Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1855-08-16
CONSISTENCY.
BY MARTHA HAINEs BUTT.

you are entirely too extravaganza; it must
be stopped at once, or else | shall be COM
PEELED to fail" said Edward Jones, to his
pert little wife, as she held before him a
bill of $50 90. Her eyes beamed with
mischief, and now making the wryest face
imaginable, she said
snow Edward, hope you do not call
sixty dollars large bill
'Sixty dollars! yes [ do call it a large
amount for these hard times. Where in
the world do you think l can get all that
money from; it is very certain that money
can't be picked up in the street. | verify
believe that women think it makes no kind
of difference at all how much money they
spend upon dress; why in the worldf YOU
all wear so much finery! 1t certainly does
not add to your looks at all. Beauty when
unadorned, is adorned the mcst,' so says
the poet" .
"It is my opinion. Edward, tha, the gen.
tlemen are far more extravagant than the
ladies'. They are forever putting away at
a cigar which costs at least six cents. But
it is nothing. l know, for them to smoke up
sixty cents per day-oh, no! that is not ex.
travasant, by any means-not bit of il. =
Minnie tossed her head, and pouted her
pretty lips, which looked like newly ripened
| strawberries. She was waiting to hear
the answer which Mr.. Jones would give to
her remarks.
"Well, you know, Minnie, that smoking
is luxury which gentlemen SO much en-
joy"
swell, now l want to know, if we don't
enjoy dressing?" .....
s'But fine dressing is something so SUI.
perfuous.'
II suppose, then, that smoking is not
superfuous at all; would you not think me
derauged, if were to roll up parcel of
bank notes and burn them? l know you
would; consider smoking cigars the very
same" 7 H
"Well now, Minnie, do you know how
many smoke during the day ~
'No; for l never took the trouble to
count them.'' 80
"Well, | am exceedingly moderate in
smoking-only six or eight
"Oh. I do not care how many cigars
you smoke. Tell me, are you not going to
pay this bill!-a small one it is"-(an iron.
ical smile followed the last remark.)
'.Small bill, Minnie! where am to get
sixty dollars FRONT"
" ThatI cannot tell" ,.. ....5-.
"Yon ought, then, to be more prudent,
and not incur any such expenses, SINCE
you know it is out of my power to meet the
payment of such large bills
"You say, then, that you cannot pay it,
II do-and furthermore, that you mus,
not contract any more large bills, or small
ones either
| 'sYou don't owe for any cigars, then?"
cent ..,.-s4s.. ~. -, ... 1..s.
Mr.. Jones seated himself very compla.
Gently in his chair, and commenced putting
away at cigar. Minnie could not re.
frain from smiling at his appearance, fol
she knew very well, when she drew the
curtain aside, that he would not look Sc
composed. I -a41s71sIa.e IL aH#s
'sWhat pleases you Sc much, Minnie? L
cannot be hard times. Do tell me. SC
that may enjoy the laugh too; do mo-
believe in people keeping all the fun te
themselves" g4 ea
! 'Would you really like to know wha
pleases me so much, Edward!
/ 81 would, most certainly. Tell me
anything to make me forget hard times. +"
/ "Oh, l was only laughing at this little
note" -. .....
"What note-let me see it,
Minnie handed it over, and the content:
we're
I"MR. EDWARD JoNEs-
/ To Rayson, Tyler & Co., DR..
To one box Cigars, $50 OF
Mr.. Jones looked at the bill, and in hi
confusion threw his lighted cigar in tht
FIRE. y He found that Minnie had beer
playing some of her pranks upon him
He never felt worse in his life; he had nj
other alternative but to take his hat ant
leave for while, till he recovered from
the shock.
"Oh, consistency, consistency" wer'
the words which rung in his ears as h
made for the door.
Minnie heard no more Of hard times
Mr.. Jones affirmed that Minnie was wild
awake that time, and he, no doubt, tool
good care in future, how he disputed al
/ n II 4 L.