The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1858-08-12

Il can get a beautiful new velvet pat
tern for seven dollars, resumed my
wife.
Velvot-seven dollarsr groaned I.
We'll, then q common tufted rug like
this, would only cost three, said my
cautious better half, who, seeing she
could not carry her FIRST ambitious point,
wisely withdrew her guns.
That's more sensible, said I. We'll,
we'll see about IT,
And there's another thing I want,
continued my wife, putting her hand
ooaXingly on my shoulder, and it's not
at all extravagant, either.
What is itP I asked, 8oftening rap
idly.
i saw such lovely silk dress. pattern
on Canal street, this morning, and I
can get it for six dollars-Ouly six dol
lars, Harry It's the cheapest thing I
ever saw.
But haven't you got very pretty
green silk dressH
That old thingl Why, Harry, I've
worn it ever since we've been married
is it soilod, or ragged2'
NO, of course; but who wants to wear
the same green dress forever Every
body knows it is the only silk I have.
well, what then2
That's just a mans question, pout-
ed Kitty. And I suppose you have
not observed how old fashioned my bon
net is gettingr
Why, I thought it looked very neat
and tasteful since you put on that black
velvet winter trimming.
'Of cOurse-yoU men have no taste
in such matters.
We were silent for a moment I'm
afraid we both felt little cross and out
Of humor with one another. In fact,
on my journey home, I had entertained
serious thoughts of exchanging my old
silver watch for a more modern time
piece of gold, and had mentally appro-
priated the $40 to furthering that pur-
pose. Saving bank reflections had come
later.
As we sat before our fire. each wrap
ped in thought, our neighbor, Mr.. Will
mot, knocked at the door. He was en-
ployed at the same store as myself, and
his wife was an old family friend.
4 want you to congratulate me, he
said, taking a seat. i have purchased
that little cottage out on the Blooming
ton road to-day
What! that beautiful little wooden
cottage with the piazza and lawn, and
fruit garden behind?' exclaimed Kitty,
almost enviousIy.
is it possible2' I cried. A little
cottage home of my own. just like that
l had often admired on the Blooming
dale road, had always been the one
crowning ambition of my life-a dis
tant and almost hopeless point, but no
less earnestly desired.
Why, Wilmot, said I, how did this
happen? You've only been in business
eight or ten years longer than l, at a
salary but a triae larger than mine, yet
l could as soon buy up the mint as pur-
chase a cottage like that
We'll, said my neighbOr, we have
all been working to this end for years.
My wife has darned, patched, mended,
and saved-We have lived on plain fare,
and done with the cheapest things
But the magic charm Of the whole af-
fair was, that we laid aside every penny
that was not needed by actual positive
want Yos, l have seen my wife lay by
red cOppers, one by one.
We'll, you are q lucky fellow, said I
with a sigh.
Times are hard, you know, just now;
the owner was not what you call an eco
nomical man, and he was glad to sell
even at a moderate price. So you see
that even hard times have helped mel
when our neighbor was gone, Kitty
and ] looked meaningly at one another.
Harry, said she, the rug isn't so bad
after all, and my green silk will do for a
year longer, with care
And q silver watch is quite as good
for al practical purposes as a gold re-
peater, said 1. I'VE will set aside all
imaginary Want5l'
The ten dollar bill must 60 to the
bank, said Kitty, and I'll ecOnOmize
the coppers, just as Mrs. WilmOt did
Oh how happy she will be among the
roses in that cottage garden next spring,
Our merry tea-kettle sung us a cheer
ful little song over the glowing FIRE that
night, and the burden was, Economy
and a home Of your own, amid the roses
and the country airP