Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-03-17
Reform Should Begin At Home.

day been anticipating the delights of his own hreside
His pretty wife Esther took her work. and sat down
by the table,
1t is pleasant to have home of ones own" he
again said, taking satisfactory survey OF his little
quarters. The cold rain beat against the windows
and he thought he felt really grateful for all his pre-
sent comforts.
d" Now, if we only had piano. exclaimed the wife.
'tGive me the music of your own sweet voice be-
fore all the pianos in creation" he declared compl
mentary besides certain secret disappointment, that
his wife's thankfullness did not happily chime with
his own.
"Wel, butwe want one of our friends" said Esther.
{" Let our friends come and as, and not to hear
a piano. exclaimed the husband.
But, George, everybody has piano nowadays |
we don't go anywhere without seeing piano." per-
sisted the wife.
"And yet don't know what want for
you will have no time TO play on one, and don't
want to hear it
Why they are SO fashionabe-I think our rooms
look nearly naked without one
g think it looks just right.
81 think it looks very naked-we want a piano
shockngly," protested Esther, emphatcally.
The husband rocked violently.
Your lamp smokes, my DEAR" said he after
long R pause a., Won o;no ost an ,.tr,, ,,mD
have told you a dozen times how much we needed
ONE said Esther, pettishly.
Those very pretty lamps never can see by
an astral lamp" said her husband. Those 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 fashionable! Why the Morgans and Millers,
and many others might mention, all have them |
ought to-"
I'VE ought to, if We take pattern by other peoples
expenses, and don't any reason in that.
The husband moved uneasily in his chair.
ave want to live we'll as Others" said Esther.
"We want to live within our means. Esther,'
exclaimed George.
. | am sure we can afford it as well as the Nor
gans, and Mi!lers, and Thorns-we do not wish to
appear mean"
Georges cheek crimsoned
Mean | am not mean = he cried angrily
Then We do not wish 10 appear so,' said the
wife. To complete this room, and make it look
like other peoples, we want piano and an astral
lamp
1--WE want-we want" muttered the husband,
there's no satisfying womens wants, do what you
may and he abruptly left the
How many husbands in similar dilemma !
How many houses and husbands rendered
comfortable by the constant dissatisfaction of wife,
with present comforts and present provisions How
many bright prospects for business have ended IN
bankruptcy and ruin, in order to satisfy this secret
hankering after fashionable necessaries Could the
real cause of many failure be known it would be
found to result from useless expenditure at home
expenses to answer the demands of fashion, anC
what will people Think"
My wife has made my fortune said gentle
man OF great possessions. "by her thrift and pru
dence, ard cheerfunesS, when was Just beginning
''And mine has lost my fortune'' answered hi
companion, by useless extravaganza and repinin
when was doing we'll.
What world does this open to the influence whic
a wife possesses the future prosperity of he
family Let the wife know her influence and tr
to use it wisely and well.
Be satisfied to commence small scale. 1t
too common for young houSekeeperS to begin wher
their mothers ended. Buy all that is necessary
work skiltuliy with adorn your house with all thu
will render it comfortable. Do not look at richie
homes, and covet their costly furniture. If secr
dissatisfaction is ready to spring up, go step fn
Their and visit the homes of the poor suffering; b.
hold dark cheeress apartments insufficient clothing
and absence of all the comforts and retinements
social life, and then return your with a JOY
full spirit. You will then be prepared to meet you
husband with grateful heart, and be ready to a,
precate the toll and seIf-denial which he has endu
ed in this business world to surround you with til
delights of home then you will be ready TO coop
rate cheerfully with him in so arranging your e.
penSes, that his mind will not be constantly harras
ed with fears lest his family expenditures may Ell
croach upon public payments. Be independent;
young housekeeper never needed greater moral cou
age than she does resist the arrogance of fas
ion. Do not let the As and BIS decide what &c
must have, neither let them hold the strings of yol
purse. You know best what you can and ought
afford then decide, with a strict integrity accordir
of the world ever tempt YOU to buy what you hard
think you can afford. 1t matters but little VIII
people think, provided you true to yourself az
family.
LOST THE WooDs-A Western paper contai
account of three German quarry -menr in the er
ploy of the Lake Superior Saul Ship Canal Comp
ny, who left their quarters for short excursion
the 18th ult, and did not return. A large number
their fellow workmen turned out and searched Il
woods in the vicinity for several days in successio
but without being able find the lost ones and so
after the steamers came to take off the men for t
winter On the 29th ult, Ebenezer Warren. W
resided with his family the main land oppos
Drummond's Island, discovered fire on the islar
and men about it. He FASTENED to the spot in bo
and found two of the men who had been lost wee
before. They so much exhausted that tn
could barely stand or talk. Their clothes were ne,
ly all gone, and their limbs frozen and bare. Tn
had wandered for fifteen days about the Island, vi
no other food than partridge and a few beachnu