Richmond palladium., 1848-03-15
spD10E TALE.
THE BALL ROOM.
ny lanes H. PERkIN S.

Ball: there's no TWO ways dooutH'
.Wby. nv dear BROTHER" said Peter
scou. looking at his wife, 81 don't suppose
!, will kill US to go; but you know we were
raised 10 think such things wrong, and
,houoh we're neither Of us professors Of
religion yet. don't like to do what the old
e,ks would not think right if they were
living"
"Well, Sally, what's your votc!" said
Jacob. "Why, for just :his once
said Sally, and stopped. "What's right
once, is right always" said Peter. "Well,
NAV be it is," said his wife, '.but what's
the harm Of dancing little Of an evening
1t the Bazsar! vote to CO.
"Very good; we'll go, Jacob, only you
must introduce us to your Main street
friends, for dom: know single soul that
will be there"
"Leavc all that to me, replied his broth
er, and left them.
When Peter and his wife came to look
over their wardrobe, and see what clothes
Of theirs would answer for such an occa-
sion, they found a mournful deficiency;
there were work day clothes in abundance.
good Jeans, and calicoes, and sattinets;
there we're holy-day suits too, of broad
cloth and merino;-but dress for a ball
room they telt should differ from that
which became q Methodist church, and
they both owned tha: it was a shame TO
INIT
pafel must be had. Peter accordingly
placed all his cash at his wifc's disposal.
and bidding her be sparing Of it, went to
his shop, and to chair-making.
Dresses were bought; new pantaloons
for him and silk vest; for her, more arti-
cles, large and small, than any one, save
a millincr could name without counting
fingers. Sally was economical. and bought
the cheapest of every thing, but still money
melted away and disappeared from her
purse, as rapidly as if Signor Bftz had
been by.
The evening came; the Bazaar Hall, then
under the old regime Of Mons. Gubcrt.
was filled 10 ovcrflowing. The dances be-
gan, and Mrs. Scott, who was pretty and
kprigh,ly, and had natural knack of dane
ing. though ignorant of the figures. was
quite a belle, and stood up to numbcrless
cOtillions. and made numbcrlcss acquain-
tanccs.
The evening passed. and the youn.
wife went home flushed and trembling:
4.
pealcd to. and attention intoxicated her.
The next day was passed in revcric; the
dinner was not well cooked, nor the table
neatly laid. The next evening passed
heavily, and the only rcliefwas. that Jacob
came in, and they talked over the Ball. and
nll who attended it. Jacob told them who
were gcntccl and who were not; who were
bellies and who were not; he ridiculed this
one, and mimicked that one, and snecred
at third, who had been his rival in some
small Irritation. Peter listened in silence;
he did not like the looks Of things, but
what could he do. harimg taken the step!
In March the quarterly rent for his shop
was due, but his wife had no cash to re-
turn him wherewith 10 pay il. He called
on one gentleman who owed him fifty dol
lars for a sidc-board, but he was about to
give dinner-party, and needed all he
could rake and scrape; another owed hin.
for three bcdstcads, forty-five dollars. hu,
he had note to pay in bank, and money
was very scarce: he called on a third who
krI l.; 4 e
chairs, tables. etc. to the amount of two
hundred and fifty dollars, but this gentle
man had. unluckly. Just bought new span
Of horses. for which he must paw. or he
could not secure them. ''Ifyour're going
BY Lippencott's." said he to Peter when
he had declined payment. '.plst call in and
sce'em; they're beauties. l do assure We
Peter returned home penniless.
When rent-day came. he told his land
lord the whole story. The worthy man
heard him through. and was sorry; ..but,' :
said he, ''this shop vii! always command
cash rent; Ill give you ten days grace, and
then you must pay or quit" When tha
man went home, and related the facts t.
his wife. he added, 81 hear he and his
bride were at the birtir-night ball las
month: if he can go there he must paw hi,
rent promptly" "But. my DEAR said the
lady. eff you turn him out it may injure
his credit and ruin him: why not talk with
him. and let him stay. and try to save hin
if he's growing extravagant." "I can
help it; if he is ruined, it's his doings, no
mine. Business is business: if a mar
wants help. You know I'm ready to give
as ready as any body; but tenant uiuk
pay up
"Well,' said the good won an. IL don
know much about it. but it always seems
to me as if God meant that kindness an.