Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-18

it come under your own personal expenses
My hatter's bill during the winter may have
been ten or fifteen dollars; if your milliner',
had been four times that amount, should
have thought nothing of it; but this bill
shows that you have actually wasted the
money have placed in your hands,
IF you will excuse me moment, Mr.
Hart, have another bill in the library
which wish you to see,' and Mrs. Hartrar
out of the room.
Il resolveG,' she said, on her return, az
she extended the bill towards him, 'that a,
my expenses for the winter should not ex
ceed the amount of that bill; and they have
thus far. fell more than one hundred shoIi
of it,
Mr.. Hart took the bill, and read as fol.
lows:
Hon Peter Hart.
-. -, House, Rr.
Sept. Is, To dinners for Is q $500 $1,000
I" 9 bottles wine, 400 $500
Cigars, 1,5C
Sept. %, !" dinners for 90, q 200 4o.oc
:" Is bottles wine, 800 45.OC
Cigars, &c, SOC
| And SO it went on until the amount reach
ed nine hundred and twenty-five dollars.
But this is quite a different affair." he
said, as he folded the paper and returned ii
to his wife: shat money was expended
among my constituents, and it is a neces-
sary expense attending the position occu-
py. They expect some return for the honor
they confer upon me; and, besides, it is to
my interest to keep the right side of the
leaders cf the party
Il do not doubt it, replied his wife, with
smile; 'and my milliner's bill was not over
thirty dollars, the remainder of the sum
went to my constituents
MIR. Hart turned crimson with anger, as
her visit to Lee street flashed through his
mind.
Mrs. Hart! he said sternly. after mo-
ment's silence, Il wish no trifing in this
matter; am in earnest! You must explain
about this bill, and also about your visit to
Lee street, at such a time of night; you
surely have no acquaintances there
'Oh, yes, have had acquaintances there
fer many years; but they do not move in
fashionable society; they are my humble
friends
Humble friends! replied Mr. Hart, as he
rose to his feet, while the anger flashed
from his eyes. Il demand an explanation,
Mrs. Hart. You have been deceiving me-
Indeed, had no such intention,' replied
his wife, as tears filed her eyes; and have
no objections to explaining all about my
visits there and also about the bill which
came from my milliner's. never said any
thing to you about it, because | thought
your mind was too much occupied with great
affairs to be troubled with little ones.'
81 should be very happy to hear an expla-
natiGn,' he replied in gentler tone.
"Last autumn, after Mr.. Brooks was
elected, Mrs. Brooks and / tried-to think
of some way to amuse ourselves through
the winter while our husbands were absent.
knew two or three poor families on Lee
Street and proposed going down there to
see how they were getting along.
We found, after a few visits, that tnere
were III lHS WOO0tu DlOSAf On ShS SoSs SANS
of the street,more than twenty families who
could not attend church for want of cloth
ing. We thought it would be very good
employment for us to fit them up, and send
them where they could hear preaching.
Mrs. Brooks was to see that they had dress
es, and | was to look afrer their bonnets
and shawls. l called on Madame Dupine,
and she offered to supply he with plain,
neat bonnets for three do.lars each. Shawls
she said, were out of heI line Of business;
but she promised to buy case, and let me
have them at wholesale price. paid from
two to three dollars for the shawls, and
that accounts for the bill you have seen.
We have together with what money we
have used, and what clothing VIC have begg-
ed, fitted up to twenty-five fomilies, and
they make a very respectable appearance,
and, as nearly as we can learn, ALI of them
have been to church since. had not the
least idea you would object to it, or | should
not have spent the money.
"Mary, said her husband-:t was the first
time he had ever called her by that simple
name-I do not odject; respect you Tor the
good YOU have done, and ask your forgive
ness for judgeing you so harshly; will you
grant it, if promise never to SO misIudge
you again.!'
81 have nothing to forgive" she replied:
81 am not surprised that the bill astonished
you; and if you are satisfied with my exPla-
nation, we will call it square,"
81 am more than satisfied; and | rejoice
that have learned BY. accidentally receiving
that bill, that my wife possesses beneath
her beautiful extirior a kind, Christian
heart"
"Oh don't fatter me-" she replied, with a
smile; "you are more benevolent than |;
YOU spent nearly thousand among your
constituents, and used only four hundred
among mine"
"Yes, Mary, but dollar OF your money
will bring you more lasting reward than
thousands of mine ever brought me-.