Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-03-31

to the qualification Of her then predomi-
nant wish.
"Perhaps she too may wish fifteen hum
dred dollar one! Gen. Chandler is surely
able to afford one even more COSTLY"
go, no father,-she does not wish bet
ter than mine,-she has quite plain taste
that way"
elbow stupid she must be, Janette, must
she notl" queried Oakely. Janette's face
was crimsoned at his pointed irony, but be-
fore she could frame any reply, her father
rose, and as he left the house said, "Let
Miss Chandler have the Piano Forte at her
own price,"
Janette's heart leaped for joy. She was
not to be outdone by Matilda Frasier, and
she looked forward with exultation to that
day when she could astonlsh her friends by
such an unexpected display. Her mother
shared her fond anticipations, and it was
soon arranged between them that Miss
Chandler should be put into speedy posses
sion of an article they now wondered could
ever have found place in their dwelling!
Charles Oakely commenced the world
empty handed, nor had he accumulated
much when he sought and obtained part
ner to his poverty. Both were poor, and
although they lived quietly together, his
wife was ever sighing for the splendor of
the rich. Though, in the main, good sort
of woman, she lacked that uncommon
sense so requisite to contentment in the
possession Of little, as well as that know
ledge of that domestic economy, generally
so important in the acquisition of MORE
Janette, her only child, and so like herself
in form and mind, was just vergng to
womanhood, and being heir, as was suppo-
sed, to an ample fortune, she looked for
ward to a splendid career in the circles of
gaiety and fashion. Had she possessed in
her mother wiser counsellor, she would
have been, at eighteen, very different per-
son. She lacked not the principles of an
opposite character, but under the false train
ing of her mother, they had been suffered
to repose uncutivated, while the weeds Of
folly were cherished into an extensive
growth. These defects of mind were the
more striking, as they marked the more
strongly the contrast with a pleasing-a
speaking eye, and faultless form.
Her father possessed none of the frivolity
of herself or mother, and owing to the stern
ness of his integrity, and his industrious
habits, success followed his efforts till the
time we have chosen for his introduction
to the reader. He had been, what is called
down in the world, but now he is so far up
as to rank among the first in wealth in the
city of his residence. But the time has ar
rived to drop delineations and to group
them again before the reader.
"Well, father, Miss Chandler is to have
the Piano. She will send for it this after
noon," said Janette exultingly.
"At what price my dear!
"The same it cost. When she found
you had left it to her to set the price, she
would not take it at less. Do you think
the sale good one ~
"Certainly-the best you ever made
being the only one."
"Here is the check for the money-a
third of the cash for the new one."
$50 you will lose one thousand dollars
after all, will you my dear % was the grave
response of her father.
"What say yon," he continued, address
ing his wife and daughter, ''to new car
riage-the present one is somewhat soiled,
is it not 2"
"By all MEANS" was the exclamation OF
both "Let the new one be fashioned like
Judge Arnold's, though not so sparingly
mounted !"
Oakely bowed, as if in assent, while q
bitter smile played over his features for a
moment, when all was calm again. The
result of the conference was resolve to
sell the principal part of the furniture-all
of costly character, and replace it with
that more fashlonably splendid. Both
mother and daughter retired to rest thai
evening full of importance which theil
new display was about to give them among
their wondering neighbors. Alas for the
poor Frasiers. They were to be over
whelmed by competition in finery, which
fifteen hundred dollar Piano had provok
ed tfH
| A few days sufficed to clear the house o
its most valuable furniture. Enough wa
left however for convenience and comfort
and when this was done, the mother ant
daughter were all impatience for that which
was to replace what was gone. But tw'
days remained to prepare for Janette's par
ty. Evening came, but Oakely was ye
: absent and nothing had yet arrived. HI
came, but much later than usual, yet h
atoned partially for his delay by the NOR
than usual kindness of his manner.
"Where can you have been, Charles, S
late q" was the query of his wife, as sh
seated herself fondly by his side.
81 have had an uncommon share of busi
ness to attend to, my dear, and rejoic
! that il is done. Come daughter bring for
ward the Bible and read portion of it 70
our mutual instruction."
The calm seriousness with which thi
was uttered forbade any remark on his usu
al request. 1t so happened that Janett
7 opened the book at the fifth chapter {
a Matthew, beginning, "Blessed are the pur
in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Hea,
! en-" and by the time she had finished tn
0 first paragraph her voice became choked
1 and unable to proceed, she gave way.
4 emotion in all the violence Of grief. Hi
mother from sympathy or other cause, WI