Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-08-29

CtlIt Ol sum OF money cONUuenllN expected.
\ very sudden change OF feeling did Mr..
Cartwright experience, He had, in degree,
paraken in his wiles pleasure in observing the
improved appearance of their little parlor but
this pleasure was succeeded by sense of pain
ful regret and modification. 1t was nearly two
hours before MI. Cartwright returned an answer
to his friends note. Most of that time had been
spent in the vain effort to discover some way out
nj The difficulty in which he found himself placed.
He would have asked an advance Of one hundred
dollars on his salary, but he did not deem that a
prudent step, and for two reasons. One was
the known character Of his employers and the
other was involved in the question of how he was
TO support his family for the time he was work.
ing out his advance. At last, IN sadness and hui
initiation, he wrote brief reply, reArctlng his
inability to replace the loan, bat promising to do
it in very short time. Not very long after this
answer was sent, there came another note from
his friend, written in evident haste. and under
the influence OF angry feelings 1t was in these
words
- | enclose your due bill, which !, yesterday
thought good for It's face. But, as it is worth
less, | send II back. The man who buys new
carpets and new furniture instead OF payingIhs
honest debts can be no friend of mine. ! am
sorry to have been mistaken in Henry Cart
wright
Twice did the unhappy man read this cutting
letter then folding 1t up slowly, he concealed 1t
in one OF his pockets Nothing was said about
it to his wife, whose wOrdy admiration of the
new carpet at morning, noon and night, for the
next two or three days was a continued reprooi
OF his weakness for having yielded tohcr WISHES
in matter where calm Judgment and a princl-
pie of right should have prevailed. But she
,t,i1 I.,l,, locc ,baar-
full and once or twice he spoke to her IN a way
that she thought positively ill-natured Some
thing was wrong with him but what that some
thing was she did not for an instance imagine.
At last the day arrived for cousin Sally Gray's
visit. Unfortunately the Venetian blinds We're
still at the blind makers, where they were like
ly to remain for week longer, as it was dIscov-
cred ON the previous afternoon, he had never
touched them since they came into his shop.
Without them the little parlor had terribly
bare look the strong light coming in, and con
trasting harshly the new gaudy carpet. with the
old worn aud faded furniture. Mrs. Cartwright
fairly cried with vexaton.
ave must have something for the windows
Henry" she SAID as she stood, disconsolate, in
the paror, after tea. " 1t will never do in the
world to let cousin Sally find us in this trim"
cousin Sally will find a welcome in our
hearts" replied her husband. in a sober voice,
" and that am sure will be more grateful to
her than new carpets and wiLdow-bnds." >"
The way in which this was spoken rather sur
prised Mrs. CarIwright and she felt just little
rebuked.
Don't you think" she said, after few mo-
menis of silence on both sides " that we might
afford to buy a few yards OF lace, to put up 10
the windows, Just for decrncy's sake y
No" answered the husband, firmly, We
have afforded too much already
His manner seemed TO Mrs. Cartwright almost
ill-natured 1t hurt her very much. Both sat
down in the parlor and both remained silent
Mrs. Cartwright thought of the mean appearance
everything in the "bes room would have in
the eyes of cousin Sally, and Mr.. Cartwright
thought of his debt to his friend and of that
friends anger and alienation Both felt more
uncomfortable than they had been for long
time.
On the next day cousin Sally arrived. She
had not come 10 spy out the nakedness OF the
land for the purpose of making contrasts
between her own condition in life and that Of
Mr.. Cartwright-but from pure love. She had
always been warmly attached to her cousin; and
the years during which new liie-associations had
separated them ha increased rather than dlmn-
is ned the attachment. But the gladness Of their
meeting was soon overshadowed; at least for
cousin Sally She saw by the end of the first
days visit, that her cousin was more concerned
to make good appearance in her eyes have
her understand that she and her husband were
getting along bravely in the word-lhan to open
her heart to her as OF old, and exchange with
her a few pages in the history OF their lives.
What interest had she in the new carpet, or the
curtainless window, that seemed to be the most
oc tb;nus ~ tba ind of rala
tive None whatever If the visit had been
from Mary Cartwright to herself, she would
never have thought for an instant. of making
preparations for her coming, in the purchase OF
new furniture, or by any change in the externals
of her home. All arrangements for the recep
ton would have been in her heart
Cousin Sally was disappointed. She did not
find the relative, with whom SO many years OF
her life had been spent in sweet intercourse, as
she had hoped to find her. The girsh warmth
of feeling had Civ N place TO a cold worldliness,
that repelled, instead Of attracting her She had
loved, and suffered much, had passed through
many trials, and entered through many open
doors into new experiences, during the years
since their ways parted and she had come to
this old, dear friend, yearning for that heart in
tercourse--that reading together of some of the
pages Of their books of life-whch she felt al
most necessity. What interest had she for the
mere externals of Mary's life? None None
And the constant reference thereto by her cous
in, seemed like desecraton. Careful, and
troubled about the little things of life, she found
the dear old friend of her girlish days, to whom
she had come hopefully, as 10 one who could
comprehend, as in earlier years, the feelings
thoughts, and aspirations which had grown
stronger, deeper, and of wider range.
Alas Alas How was the fine gold dimmed
in her ey's
"Dear Mary" she said 10 her cousin, on the
morning Of the day that was to end her visit
they were sitting toge her in the little parlor
and Mrs Cartwright had referred, for the torti
eth time, 10 the unshaded windows, and declared
herself mortified to death al the appearance OF
things" Dear Mary 1t was to see you, mol
your furniture, that came. To look into youl
heart and feel it beating against mine as of old
not to pry, curously into your wa OF living
nor to compare your house furnishing with my
own. But for your constant reference to these
things, should not have noticed, particularly
how your house was attired and if asked about
them, could only have answered, "She's living
very nicely" Forgive me for this plain speech
dear cousin . did not mean to give utterance
to such language; but the words are spoken
now, and cannot be recalled"
Mrs. Cartwright, if not really offended, wa.
mortified and rebuked and these states OF feel