The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1859-04-20
FAMILY JARS
BY CHARLOTTE LESLIE.

lady was low bred enough to be in passion,
but the lips set firmly together, the tip Of
the little slipper pressed hard upon the foot
stool. and the naughty carriage OF the head.
showed plainly enough that the lady's proud
spirit was up. The story was very simple
one:
Mrs. Lascelles, like all handsome women.
and some who are not handsome, loved dress,
and Mr.. l.. didn't like the expense. Mrs.
l.. ordered new bonnet every season, and
my lord thought il extravagant; Mrs. l.. sell
dom wore the same evening dress more than
once, and though her husband admired the
effect as much as any one, he groaned over
the bills that came in, afterward. Mrs. l..
thought she could wear only the freshest
gloves, and. certainly, no little hand ever
looked so neat and pretty as hers, but then
L" gloves s1--gloves 81 cents.," we're scat
tered, thick as hail, all over the bill.
Mr.. L. once took the trouble Of counting
up the cost Of them for six months. and
thought, forever afterwards. that kid gloves
we're the ruin Of him and the country.
Mrs. L. seldom went out in anything but
silk, and that none Of the cheapest. Mrs. i.
wore the finest laces and muslins. the most
recherche handkerchiefs Of any lady in her
circle but then il costs something to be the
best dressed lady Of your set, when the set
is rather rich one, and Mr.. Lascelles made
up his mind over his third cigar. that he
couldn't aud wouldn't stand it any longer.
So there was an explosion after breakfast,
in which the gentleman bore the principal
part. He hadn't intended to say anything
unkind or 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 taken back. lie was all the
more annoyed, because his wife had said no.
thing until he had threatened that he would
pay no more bills Of her contracting, when a
naughty, Gas you please, sir" escaped her.
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 rather daunted
him; he wished he had governed his temper
a 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 o.
it. Was il a fact that her extravagance had
lcrippled his meanss True, she spent large
sum every wear, say thousand but wasn'l
\ he reaIy able 10 afford her that? Hadn't be
\ lost ten times that sum only week before
! by endorsing questionable note, that pru'
dent man would not have put his pen to
Wasn't that something like extravaganza
Hadn't he gone and put up fine store with
4 marble front aud plate glass windows onl,
\ because his neighbors did the same, wher
the old brick one answered his proposes jus
as well, and the new one had drained HI,
purse out more than hundred bills Didn'
lie put his name down for one hundred here
and two hundred there, and FIVE hundred il
another place. solely to keep up reputation
for wealth and liberality. and was IL not a
much vanity as the love Of a new bonnet
/ Were not many Of his business speculation
Of tie same complexion 10 short. did h
not often spend in year, in the way Of IN
necessary losses and unnecessary business
/ expenditures, twice as much as his wife
whole outlay and didn't he wear importe'
broadcloth, imported satin in his vest an'
neckcluth, imported linen, handkerchieis
gloves, and cigarsi aud IL il we're the fashiol
for gentlemen to wear yalenciennes. woulS
he not pay as much for il as his wife nov
\ did
i Mr.. I.acelles' conscience told him som,
very plain truths, and he grew more an,
more uncomfortable. lie didn't like to thinl
Of what he had said TO his wife, for he ha,
certainly said some very harsh things, an,
even il she were in fault. she might reasona
bly, be angry.
Now, Mr. Lascelles stood little in awi
Of his wife not on account Of any trou
ble they had ever had, Tor they always live
: very harmoniously together, or Of any ylo
lenee Of temper, for no one could be sweeter
but simply because Of her perfect sclf-com
mand. Whatever the proy0cation. no on
ever saw the lady out Of temper. You nigh
catch flash from her beautiful eyes, or sc
the color deepen in the delicate cheek, bu
the voice was Just rs calm and soft, the word
Just as courteous AZ ever. Yet. Mr.. l.. ha'
testimony that she never forgot an offence
and he was desperately afraid that she woul
not soon forgive this one.
"Conround Il all wish she'd Gre uF
and scoId like some women, and then cry
and forget all about IL" he said TO himself
as he sailed out Of bis counting room.
lie went home. very digni6ed and resc
lutte, outside. very anxious and troubled viii
in; but there was company 10 dinner, an
, Mrs. 4. was gracious 70 all, and very muc
engaged with her guests, and he went ava
. in better spirits
In the evening there was company alsr
! and Mrs. L. played. and sang. and talked a
1 elegantly as ever. Tie ventured to prais
. her execution Of one piece that lie loved
and her bow o. acknowledgement. and poIit
/ al am happy to have pleased you." wsr
/. the acme Of gentle courtesy. but they ie
! eoldly on his heart. One loving smile, sue
: as she used 70 give whea be praised hel
would be worth all the fine words she eoul
. speak. fIe fell hurt and sexed when !
/ tried 10 seem pleased aud kind, and 70 sho'
that he cherished no anger, he thought 81