Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-07-10
HIS G. L L l. A N Y.
THE CENTRE TABLE.

!
Husband" said Mrs. ~ Gt was many years ago. 81
think we must have cene-table. have some very taste
l volumes and some beautiful shells, and variety of
hipos with which to furnish it aud indeed our paror
quite singular without it, they are so common now"
"We Mary" replied the husband, ''the house is your
own domain, you know. Arrange it to your own tasIe'
| Mr. n was young lawyer, in pleasant New Eng
land town. devoted his profession and fond OF his WIFE,
At tho time of their marriage, he built moderae-sze1
house convenient and well plopoioned in the planning vi
which the wife was consulted and galiled entirely lio
left il prety much to her. and her discretion and good Taste
went no further than their present allowed, hnd
wants required The ondness ola young congenlal couple
like George and Mary n, is easily contented-lt too
bappy in ITSELF to he disturbed by the suggestions Of luxury
| and ambition.
During the first years of their married life, and while as
vet the success Of the young lawyer was pooemaca The
wifi, pled herself the scrupuous but not nlggardy
economy with which she regulated he outays; but now
,bo, his putaon was established and his income consd
eabe and increasing she thought their circumstances not
oclv usiod but demanded some moderate expenditures
in the way Of gratifying taste.
The centreabe was procured, therefore, and duly plac-
od in the middle of room OF fifteen feet by sixteen 1t
| S"'AN"''''''6 ''
men,, bu, was not otherwise Of keeping with it.
GLOW do YOU like it, husband? Don't you think Ihavo
,rangad il pretily-and is il not addition to the oom
can addition it obviously is" replied the husband; ''and
an .oreeabe opo nasmuch as pleases you- for 9TH
er reason"
81 knew you would approve OF ii" the vile continued
and really the room has so long had that stereotype look
that time some little change were made 10 relieve the
sense Of sameness."
"lusband" said Mary, few weeks later, 81 lind the
parlor appears sma-ndeed it is rather cluered since
we have the centre table there hardly room TO get about
init, Mrs. C., who in here this morning, and indeed
several ladies' have remarked it. have been thinking
how to remedy it, We have only to enlarge the house
little on that sde 1t will give room above also,
az well as belowthe cost will not be much, and il need
not inerrupt YOU in your business, 10 it, You
know YOU are often complmenlng with those words of
po emuel the heart Of her husband doth safely trust
in her 50 trust me in this, and will see it DONE"
every well, wife, consult your own wishes in the mat
ter 1t may be more of job than you think, and perhaps
YOU will conclude in the end that the beterwa had been
to dispense with The table, instead of stretching the house
TO accommodate il. However, If you can put up with the
dust aud confusion of it, have objection"
81 think we can afford the expense, said the wife; and
as for the dust and disorder thai will soon be over What
most regret is that it will disturb the shru5bery apd
shades on that side. But they will grow again."
The carpenters were to work, therefore, and the
consequence was the eongaon of the house by several
feet In roftng the room the carpet was Of course TOO
small and new one had to be bought; and the same was
the case with the floor above. This anticipated but
there was another consequence Of the enlargement winch
had somehow not been thought of the fireplace was no
longer where should be. 1t seemed to have removed IT.
self almost into corner Of The room This was sad be-
sh in the eye Of lady Of much taste as Mrs. N, ana
the more veXaOus she herself responsible Tor H.
70 pull down and build the chimney, was the only way
to remedy it. and this for the present, she did not venture
10 propose
Mrs n was not ambitious, or not unrensonaby So ou'
she loved symmetry and fitness, and could not bear 10 so
hnus distorted and out of Sorts" With all her natuia
frce of character she could conon herself to see the
fire place where it was and when came around
aran the worktnen were recalled and the chimney moved
The room was now complete and il should be, erceps
that tho ceiling little low to suit its enlarged d.
mensons But the external proportions of the house haa
suffered The front door and windows much oui
of pace, as the hearth within had BEEN This was anoh-
e unforeseen result Ii was endured three four years.
till the wife proposed the defect by an extension
of the house on that side equal 10 the other.
''Aas the spirit of Improvement said an aged ana in
firm aunt whose chamber had been twice invaded by these
changes
ALAS the necessity of going on when one has once en-
baIked in il, )" the niece replied "Reay, this altering an