The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-02-27

'''" "', VII ">'iiS MS mana INTO his pOck
ct and drawing on his purse.
"What n pleasant surprise 7 will give
Mary" thought Mr.. Jones, as he stepped
from the china dealers store. "Our par
Tor mantle pieces need some ornaments,
and these vases are just the thing. And
they arc so cheap
Fourteen dollars from twenty left I'm,
the small balance Of six. Mr.. Jones was
expert nj figures, and it did not take him
long TO do this sum in satisfaction. lie
felt considerably poorer cn reaching his
place "t business, and half inclined to call
himself fool for spending so much mon.
"y for an article in no way necessary for
home comfort. The presentation oc bill
"l ten dollars from bliud-maker, who
had Lecn caiied upon carly in the spring
to give better appearance to the rarlor
windows, depressed tie thermometer Of
t!iS ceilings somewhere in the ncighLor.
hood OF zero. But the blind maker had
10 wait. Nothing could be spared, on
that day, from the business fund, rs there
were several payments to be met, and
MIR. Jones had partner who kept the
cash, aud who always looked little so.
Der when the drafts on private account
were larger or more frequent than he
thought the business justified. His part.
ner had as large family to support rs
Mr.. Jones, but he managed to do i. on
several hundred dollars less in the year.
1t did occur to Mr.. Jones TO pay half
Of tie blind makers bill, but, ms ,iat
would leave him only one dollar, he dis.
missed the thought instantly. TO be left
with only one dollar in his pocket would
never answer in the world.
At dinner time Mr.. Jones started home
ward, thinking, as he walked along, Of
the t"au;'inI vases, and Of the pleasure
they had given his wife. lie still had
six dollars in his pocket. Partially rccov.
cred from ,hc depressing effect of the
blind makers bill, lie began, once more
to feel a little comfortable in money mat
tcrs. Six dollars made very nice little
sum; and, as his eyes glanced into the
shop windows as he moved along, lie be-
gan TO admit the temptcr once more in.
to his heart. \ hox Of building blocks,
just the thing for little Eddy, esught h.s
eye as he passed the Temple Of Fancy"
and lac could not resist the desire he felt
20 go in and ask the price.
"one dolltr," said the ready sales
man.
- cheap pleasure thought Mr.. Jones
and-"lll take 'hem," fell from bis
Iils
With five dollars safely resting in his
purse, and a package of building blocks
for little Eddy in his hands, Mr.. Jones
now pursued his way homewards, elate
with pleasure a. the thought Of how graf
iiied his wife would be with her pair of
vases, and how delighted Eddy would be
with his building blocks. Arrived at
home, his dead latch key turned briskIy
III the lock, and he entered with light, al
most sprlnging footsteps. Firrt glancing
into the par'or to see il the vases had ar
! rived, he found them adorniug the marble
mantcl. They really looked elegant, and
threw an air Of taste over the whole apart
ment. a little while he remained, enjoy
ing the sight, and then went up to his
wife's sitting room.
Mrs. Jones received her husband with
her accustomed smile, though it was not
as bright one rs he had expected to see
ilumine her countenance.
"What is this!" she inquired, as she
laid the package lie had brought in her
lap.
"Somc building blocks for Eddy"
"Desr little fellow! lie will be so de-
lighted, murmurcd Mrs. Jones, as she
broke the string and removed the wrapper
f,om tho box.
"Wlie'c is he !" inquired the father.
"lIe's asleep
son! How do you like your vases p.
Mr.. 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 his step had passed the
threshold Of his door.
"They are very beautiful, Jacob" re-
piled his wife, as she looked up affection
atcly into her husbands face. Yet tho
words were not uttered with heartiness
that satisfied MS expectations. Nor was
he altogether sure thatit was net increas.
ed humidity that gayeto her eyes their
nnwonted lustre.
81 knew they we're just what you waa-