The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-17

upon the possession of wealth, and his large
income, and his economical wife, and was
thenceforth unusually affable and obliging to
all who came in his way.
Let us return to his home. There sits his
wife, where We left her, intently busy in making
pair OF cuffs. They were finely wrought, and
would correspond with the three-dollar collar
that she saw yesterday, and intended to pur-
chase. And why did Mrs. Dean consume her
life-force in elaborate needle-work? Every
little stitch diminished the power of the optic
nerve; every halEhour thus employed was
needed for other purposes. She felt this but
elaborate work must be worn, and such work
her purse did not often permit her to buy.
Disquietude was very apparent after her hus-
bands departure. An occasional frown might
have been SEEM and her face alternately paled
and flushed
/" As if back upon her brain,
The hot blood ebbed and flowed again
"When we were poor, it was not thus" said
she to herself "A dollar then was expended
less grudgingly than now. And it is 80 hui
initiating to ask, as though you were beggar,
and receive as though it were u charity, every
cent you spend We certainly have enough
expended upon our living but it is all for show,
for me to wear calico dresses and cotton gloves,
would be very willing to do it. and then
would my dress harmonic throughout. But,
no. my exterior must be like that of the wife
of a millionaire, while such dearth of really
necessary clothing but few women would be
able to exhibit. Our furniture is elegant and
our table good enough but all that | buy must
be got at reduced prices and the money given
me for family expenses is the smallest amount
that will answer"
This train of thought was interrupted by the
appearance of Miss Aiken, the teacher. Her
bill was soon settled but as Mrs Dean really
needed the money for her own expenses, and
forgetting for a moment the wearisome days
that had been spent in the school-room, and
the culture that had been bestowed upon the
mind of her child by the faithful preceptress
before her, it was paid rather unwilingly In
addition to that Miss Aiken wanted to raise a
little sum, by voluntary contributions, to buy
grace-hoops and dumb-bells and wands for
the use of her pupils. This had been highly
approved by all the mothers to whom the plan
had been submitted. Some had contributed to-
ward this object others had referred Miss A.
to their husbands, each presuming that hers
would give all that was necessary.
what amount do you require? ~ asked
Mrs Dean.
IF each of my patrons would contribute
fifty cents, we should be well supplied; but
even twenty-five cents would enable us to get
a number of articles which we now very much
needn
There was a struggle in the mind of Mrs.
Dean She knew something of the necessity
of these exercises, and furthermore she was
ashamed to seem backward in such matter
Then her own wants presented themselves, and
she hesitated. At length she very reluctantly
handed Miss Aiken twenty-five cents
g do hate to settle with women" said Miss
Akin, when she reached home "They are so
mean. They seem to feel that am under OBJ
legation to instruct their children, without any
compensation whatever. Mrs. James Dean has
such a sordid disposition After paying my
bill very grudgingy, she showed her apprecia-
ton Of my efforts to benefit her bow-backed
daughter, by squeezing out twenty-five cents
towards getting up the proposed exercises"
Mrs. Dean, on the departure of Miss Akin,
resumed her cogitations My position is very
embarrassing theughtshe :" wcrld gladly
have given more, but pair of gloves | must
have; and if go to that party this evening"
must have collar. have worn my old col
lars till am ashamed to wear them any longer,
and most of them are positively ragged AT
dinner, | will ask Mr.. Dean for more money.
No. NIL not, was the second thought | will
get some coarse articles, such as | can procure
for what have in hand And that will be
foolish, too; for my dress will be criticized, and
Mr.. Dean mortified | think | will ask for
more. No! no. | will not subject myself to
another TRADE today And that was the
final decision
Mother, see here" exclaimed little George;
Emma has thrown her shoe into the fire, and
burned it,"
I'll am sorry" said the mother; "now shall
have to get pair of shoes"
Presently man from the country brought
some dried peaches, which Mrs. Dean had be-
spoken, and for these she had to pay dollar.
His price was one dollar and a quarter for the
lot but he concluded to throw off the quarter,
rather than take them away. He left the
door, muttering-
She's a keen one-mighty sharp for a bar
gain. Good deal Of work to dry peaches
couldn't afford them for dollar. Hate to deal
with women-real skinhints."
Helen, suppose you intend to 90 to Kel
logg's tonight" said Mr.. Dean, at dinner time
= would rather decline the invitation" re-
sponded his companion.
ooh, think we had better 20. The Liv-
ingstops will be there. shall be most happy
to see my wife in her crimson velvet"
And Mr.. Dean romped with the children,
and exhibited great exuberance of spirits
al have mind to tell him all, and show ex-
actly what need, thought bis wife +" | have
not other things to correspond with my velvet
and it is dress | never wanted" Then the
bitter taunt in the morning rang in her ears
and she said to herself "Noi will suffer be-
fore ask for anything for myself again"
81 hope to have the pleasure Of seeing my
wife on the street this afternoon" remarked
Mr. Dean as he closed the door after him.
"Yes' muttered the unhappy woman, "you
may see her walking miles and miles to hunt
up something that is cheap--that will CORES
pond with her very limited purse"
Mrs. Dean soon started to do her shopping.
She went again to look at the thrce-dollar col
lars. The balance of the six dollars given her
in the morning added to a little change she
previously had, made just two dollars and fifty
cents.
"Can you not let me have one of these for
two and half Mr. Gray?n
ave certainly could not, Mrs. Dean. You
see the work is very fine. We have sold most
Of them for four dollars"
She was obliged to leave without the collar,
and then Mr.. Gray said to his first clerk
what niggard she is How inexpressibly
mean y
awe found that out long ago" was the re-
ply.
Little did they dream that she had not an
other farthng in her purse. Her effort to OBJ
tain fine work at a low price was fruitless At
length her little shoeless Emma came into her
mind; she had forgotten the accident, and she
stepped into store and priced some exquisite
little CATERS. The shopman threw of quar-
ter, and let her have them for fifty cents and
when she left, he grumbled about it, saying
There is not man in surer business and more
easy circumstances in town than James Dean,
and yet his wife is as close-fsted as Jew.
She squeezes sxpence as though her fingers
we're n viae - Thereupon the clerks Ian CHAD