Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-08-05
Reform should begin at Home.
A DOMESTIC CHAT.


The fire glowed in the CRATE. revealing a
pretty and neatly furnished sitting room,
with all the appliances of comfort. The
! Etiguing business of the day was over
and he sat enjoying what he had all day
been anticipating the delights Of his own
+ fircsIde. His pretty wife. Esther, took
her work, and sat down by the table
1T is pleasant to have a home of ones
own, he said again, taking a satisfactory
survey of his little quarters The cold
rain beat against the windows, and he
thought he felt really grateful for all his
I present comforts
Nov five had only piano, exclaimed
the wife.
I "Giye me the music of your sweet voice
I before all she pianos in creation" he de
clared complimentary, beside a certain
secret disappointment, that his wife's
thaakfulness did not happily chime with
his own.
well, but we want one for our friends, %
said Esther.
Let our friends come and see sand not
to hear a piano" exclaimed the husband
But, George, every body has piano
now days-we don't 90 anywhere with
out seeing a piano" persisted the wife.
And yet | don't know what we want
one for-you viii have no time to play on
one and | don't want to hear it."
why, they are so.fashionable-I think
our room looks nearly naked without one 5"
Il think it looks just right"
II think it looks very naked-we want
piano shockingly," protested Esther, en-
phaticallv
The husband rocked violently
y our lamp smokes, my dear" he said
after a long pause.
when are you going to get an astral
lampl | have told YOU dozen times how
we needed one" said Esther, pettishly.
"Those are very pretty lamps-I never
can see by an astral lamp" said the hus
band These lamps are the prettiest of
the kind [ ever saw-they were bought in
Boston
but, George, I do not think our room
is complete without an astral lamp" said
Esther, sharply, they are so fashionablel I
Why, the Morgans, and Millers, and
Thornes all have them; [ am sure we
ought to.
"We ought to five take pattern by other
peoples expense, and don't see any reason
for that"
The husband moved uneasily IN his
chair
I'VE want to live as well as others live"
said Esther.
eve want to live within our means
Esther, exclaimed George.
Il am sure we can afford it as well as
the Morgans and AIillers, and many others
| might mention-we do not wish to ap-
pear mean
Georges check crimsoned
"Mean I am not mcanl" he cried an
grily.
Then we do not wish to appear so"
said the wife. "To complete this room.
aud make it look as other peoples, we
want piano and an astral lamp"
I'VE wauG-we want p muttered the
husband, "there is no satisfying a woman's
wants, do what you may" and he abruptly
left the room
How many husbands are in similar
dilemma 2-lIow many houses and hus-
bands arc rendered uncomfortable by the
constant dissatisfaction of wife with pre-
sent comforts and present provisions
How many bright prospects for business
have ended ia bankruptcy and ruin, In or
fashionable necessaries2 Could the real
cause Of many failure be made known, it
would be found to result from useless ex-
pendit0res at h0me-expenses TO answer
the demands of fashion, and, what viii
people thiuk.'
My wife has made my fortune" said a
gentleman Of great possessions, "by her
thrift, prudence and cheerfulness, when I
was just beginning"
Ard mine has lost my fortune" an
swered his companion, "by useless extra
vagaucc, and repining when l was doing
we'll"
What a world does this open to the IN
fuence which a wife possesses over the fu-
ture prosperity Of her family Let the
wife know her influence, and try to use it
wisely and we'll"
Be satisfied to commence on a small
scale. 1t Is too common to young house
keepers to begin where their mothers en-
ded Buy all that is necessary to work
skilfully with adorn your house with all
that will render it comfortable Do not
look at richer homes and cOvet their cost
" furniture If secret dissatisfaction Is
ready to spring up. 60 a step farther, and
visit the homes Of the poor and suffering:
behold dark. chcerless apartments, insult
fcient clothing, and an absence of all the
comforts and refuements Of sociallife, then
return to your own with joyful spirit
You will then be prepared to meet your
husband with a grateful heart and bereadv
to appreciate the toll and self denial whieh
he has endured in his business world to
surround you with the delights Of home
then you viii be ready to cooperate cheer
fully with him in so arranging your ex-
penses. that his mind will not be constant
IL harrassed with fears, lest family expen-
ditures may encroach upon public pav-
ments Be independents young house
keeper never needed greater moral cour-
age than sue nov does 10 resist the AFRO
gance of fashion, Do not let the 4 S and
s decide what you must have, neither
let them hold the string of your purse.
You know hest what you can and ought
to afford then decide with &. strick into
gritty. according to your means. Let not
a. ,--r.s-r-a or tho arr.rrTal Of the world