will do very we'll with little fresh trimming
- Oh! we shall not feel it by spring
70 The carpet was put down, and then Mr.
.. Howard declared it prettier than ever. 1t wa
indeed the proudest day of her life. Not one
~ her acquaintance possessed a Brussels carpe
and she reflected with considerable compacenc
70 on her superiority. 1t was her delight to exhil
u it to her female friends, who, actuated by cur
=. osity or envy, lost no time in calling to see he
9, new treasure; and she equally enjoyed the tr
! umph it afforded her over one or two, whc
~ heretofore had surpassed her in the style
- living.
:, The carpet had been down about mont
- when one evening Mrs. Howard said to h,
-, husband,
bo Your mother was here to-day, my DEAR an
od was in raptures with our new carpet. She sa.
40 she never saw anything half SO handsome b
she thinks our chairs entirely too common for
~ and cane bottomed chairs, with Brussels carpe
,is do look shabby | confess Don't you think S.
my dear?
n Il am more than half of your opinion, sal
10 her husband, 'and thought so from the first.
so wonder what set OF mahogany chairs wou
ID COST
Il don't know, indeed. A great deal ofmo
=, ey, have no doubt. Mrs Stetson paid sevt
Nv dollars piece for hers. We must do witho
re- mahogany chairs till we get rich
~ Though Mrs. Howard said this, it was with
,.s sigh. The conversation dropped nor was IL
nc subject alluded to for several days. But whe
i ever Mrs. Howard went into the parlor, 81
ID, thought how great an Improvement mahogaI
l. chairs would make; and though at first she r
nd PEELED the idea Of their purchase as too extray
ho giant, she finally began to regard it with less
or version. One day, however, her husband can
home
70 MY dear, he said, saw set of mahogal
ba chairs to-day at auction and they sold very chea
~ being bid off for less than four dollars apiec
&C | almost wished you had been there, for if "
;sh had liked them, we could have got them at