The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-01-24

harsh and cold, he intended to do them q
kindness.
"Yes, and Ellen, you wear silk gown
for every day, and to crown all, you have
got piano. Do you expect to pay your
notes in this manner, Fred@ continued
he, "here is the secret of hard times, cx.
travagance-siIk dresses, roast turkeys,
ice creams, and pianos"
Things were going very well with me
when bought the piano." suggested
Fred.
"No matter, you are a fool. Now
will tell you what the philosophers stone
is"
Uncle Luke paused and looked coldly
into the eye Of the young merchant.
"Well, uncle, what is it?"
olive within your means. Ifyou don't
earn but dollar, spend only seventy FIVE
cents" and Uncle Luke put on his great
coat and hat, edged towards the door,
without even alluding to the important
topic in whicl Fred felt SO much inter
est.
"But Uncle Luke, can you lend me
the money want3" asked Fred, dismay-
ed at the thought of failure.
mo, | cannot"
"Then must fail"
"fou ought to have thought Of that
when YOU bought the piano" replied Un-
Gle Luke, sternly, "Do you know Wa
tcrs Z"
The carpenter?"
"Yes."
al do"
"Apply to him; he will lend you the
money"
"But he is almost a stranger to me-"
"No matter; g. to him" and uncle Luke
left the house.
"Oh, Fred, this is all my fault" said
Ellen, bursting into tears.
mo matter, my dear. 1t will all come
round right"
Fred did apply to Waters.
"What security can you give?" asked
the carpenter.
Il don't know" replied Fred, doubling
ly. any stock is mortgaged."
"llousehold turniturne|
mo"
"What have you goti'
~ piano, and"
THAT will do; give me bill Of sale of
that. II not paid in thrifty days the pi-
sno is mine"
Fred assented, and received tile money.
The papers were executed and Fred got
out Of the scrape.
During the succeeding thirty days he
tried hard TO raise the money to redeem
the piano, without success. Waters took
it at the appointed time, and seemed per-
fectly satisfied with his bargain.
A few days after, the young couple
were surprised to receive an invitation to
dine with Uncle Luke, and to their aston
ishment, when they arrived, they found
their piano i'll his snug little parlor.
"Did you buy this 2" asked Fred.
But Uncle Luke would answer no ques-
tions. yet he promised to make him
present Of it as soon as he had paid all
his debts.
The dinner consisted OF corned beef and
baked potates, with an apple pie for desert.
Uncle Luke was in unusually good spirits,
and never once apologized for the singular
fare he had set before his guests.
u.
1t was intended as lesson for them, and
they profted by it. They brought home
the philosophers stone and began to live
by much humber system. The hired
girl was discharged, and Ellen had so
much to do in attending to her household
duties that she had no time to be lone
some. She was much happier than when
she moped all day in the parlor, and bet
ter than this, the times began to mend,
and Fred's business prospered again. He
paid of his mortgage, and the piano was
duly returned to them, because they could
afford to support such luxury.
Uncle Luke had put the money into
Waters hands to relieve Fred. He wan
ted to take the piano, to punish the ex-
travagant couple for their want Of econo.
| my.
We are happy to say that Fred has
coined money since he found the philoso
piers stone, and he has moved down
town. He is considerable Of man, in
State street, and though the present hard
times are making fearful havoc around
him, he is free and unemharassed.
Rev. Mr.. Foster, of New Salem, Mass.
was factious man, and usually ready at
a joke and repartec. He had parish
ioner, carpenter by trade, pretty well
stocked with ready wit, and wthal, some
what given to boasting.
One day while at work for his minister
hewing stick Of timber, the carpenter
was Boosting in his usual style of the mar.
vels that he could preform. The pastor
TO put an extinguisher upon him, said:
"Governor (his nick-name,) do you
think you could make devil I"
"Make devil !" responded the Cover
nor, "why, yes, oh yesl" (his broad AK,
moving little more rapidly "here pu
up your foot--you want the least altera
ton Of any man ever sawl"
1t was rare that the minister came OF
second best in such encounters, but he di'
this time.
9B All virtues are IN agreement; al
vices are at variance. s,s