Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-07-13

Mlistrlloneous.
The Centre Table,

table. l have some very tasteful volumns,
and some beautiful shells, and a variety of
things with which to furnish it and indeed
our parlor is quite singular without il, they
ore SO common now."
"Well, Mary" replied the husband, Z" the
house is your own DOMAIN, you know. Ar
range IL to your own taste.
Mr.. N. was n talented young lawyer, in
pleasant New England town, devoted TO his
profession, and fond of his wife. At the
time of their marriage he built moderate
sized house, convenient and well proper
toned, in the planning of which, tile vito
was consulted, and gratilied entirely. lie
left II pretty much to her, and her discretion
and good taste went no further than her
present means allowed, and wants required.
The tondness Of young congenial couple,
like George and Mary ~, is easily content
ed, it is too happy in itself, to be disturbed,
by the suggestions of luxury aud ambition.
During the first year of their married life,
and while as yet the success of the young
lawyer was prnblematical, the wife prdcd
herself on the scIupulOus but not uiggnrdly
economy with which she regulated her out
lays; but now that his reputation was cstab-
lished, and his income considerable and in
crcosing, she thought their circumstances not
only justified, but demanded some mode
rate expenditures Ia the way Of gratifying
taste.
The centrc-tabo was procured, therefore,
and duly pluced in the middle of room of
fifteen feet by sixteen. 1t looked newer than
the surrounding furniture of tho apartment,
but was not otherwise out of keeping with it,
"How do you like it, husband? Don't
you think have arranged il prettily, and is it
not an addition to the room?n
" An addition it obviously is" replied the
husband, sand an agreeable one inasmuch as
it pleascs you--if for no other reuson."
" knew you would approve of IT," the
wife continued, "nnd really, the room has
so long had that stereotype look, that il was
time some chango was made to relieve the
sense OF snmeness."
I" "llusband," said Mary few weeks later,
p" find the parlor appears small-indced it
IS rather eluttered-snce we have got our
centre-tabe; there is hardly room TO get
about in it. Mrs. c., who was here this
morning; and indeed several ladies, have
remarked it. have been thinking how to
remedy IT, We have only to enlarge tho
house little on that side. 1t will givo us
more room above, also as well as below the
cost will not be much and it need not inter-
rupt you in your business, as | can see TO it,
You know you are often comphnenting me
with those words of king Icmuel, "the |
heart of her husband doth safely trust in |
her." so trust in nle in this and will sec it |
DONE"
Very well wife, consult your own wish
es IN the matter. 1t may bc more of job
than you think. and perhaps you will con-
clude, in the end, that the better way bad
been TO dispense with the table, instead of
stretching the house to accommodate it How
ever, If you can put up with the dust and
confusion of it, have on objection"
Il think we can afford the expense" and
ms for the dust and disorder, that will soon he
over. What most regret is, that it will
disturb the shrubbery and shades on that
side. But they will grow again."
The carpenters were set at work, there
fore, and the consequence was, the eonga-
ton of the house by several feet.
In fitting tho room, the carpet was of
course too small, and new one bad to be
bought, and the same was the case with the
floor above. This was anticipated {; but there
was another consequence of the enlarge
ment which had somehow not been thought
of, the fireplace was no longer where it
should be. 1t seemed to have removed it.
self almost into corner of the room. This
was the sad blemish in the eye of lady
of so much taste ms Mrs. N, and the more
vexatious as she herself was responsible for
il. To pull down and rebuild the chimney
was the only way TO remedy it, aud this, for
the present, she did not venture TO propose.
Mrs. N. was ambitious, but not unreason-
ably so, but she loved symmetry and fitness,
and could not bear TO see things distorted
and "out of SORTS" With all her natural
force of character, she could not content
herselfto see the fireplace where it was, aud
when summer came round again, the work
man were recalled, and the chimney moved.
Ilo onn,nlafa o,,I %
should be, except that the ceiling was little
TOO low to suit its enlarged Dimensions. But
the external proportions of the house had
suffered. The front door and windows
were as much out of place as the hearth
within had been. This was another un-
foreseen result. Ii was endured three or
four years till the wife proposed to remedy .
the defect by an extension of the house on
that side equal to the other
"Alas! the spirit of Improvement" said
an aged aud iniirm aunt, whose chamber
had been twice invaded by these changes
Alas the necessity of going on, when one
has once embarked in IT," the niece replied.
Really this altering an old house--though
inns ls not an old one, is like the beginning
OF strife and the letting out of waters. But
for that unucky centre-table the house was
well enough as it was, and wish il had so
remained. And now it is standing slur
upon our taste. II needs the additions TO
restore It to some shapeliness, and besides, !
as our children grow older, we shall find
more room convenient. And so, us MIR. N.
has no objections, think we shall proceed.Y
In the execution of this resolve. more
Shrubbery was sacrafced; nor was that the
worst. To accommodate the house, il was
found necessary to shove the husbands of.
flee farther, and, as the ground became sIop-
ing, il was found necessary to raise high
wall of mason work for its reception.
And now, was the house symmetrical p
II was anything but that. lis length was
100 great TOR its elevation. 1t looked like
poruon OF rope-walk. The protector of
dred times that II had remained rs, Il WINS i,
ahnea annnu dnua ...l...- ~ !. - n ~ - "o ~