The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-11-09

Jane Tompkins her magazines, newspapers
and books.
One day, shortly after the new maga-
zines for the month had been announced,
Mary called rs usual upon her friend Jane.
On her table lay "Godey's" and several
other magazines.
"How much l do envy your, she said,
What would not give if my father
would take the magazines for me as you-s
does for you; but he always says that he
can't afford it."
Then Mary turned over magazine after
magazine, examining and admiring the
beautiful engravings. When she Was
going away, she said-"Are YOU done
with 'he Lady's Book YETI"
Jane looked slightly confused as she
rrpIied-"lve..read it, Mary, but papa isn't
done with it,"
No matter-'Graham' or Putnam
will do"
"'m sorry, Mary" and the color rose to
either of them. The fact is, Mary, to tell
you the plain truth, papa has objected
for good while to my lending my peri
odicals and literary newspapers, and now
positively forbids nv doing so. But YOU
can come and see me, Mary, and read
them here. shall be glad to have you.
But | heed not say that-you know |
will. | wish papa wasn't SO particular;
but he is n little curions about some
things"
Mary felt hurt, not with Jane, but at
the fact She went home feeling badly.
"Iour friend Miss Rivers didn't got her
usual supply Of reading" said Mr.. Tomp-
kins to his daughter, shortly after Mary
had left the house.
mo, and was sorry for her." replied
Jane. "She seemed hurt and mortified
when told her that could not lend them.
Pm sure, papa, it wouldn't have hurt us
at all, and 1.-TWO I'D Lave been such graft
tication 10 her"
Let her father subscribe for them, rs
90. He is just as able"
But lie thinks he can't afford it, and
now"
Thinks hs can't afford it, indscd!" said
Mr.. Tompkins. "a man who spends
two or three hundred dollars year in
Sclt-indulgences of one kind and another,
talking about not being able to afford
magazines and newspapers for his family
Why it costs him more for tobacco and
cigars than it does me for periodicals"
Still, papa, it is hard for Mary to be
deprived of them. 1t isn't her fault
She says she often bcgs her father to take
them for her, but that his only reply is he
can't afford it."
"lf she were the only one concerned,
Janes she might have them with pleasure"
seRGsd Mr.. Tompkins. but, YOU see,
sheisn't. 1t is plain, from the condition
in which the magazines come home, that
they have gone through the hands of the
whole family. That Mr.. Rivers INDUCES
himself in reading at my expense am
very well satisfied, for l have seen my
periodicals at his store more than once"
'Tes, that is the worst OF it."
besides, Jane, am not perfectly clear
i'll my own mind that it is honest towards
the publishers to encourage anything of
this kind. They 60 to great expense and
labor in getting up their works, and
certainly give the moneys worth to all
who subscribe. But if every subscriber
lends TO his neighbors who are perfectly
able to subscribe themselves, and who
would do so if they could not borrow, the
publishers cannot be sustained, or will
receive, at best, but an inadequate return
For my part, there is scarcely anything
| would not do rather than borrow n
newspaper or periodical. l never have
been guilty Of thrt meanness yet, and, If
| keep my present mind, never will"
Mary Rivers, as has been seen, went
home, feeling very badly. The more she
thought about what had occurred, the
more she felt mortified and really ASHAMED
of herself for having trespasscd upon Jane
Tompkins for her periodicals and news
papers, to such an extent as to cause her
father to interfere and forbid her lending
them any more. For this fact in the
case she was not slow to infer.
MARY" said Mr.. Rivers, rs he sat that
evening, listless for want of something to
read or do, "ain't none Of the magazines
out for this month"; Havn't you got a
Gazette POST o. q Courier from you.
friend Miss Tompkinsl"
mo papa" replied Mary.
81 thought you went there to-day"
$50 did, but Jane says her father has
forbidden her to lend the papers and
magazines any more"
He has!" calculated Mr.. Rivers, with
surprise and something Of Indignation
"Why was thatl"
II don't know; but Jane said she couldn't
let me have them any more"
ats very sefsh" said Mr.. Rivers.
"very selfish! What harm could your
roading the magazines do him, woRderi
But that's just like some people! They
cannot bear to see Others enjoy themselves
and will prevent it if in their power"
Mr.. Rivers felt rather uncomfortable
about this refusal on the part of Mr..
Tsnpkins. 1t seemed to him to be aim
ed at his family. lie also felt uncom-
Portable at the thought of losing his regular
weekly and monthly enjoyment of reading
the newspapers and magazines "free gratis
for nothing" In fact, this standing of
Mr.. Tompkins upon his reserved rights,
had an unhappy effect upon the whole