The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-03-19
debts; ere many days the work was COM
menced.
CHAPTER SECOND.

they were tearing out the front Of tn
house,
MRS. Carlton wanted a bay-window il
her parlor,' returned her husband, whom sh,
addressed, and 30, Of course, she must hav,
it, if the rhole house is torn down to admi
1t: You ladies always manage to have you
wishes granted
NO, IL don't half that wish for re-
piled Mrs. c.
Then you must spend your time-tht
chief part Of tin regrets and desires
according to what you receive, said he
jocosely. However, he added, you are
not disposed to uBreasonableness in youI
wishes, seldom dissatisfied with your lot,
I'll allow.
Indeed, there are not many who have
less cause for discontent than j. answered
Mrs. Colville, and | should be very ungrate-
ful TO deny it,
And isn't it so with our neigbbor?
think you have said she was the happiest
little woman alive
so she is; she is always satisfed-every
thing pleases her-every thing goes smooth
ly with her, and this idea Of the bay window
is mystery TO me; don't understand why
they are spelling their beautiful parlor for
the sake Of introducing one of those new
fashioned concerns
%, because It's the fashion. That's the
only reason, you may depend
How absurd she isn't such weak
minded creature as to put her husband to
such an expense for such frivolous pretext
setting aside the extravagant waste Of
tearing up the walls and framework Of u
house SO nearly new
we have one, you know
well, il was here when we came. |
should never have thought Of altering for
the sake Of that, neither would you have
indulged me in the whim If had wished
it. Besides, how foolish the Cartons will
look jutting out so into the street It's not
proper place for a bay-window wonder
they did not choose the end OF the house
for It's situation
Suppose you ask them,' said Mr.. c.,
ironically. Come, think we have dis
cussed our neighbors' affairs long enough.
Let US take some other subject
But Mrs. Colville was not 50 ready to
turn away from her friend Maggy's bay
window the mere fact that she accidental
ly possessed room lighted by tiis new
style of window, had, she feared, created
jealousy between that friend and herself.
At any rate, II must be envy which could
reconcile her to the demolition OF so much
beauty and symmetry as belonged to her
dwelling both outwardly and inwardly.
at is decidedly very bad taste in them so
to disfgure the front Of their house 1t will
not be at all in keeping with the rest OF 1t,
she said, still surveying the premises oPPo-
site.
o. replied her husband, fashion recon-
Giles us to almost anything; fashion can
make the ugliest appear beautiful
They will be so exposed TO the gaze OF
passers-by Maggy cannot realize how bad
II will SEEM
perhaps she is not SO fond Of retirement
as you are
%, she is very modest and sensitive
about attracting observation. 1t must have
been sudden fancy that suggested this
change, which they will certainly regret
As the work progressed, Mrs. Colvilles
disapprobation increased. Mrs. Carlton was
much younger than she, and inexperienced
in the ways Of the world. She had always
preferred TO be guided by others, even in
matters Of taste, and she doubted not that
her good friend, Hannah, as she called Mrs.
c., of whose superior judgement she had
often availed herself, would be pleased to
see she had copied her in getting bay
window for her parlor. She was therefore
totally unprepafed for the hauteur with
which she met her request for her advice in
getting new carpet, which this addition to
the room she found would render necessary.
Hannah Colville Is evidently piqued at
our improvements said Maggy to John, as
she returned from her neighbor's. Il declare
now, I've as good right to be in the fashion
as she has. She can't bear the thought Of our
being equal with her; as long as was
willing to say that she and everything that
belongs to her is superior to eyerybody's
else, she was friendly enough; guess
shant trouble her with my company very
soon, again. :,
20, i can't be! she is too high-minded
for such notions, answered her husband
perhaps she had been vcxed before you
went in
No, think not she was talking pleas.
ly when / entered, and changed her tone
and look Immediately on greeting me. |
don't care, though, can be as unpleasant
and disobliging as she any day.
Come, come, Maggy, don't be childish
may be she thinks you are too dependent
upon her for advice at any rate, you can
suit yourself now, If you please.
i really don't know what should like,
John. What should you prefer? You
shall choose the carpet
Il? dear me! have no choice in such
things; whatever you like pleases me, and
he started off to the market.
Il declare | don't know what should pre-
fer said Maggy to herself, as he closed the
street door. Everybody has admired this,
and really ! wish Il could remain; but 1t
can't, it will be too small. There, I'll get
one as near like 1t as possible And she
sat studying its colors and figure in order
to be guided thereby in the purchase Of the
new one.
With the making and placing. of this she
was quite busy for some days, and happy at
the prospect which the window afforded, in
dulged herself often with looking up and
down the street. Her husband was very
uncomfortable at the prospect which it peeu-
niariiy afforded him; he had not calculated
upon further expense than the setting Of the
window, but after the labor OF the carpen.
ter was completed, he saw plainly that
painting must be done, and accordingly gave
orders Tor new coat on the entire front Of
the house. This annoyed him exceedingly,
for amounted to heavy bill, and he knew
those he employed would expect prompt
payment. Several notes in the way Of his
business were just on the point Of becoming
due; heretofore he had anticipated these
demands and Nns olw.vs ,o.Jv 90 ,nao,