The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1857-12-03
gelfrten Misrellany,
From Life Illustrated.
Necessary EXtraVagaRces.c
JONAH.

Necessary EXtraVaS2nces.
! II can't afford it ~
/ These words came, reluctantly and
slowly, from the unwilling lips of Mr.
Harry Spendfast, the other evening.
! Now Harry, although by no means
what you would denominate a " fast young
man." had habit of getting rid of ali
superfuous funds in very fast" man
ner indeed. Nobody knew where Har-
RVS money went-not even Harry him
self and on this particular evening, Mr.
Spendfast bewailed his inability to avail
himself of rare opportunity to purchase
a library, in the usual style, wondering
at the same time chow it cost SO much
to live"
"Now Harry" said I, "do throw away
that cigar, and take your hands out of
your pockets and listen to me awhile
I'm going to give you lecture"
"a lecture I don't know about that.
| can't say that l approve OF ladies' lee
lures. Is it about woman's rights ?"
"Not exactly; but as your mother is
at the old homested in Ulster County,
and you haven't any sisters, | feel espec-
tally "called" to talk to you in patron
izing way"
"Well 60 on! | will bear it as we'll as
I can" and Harry made grimace as he
lay back in his chair
"You receive a good salary from your
employers, am perfectly aware, and yet
you are never able to afford anything ;
like Mr.. Micawber, you are always in
difficulties. The fact is, Harry, you re
extravagant -
Harry bounced up from his chair like
an India rubber ball, coloring to the
roots of his hair with Indignation.
Extravagant l deny that utterl y
There is not the least shadow of founda-
ton for the accusation! Do l ever pat
ronizc billiard saloons? Do | drive fast
horses on the avenue? Do keep pri-
vate box at the opera? Do /"
ooh, Harry, Harry do stop! You
make my head ache with your yehe-
mence; even the policeman across the
way stares up at the window in mute as
/ constituent"
"Well, then don't call me extravagant. y"
and Mr.. Spendfast sat down with an air
Of injured innocence.
Not in that particular way, Harry, |
grant; but there are more ways than one
of being extravagant, About your dress,
for example,"
MY dress is perfectly plain, l am
sure"
"Well, we'll see How is it about
those studs ?"
q own to little folly on that score.
They tempted me, and | couldn't help it. "
"Call them City dollars, when plain
set at FIVE would have been all sufficient.
That fancy cane at ten"
How did you know inquired Har-
ry with guilty blush.
"Oh, never mind! 1t takes woman
to find out all such things. That eye
glass at ten dollars, when you know your
eye-sight is perfectly good
! l paused for an answer, but Harry
had mt word to say.
"Those sleeve buttons were FIVE dol
lars. Now | think plain pearl is twice
as pretty as gold, but n'tnlperte. Your
seal-ring at ten dollars, your pencil-case
at ten. You see I'm making moder-
!. ate estimate. Your embroidered Napo-
leon neck-tie may be prcttier than neat
!, black silk, but then it costs eight dollars
| Your watch chain, not more seryicable
than plain guard, was twenty-fye-wa:
| it not2 Let me see-that is one han
t dred and twenty-three dollars. all for un
' |necessaries"
: 81 did'n think it could be as much a
} that" quoth Harry, looking thoughtful.
. at the tip Of his bot '
.