The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-11-24
HARD TIMES.
Or, Tho Philosophers Stone
CHAPTER I.
N osIvER orrr'

CHAPTER ].
"What makes You look 80 dull this
morning Ellar inquired Mr.. Chester, q
merchant in small way, TO his wife.
They had been married about year,
| and thus far not an i'll natured word had
been spoken by them. At his marriage,
| Chester had taken small but convenient
house in the upper part Of the city. He
had been able to furnish it in plain man
ner; but since his marriage, his business
had added many articles of luxury to his
small establishment.
Tho .'times" had began to tighten up,
however, and business was dull. The notes
were due; and he had to bestir himself to
make his payments. Fortunately for him,
however, as the stringency in the money
market began to weigh most heavily, his
fathers administrator placed him in posses
sion Of two thousand dollars, which had
been reserved to await the contingency Of
a law suit, and which had now been salts
factorily settled.
With this sum he had been able to pay
his more pressing demands, and to lay by
a surplus of five hundred dollars to meet
note which would fall due some two
months hence.
The receipt of this sum induced him to
increase the luxuries of his house. The par
lor had to be newly furnished, and the old
parlor furniture placed in the sitting room.
They had every thing that was necessary
for comfort, or crcditablo appearance in
the world.
"You look so very dull" continued the
husband, as he rose from the breakfast ia
BILE.
Ellen looked at him with langud
smile, but made no reply.
"What ais you?"
81 was thinking how lonesome l should
be here all day." replied she.
Lonesome Why don't you 60 out
and take the airl Walk down Washing
ton street, and round the common-Is
will revive your spirits.
"How absurd you talk! Why, | should
freeze to DEATH"
"Not so bad as that" replied the young
husband, cAuching his wife under the
chin.
"Go to tho thcnaum and see the
pictures"
81 couldn't do that every day, and you
don't know how lonesome am"
"Can't you read?'
81 don't want to read all the time"
"Read part of the time, then"
"But, Fred, l have been thinking of
something" and smile played upon the
pretty lips of the yong wife.
''What Ellen?"
81 miss something in our house,"
"Do you?'
20 very much indeed"
"Well, Ellen, what is tn
"a piano; it would be so very nice to
practice these long dreary days. l should
be as happy as princess if only had a
piano.
Mrs. Chcstcr's father was in affluent
circumstances, and before she was married
she had been accustomed to many luxuries
which her husbands limited means would
not permit him to provide"
"But, Ellen, cannot afford piano.
The times have not been so hard for ten
years"
"You have got fvo hundred dollars in
the bank"
"But reserved that to pay note"
"Don't you expect to make enough to
pay ii"
at is very doubtful; my business hardly
pays expenses"
You will be able to pay that, know"
continued the petitioner
"Well, my dear you shall have tho pi-
ano."
"You are a dear husband You will
get mo one Of Chickering'sl"
"Any kind you please DEAR"
And before dinner time the instrument
came home, and Mrs. Chester was as
happy as piano could make her, albeit
she bad little idea Of the significance of
"three per cent. a MONTH and protested
notes.
CHAPTER III.