True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-05-26
AMUSING STORY.
Family Jars.
BY CHARLOTTE LESLIE.

DA NuAhLOITE bESLIEs
Mrs Lascelles eat in her dressing room
very dignifed and very angry, The lip
set firmly together, the tip of her It'll
slipper pressed hard upon the footsioo
and the baughty carriage of the head, tol
plainly enough that the lady'sproud spiri
was up. .
The story was very simple one.-
Mrs. Laecelles, like all handsome women
and some who are not handsome, lovet
dress, and Mr.. L. did not like the expense
Mrs. L. ordered new bonnet ever,
season, and her lord thought it exhava
ganl Mrs. L. seldom wore the sam,
evening dress more than once, and Tho
her husband admired the effect as mucl
as any one, he groaned over the bills tha
came in afterwards. Mrs. L. though
she could wear only the freshest gloves
and, certainly, no little hand ever looked
50 neat and pretty as hers; but then Mr.
L.. once took the trouble Of counting ur
the cost of them for six months. and tho )
forever after afterwards, that kid glove.
were the ruin Of him and the country
Consequently, Mr.. Lascelles made up hi.
mind that he couldn't and wouldn't stant
il any longer,
80 there was an explosion after break.
last, in which the gentleman bore prin
cipal part. He hadn't intended to say
anything unkind and untrue, but he
warmed up with the subject, and did say
many things, that before he got half way
TO his store, he would gladly have called
back. He was all the more annoyed
because his wife had said nothing unit
he had threatened that he would pay nc
more bills Of her contracting, when {
naughty "As you please, SIR" escaped
her. .a
She had heard all the reproaches about
the silks, gloves, laces and bonnets being
the ruin Of him, crippling his means, and
helping to ruin the country, and vitiate
the public taste, all in profound silence ;
but her naughty coldness of manner rath-
er daun.ed him; he wished that he had
have governed his temper little better
but then he had said nothing but the
truth.
Had he said nothing but the truth ! II
was stormy day, no business was doing,
and Mr.. Lascelles had chance to think
Oft. Was it fact that her extravipa nc e
had crippled his meansl True she spent
large sum every year, say 940O; but
wasn't he really able to afford her that
Hadnt he lost ten times that sum only a
few weeks before, by endorsing CUES.
tionable bill. that prudent man would
moi have put his pen to? Wasn't that
something like extravaganza Didn't
he put his name down for hundred here,
fifty there, and twenty in another place,
solely to keep up reputation for wealth
and liberality and was il not as much a
vanity as the love Of new bonne. d
Were not many of his business specula.
tions Of the same complexionl In short,
did he not often spend in a year, in the
way OF unnecessary losses and unneces-
sary business expenditures, ten times as
much as his wife's whole outlayY an
Mr. Lascelle's conscience told him
some very plain truths and he grew
more and more uncomfortable. He didn'.
like 70 think Of what he had said to his
wife. for he had certainly said some very
harsh things; and even if she were in
the fault, she might reasonably be angry.
Now, Mr.. Lascelles stood little in
ave Of his wife; no, on account of any
trouble they had ever had, for they had
always lived very harmoniously together
-or Of any violence Of temper, for no one |
could be sweetsr, bu, simply Of her per.
feet self command. Whatever the prov
ecation. no one ever saw the lady out of
temper. You might catch fash from
her beautiful eyes, or see the color deepen
IN the delicate cheek; but the voice was
just as calm and soft, The words Just as
courteous as ever. Yet Mr.. L. had tes,i.
mony that she never forgot an offence, |
and he was deperately afraid that she
would not soon forgive this one. |
=" Confound il ALL / wish she'd FIRE
up and scold like some women and then
cry, and forget all about it, he said to
himself as he sailed out of Office.
He went home very dignifed and reso-
lutte, outside, but very troubled within
but there was company to dinner, and
Mrs. Is; y, was gracious to all, and very
much engaged with her guests. After
dinner Mrs. l.. played and sang, and
talked as elegantly as eyer He ventured
to praise her execution Of one piece that
ne loved, and ller bow Of acknowledgment
and polite, ri am happy 10 have pleased
you" were the acme Of gentle courtesy
but they fell coldly on his heart. Olne +
loving smile, such as she used to give
him when he praised her, would be worth
all the fine words she could speaS. He
Eelt hurt and vexed /; when he tried 70
seem pleased and kind. and to show that
he cherished no anger, he thought she
nlghtmeet him half way. He'd make
her sorry for 1t, any way. S"'F ee II
30 no fliried with pretty girl among