Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-03-01
GA cheap pleasure - thought Mr.. Jones. and

| cneap pleasure, thought Mr.. Jones, and
"I'll take them" fell from his lips.
With FIVE dollars safely resting in his purse,
| and package of building blocks for little
Eddy in his hands, Mr.. Jones now pursued
| his way homewards, elated with pleasure at
| the thought Of how gratifed his wife would
be with her vases, and how delighted Eddy
would be with his building blocks. Arrived
at home his dead-lateh key turned briskly in
the lock, and he entered with light, almost
springing footsteps. First glancing into the
parior to see if the vases had arrived, he
| found them adorning the marble mantel
They really looked elegant, and threw an air
| OF taste over the whole apartment. A little
while he remained enjoying the sight, and
then went up to his wifs's sitting room.
Mrs. Jones received her husband with her
accustomed smile, though it was not 50 bright
q one as he had expected to SEQ illumine her
| countenance.
"What is this?" she inquired, as he laid
the package he had brought home in her lap.
Some building blocks for Eddy"
"Dear little fellow be will be so delight
ed, murmured Mrs. Jones, a. she broke the
| string, and removed the wrapper from the
box. 9.|
where is e?" inquired the father.
"He's asleep"
| Jones spoke as if the vases had Just come into
his thoughts, though, if the truth be told,
| they had been uppermost in his mind since he
crossed the threshold of bis door.
"They are very beautiful, Jacob" replied
his wife, as she looked up affection ately into
her husbands face. Yet the words were not
| uttered with heartiness that satisfied his ex-
| pectations. Nor was he altogether sure that
1t was not increased humility that gave to her
| eyes their unwonted lustre.
| 81 knew they were just what you wanted
dear" said Mr.. Jones in so tender voice
that his wife could not give words to what was
| in her heart.
More pain than pleasure had the vases al
ready given to Mrs. Jones; for she had yet
too distinct a remembrance of her husbands
words in the morning, when she asked him for
money to buy things needed in the family, to
feel comfortable in the possession Of what was
merely ornamental.
"They were only fourteen dollars" said
Mr.. Jones; "and so cheap" continued he,
that l could not resist the temptation Of
had brsathed through the lips of his wife.
he looked earnestly at her, but her head was
bent down, and he was not able to see dis
tinctly the expression Of her face.
The Thermometer of Mr.. Jones's began to
fall. He anticipated delighted enthusiasm
on the part Of his wife, and was not, there
fore, satisfied with her quiet expression of
Il
evident that this pleased exterior was but a
veil to cover a more sober state of mind.
"Did you go to Parksr's this morning ?' he
inquired, changing the subject.
eyes" Mrs. Jones smiled as she looked
| up.
."YSg o., found him very pleasant, pre-
"Of course He would have sold me half
the goods in his store, believe"
yery agreeable man -
TOO agreeable for me, " said Mrs. Jones.
The fact is that have been on the stool Of
repentance ever since came home wanted
only about ten dollars worth of dry goods
but when the articles / selected arrived, with
the bill. 10, and behold! my purchases had
reached the sum Of twenty six doIIars!'
"These storekeepers understand their Gus.
TONERS" replied Mr.. Jones, laughing.
Indeed they do But know one thing
If had been dealing for cash, Mr. Parker's
bill would not have exceeded my limit of ten
dollars. 1t is such temptation to buy when
you don't have to pay the money right down.
Excuse me, Jacob, for saying what now comes
to my lips. Don't take it unkindly, for it is
not meant So"
And Mrs. Jones looked at her husband al.
most timidly.
"Say on, Mary; will never take anything
unkindly from you, for 1 am sure that nothing
you will ever say to me can spring from feel
ing Of unkindness.
81 was thinking of that pair of vases, Jacob. ~
"Were you 2"
"And it has just occurred to me that they
have cost more than fourteen dollars, perhaps
twice that sum /"
"How can you make this out ?''
off you had given me ten dollars this
morning, would have limited my purchases
to that sum, of necessity. Of course, the
vases would not have been bought. As it is,
they have cost, besides the fourteen dollars
you have paid for them, the difference be-
tween ten dollars and the amount of nv
credit bill at Parker's."
Rather a confused statement of the case,
Mary, and rather a forced one," replied Mr.
Jones. "Still, I'm ready enough to admit
that an error has occurred. L ought to have
given you the ten dollars you wanted when
had it in my pocket. If 1 had done SO the
aspect Of things would have been changed
vases, not absolutely needed for home comfort
or happiness, and having a debt of twenty
six dollars at Parker's, which will have to be
paid at the end Of the year, We both would
have enjoyed the needful things you bought,
unalloyed by the consciousness that draft /
had been drawn upon the future, which it
might be no easier to meet when due than at
present. All. me! I'm afraid / shall never
learn wisdom, Mary"
1t always grieved Mrs. Jones to see her hus-
band in trouble from any cause, and now, that
she had disturbed the cheerful current of his
feelings, she instantly sought to restore its
peaceful flow. So she spoke lightly Of what |
had occurred, praised the vases, and said they
were just what she wanted.
81 will be very economical" said she,
and so will you, dear In little while We
can save all the vases cost, and so have them
without any drawback"
Very ready was Jacob Jones to accept com
fort, particularly from this quarter. The |
words of his wife were like the SUMS rays
melting through cloud. The husband was |
himself again. E-f -J
But, was he any the wiser for this little cpl |
sode! Not much, We are sorry to say. The |
shadow had passed frcm his spirit too quickly /
to leave even a memory behind. Onthe very |
next day be spent five dollars in things super |
fuous and even while he was doing this, his
wife, from economical considerations, was /
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