The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-09-09
ION and so that passed without

= | reulaTk irOui al Ouo.
e On the next day Jane received th
t hundred dollars, which was spent for
shawl like mine. This brought bac
e sunshine to her face. Her moody look
s I saw disturbed my father.
From this time the hand that had ev
er been ready to supply all our wants
e real or ina aginary, opened less promptl.
at our demands. My father talked oc
casionally of retrenchment and econonl.
when some of our evtravagant bills cam
in; but we paid little heed to his +.
marks on this head Where could W
retrench ? In what could we economise
The very idea was absurd. We hat
did not have. Our house and furniture
would hardly compare favorably with tht
houses and fui niture of many of our fash
ionable friends. We dressed no better
indeed, not SO we'll as dozens of our ac
quaintances. Retrenchment and econo
myl 1 remember laughing with my
sisters at tha word, and wondering with
what could be coming over our iather.
In half amused way We enumerated d
the various items of imaginary reform,
beginning at the annual summer recre-
ations, and ending with our milliuer's
bills. In mock seriousness, We proposed
to take the places of cook, cham bermaid
and waiter, and thus save these items of
expense in the family. We had quite a
merry time over our fancied reforms.
But our father was serious. Steadily
be persisted in what seemed to us grow.
ing penuriousness. Every demand for
money seemed to give a partial shock,
and every collar that came to US was
, parted with reluctantly. All this was
something new to us; but we thought less
than we felt about it. Our futL er seemed
to be getting into very singular state
of mind.
Summer came round-I shall mover
forget that summer-and we commenced
making our annual preparations for Sa-
ratoga. Money was of course, an indis-
pensable prerequisite. I asked for fifty
dollars.
For what purpose p inquired my faith
er.
Il haven't single dress fit to appear
away from home in said I.
Where are you going p he asked.
thought the question strange one,
and replied little CURLY:
To Saratoga of course
'Ohr 1t scmed new to him. Then
he repeated my words, in questioning
kind of way, as if his mind was not al,
together satisfied on the subject.
To Saratoga?'
Yes Sir. To Saratoga. We always
go there. We shall close tho season
at Newport, this year
Who else is gciug?' My fathers
manner was strange. 1 had never seen
him in the mood he then appeared to be
in
Jane is going, of course; and SO is
Emily. Aud we are trying to persuade
mother, also. She didn't go last year.
Won't you spend week or two with US
Now do say yes
My father shook his head at this last
proposal, and said No, child y very de-
cidedly.
why p I asked.
Because 1 have something of more
Importance to think about than Sarato-
ga and its fashionable follics'
Business business = said 1 impa.
tiently 1t is the Moloch, father, to
which you sacrifice every social pleasure,
every home delight. every good Al
ready you have laid health and happi
ness upon the bloody altar of this false
god =
4 few quick fushes went over his pale
face and then its expression became very
sad.
Anna he said, after brief silence,
during which even my unpracticed eye
could see that an intense struggle was
going on in his mind, Anna, you will
have to give up your visit to Saratoga
this year
'Why father?' It seemed as if my
blood were instantly on fire. Ny face
was, of course all in a glow. L was con
founded, and, let me confess it, indig-
nant; it seemed SO like tyranical out
rage.
1T is simply as L say, my daughter.
He spoke without visible excitement
L cannot afford the expense this season,
and you will, therefore, all have to re-
main il the city,
That's impossible y said I. L could
not live here through the summer
Il manage to live!' There was tone
in my fathers voice, as he uttered these
simple words, partly to himself, that re-
buked me. Yes he did manage to live,
but hoao2 Witness his pale face, vast
ed form, subdued aspect, brooding ST.
lence, and habitual abstraction of mind
L manage to livel' I hear the re-
buking words, even now--the tones in
which they were uttered are in my ears
Dear father Kind, tender, indulgent,