Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-01-21
GREEN MOUNTAIN FREEMAN.

chase at a profit. But don't regret the cost
bit, since they look so beautiful
Harry, as the reader may have guessed, was
of an easy, goOd-natured disposition, and willing
! ly yielded to his wifes opinions. If he felt any
misgivings at this departure from economy, they
soon vanished like his wifes.
The chairs were scarcely arranged IN the
parlor before some visitors suggested how much
new sofas would improve the rooms and so the
new sofas were bought After this came mir
rors and then pictures for each new acquisition
only made Mrs, Howard eager for more.
The love of display now became ruling
passion with her, Hitherto she had been very
we'll contented with her old associates, who were
generally people in her own rank in life; but
now with the increased elegance of her house,
she aspred after more fashionable acquaintance.
Visiting at their dwellings, she saw furniture
more elegant than hers, and to rival them was
continually adding some new articles to her own
rooms so that at at length her parlors, once so
plainly furnished, blazed with candelabra, mir
rors, sofa-tables and gold vases in the most fash
, ionable style
Two years after the purchase of the new cat
pet, you would scarcely have known Harry's
: house. His own habits, and those of his wife
= had changed also Formerly his evenings had
been spent at home, or in sociable visit to
neighbor, where there was neither ceremony nor
: expense, but now he and his wife was always
abroad at some gay party, and when they re-
manned at home it was to entertain a circle OF
friends with considerable display. The How
ards had got quite out of the sphere they had
: been brought up in. They had become nvoIv-
ed in round of visiting, entertainments and
! balls Every evening little party was project
s ed at their house or another, or else seats were
taken at a theatre for the whole company Dis
i play and extravaganza had altogether supplanted
g the love of order and economy which had once
+ been Characteristic of both Harry and his wife
d 1t was not without many misgiving that the
d Young couple continued this new career they had
begun; but the truth is, habits of expense are
more easily acquired than got rid of, and their
new friends were SO charming, or so fashionable,
k and their own vanity was secretly so much pleas
n ed with the notice taken of them, that both Har-
1t ny and his wife found their fears daily less and
less troublesome, and gave themselves up with
more and more zest to the pleasure of their new
IS mode of life
y Among the warmest friends Harry possessed
t. was Mr.. Harvey an old gentleman who had
grown rich in a small business by slow economy,
n On Harry's starting out in life, Mr.. Harvey had
:. been active in assisting him, not only with his
v experience but with his purse Latterly, how
i ever, the intimacy between the old gentleman
and this protege had declined not from the
I'd fault of the former, however But Mr.. Harvey
= had ventured some expostulaton with Harry on
J. his mode of life, which had not been taken in
as good part.
IN One day, however, Harry came into Mr.. Har-
vey's store with an anxious brow, and in consd-
g cradle embarrassment asked for the loan of a
thousand dollars.
W Il have nothing to lend said the old man
is with shake of the head. These are threat.
IL ening times, and every man must look out for
himself
1T Harry colored and turned on his heel. When
lie he had gone, the old gentleman's wife, who hap
pened to be in the store at the time, said,
a My dear, thought you had plenty of money
'u | am sure saw you send two thousand dollars
an to the bank since | came in.
ut so did, replied the husband. Nor did
ct say had no money, | only refused to lend, Ant
- Harry understood me too 1t must have gale,
proud nature like his ask me for ioan, anc
rs it CALLED him still more to have refusal. Bn
as | could not help it, He is in full career to ruin
OF nor could my assistance save him. He wouI,
ct, not take my advice.
cy You asonish me Harry on the brink O
d. ruin l thought him in excellent business
RI So he $50 he is Bu his business can
Ter not stand the way he has been living these tw
10, much as he made. Until now though dread
OF fully behind-hand, he has managed to keep hi
head above the water but money is gettn,
tn, scarce, and he will soon be unable to raise il
Ter For the last month he has got along by borrow
ing from day to day
nd { His poor wife
lys /" His poor wife, l fancy said the old mai
'ut blunty is as much to blame as he is himself
1t, She is fond of display, and Harry is easily led
ct, and in those few words lie the secret of his ruin
so, Ever since they bought their Brussels carpet
they have been adding folly to folly, and expens
I'D to expense, until they scarcely know their oil,
l friends, and turn up their noses at the style O
I'D living they once thought good enough for an
body, Harry's business was an excellent one
IN and if he had lived on half his income-as
en- might have done very comfortably-he woul
'ut have been richer by thousand dollars ever
year. 1t takes little argument, my dear, to sho,
h that in that case, he would have been a wealth.
me er man than am, at my age
Ell 1t is pity, great pity But how coul
'he that carpet ruin him Its whole cost could nc
my be over one hundred and fifty dollars
re- Yes, but that led to other expenses. 1t wa
va entirely too good for the rest of the furniture
a. and they soon found this out, when they neve
me rested till they refurnshed their parlors piec
by piece, to match it, Then, finding the hous
my more elegant than most of their neghbors, the