The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-07-01
"IT's ONLY A TRIFLE.'
A SKETCH FOR BEGINNERS IN LIFE
by sYLvANUs COBB, IN.

y
sat IN his snug little sitting room with very
long face. John was carpenter by trade,
eight and twenty years Of age, with good
wife and three small children. He lived in a
thriving village. and received ten dollars a
week for his work. He was good workman,
faithful, industrious, honest, and steady. lie
hired a small house for which he paid sixty
dollars year. He received his pay every
Saturday evening.
We said John had good wife. And so he
had--one of the best wives in the country.
She was not beauty, but then she was pretty
aud intelligent; and her good looks were Of
that kind which grow brighter under the in
fiuence Of love. as the wearer grows older.
She was valuable wife, and not day passed
but John had occasion to bless the hour that
gave her to him for his companion.
The three children were, boy and two
girls. aged six, four and two, respectively
the boy being the oldest.
Il declare, Emma. this is hard.' said John
Hodge, in tone of mental pain. suppose
should certainly lay up hundred dollars
this year; but have been to-day and paid
the last bill owed, and now find myself the
undisputed owner ofthree dollars and thirty.
four cent?
is thatall:' Emma asked this with show
Of interest but not with surprise. Intact, her
manner would rather imply that she had ex,
pected this.
Yes. That is all. Now can you tell me
where our money has gomez
Emma Hodge was woman Of sense. She
knew very well that there was little profit in
telling the errors Of the past unless she could
point them out plainly and separately. She
did know where the money had gone, but she
feared her husband would not believe her il
she told him, for her own eyes had been open.
ed only few weeks. However she yeturned
to saw
John, don't you think we-tshe said ,ce
out Of pure willingness to bear part Of blame
which she had not incurred don't you think
we've paid more Tor some things we have
bought than there was any need of?
How! Whenhaye paid more than there
was need Off asked John in pure wonder.
WELL replied Emma, it seems to me
that we have paid so number Of tines
| But what is one:
Well, there are the two glass lamps in
the parlor. We paid six dollars for them
when a pair for two dollars would have done
Just as we'll. Not one in hundred Of our
visitors knows the difference between cut
glass and common pressed glass
Yes they do, Emma. Ii we are going to
have lamps, lets have them. hate to see
cheap thing stuck up in sight. I'd rather
20 without money than to be mean aud stingy
about my things
Emma saw that John was troubled, and
resolved not TO urge the case with him then.
He was not in mOnd to be contradlcted, aud
she would not touch his feelings for the world
so she simply said, as she placed her arms
about his nick and kissed him:
We won't worry about the past. John
bur we will try to do differently in the future
Now let's resolve 10 save something the com
ing year.
We will,' said John and from that mo
moment he looked happier.
fhe new yearcommenced and things move'
on as usual. When the spring oppened Joi
wanted new suit Of clothes. lie went Z
tie tailor's aud got samples uf cloth, with
scale of prices. There was a good suit I
be had for twenty dollars; aud another 70
thirty. He pitched upon the thirty doIla
suit.
But argued Emma this suit for twent
dollars is Just as good. When. the cloth
made up you could never tell the Difference
but the difference in price We should lee
sensibly.'
Pooh, Emma You talk like Graz
woman. | only have q new suit ihroughot
once in two years. and while am about it
might as well have good one. Wha, woul
folks think 10 see me saving money of fro
my back' Ten dollars is but a triile whe
We consider how seldom | get such suit
'But John, you must remember what "
wish to do. We wish TO own a hurnc af ol
own one Of these days and to reach that en
We must be economical in all things. i,
dollars is Just a weeks pay
But the clothes, Elnma--yOu would u
have me 20 so poorly dressed, would YOU =
No, my husband. But see: ln purcha
ing clothes We look first 20 cur comfort; th'
10 the fashion aud then 10 our means. No
this suit for twenty dollars will louk v,
enough, and know il will wear as well,
not better, than the other"
But John couldn't see. lie was determi
ed not TO appear mean in dress, and he mu
have the thiiiy dollar suit.
On the following day Emma went TO |
failuf. WIN NWum eNe Hdh bttH AtHhathh
from childhood, aud asked i John b
ordered his suit. Size was informed that
had. Emma examined the different tabri
aud finally found some cloth lI0m which I
garments could be made for twenty dullai
and the tailor assured her that they wou
wear better, and, in t,e end, be u more val
to John. than the thirty dollar suit. L
iine broad. cloth would be goud Tor nolhI
Cor him TO wear at his business alter II beg
to lose its first lustre.
Il was at length decided the suit should
made from material which tie wife and
tailor had selected. and lar twenty dolla
Emma promising 10 bear the responsibility
re but John was to know nothing ab,ut u.
was to pay The thirty dollars a. he had
'. ranged. In due time John came home "
his new suit, aud when he put IL OIL, hs I