The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1860-09-27
= aumestit Story,
y HARVEY'S WIFE"

But llarvcy's wife is to have q new
one, you see, Willard
And that is q good and sufficient
reason why my wife should have one,
too; suppose"
Willard Phelps said these words with
u smile so pleasant and so fond, looking
on the fair face of the woman he had
called his wife for couple OF years,
that shc could not feel vexcd or wonn-
dcd, though there was unconsciously to
the speaker u little tone ofreproofin his
voice, just rs though he felt the good
ard sufficient reason his wife had as.
signed for getting Il new winter hat,
was a small weakness that must be in
dulgcd.
Mrs. Phelps lifted pair of very
pleasant bluc eyes to her husband, as
she asked quite serious y, "Wcll, isn't
it II good reason, Willard, that should
dress as we'll as your brothers witcY
4 presume so. Women think great
deal about these things, How much
viii tho hat bc}' drawing out his port
monia,
| well ten dollars, ] think. I'll be
| Just as economical As con-
i don. doubt it, Mary only you
must be certain to carry the fear and
the memory of llarvey's wife bonnet to
the miIincr's this morning
! Mrs. Phelps WAS Il very good-natured
woman on the whole; but | think she
| would have poutol this time, if her hus-
band bad not sealed his words with a
kiss, as he slipped the money into her
hands, and hurried off to the store.
lie and his brother were clerks in a
large wholesale house, each with II sal
ary Of twelve hundred IL year, The
young incn had married about the same
/ time. and their wives were old friends,
and had been >choOlmutoS.
! The young men were very happy
husbands. Their wives were sensible,
eslimablc, loving, home-womcn but
Mrs Harvey Phelps had Il rich broth
cr, who was very fond other, made her
elegant presents, and supplied her with
II good deal Of pockcL-moncv.
Mrs. Willard Phelps had none: and
good and sensible u woman as she was,
she WAS still human enough, and fool
ish enough to carry about with her Il
little feeling that llavey's wife had no
right to outshnc her in her dress, or
any Of her household appointments.
Indeed, in some far back closet OF Ma
ry Phclps's soul, WAS little spirit OF
envy and Jealousy, that had never seen
the light, but that made itself felt when
'larvey's wife displayed an elegant
{
so cost y or elegant, that it was at once
evident some other pursc-str;ngs beside
her husbands 5 must have been looscncd
to purchase.
And in all her household appoint
mcnts, in all her outIays for her own
wardrobe, Mrs. Phc ps was uncon-
sciou.y Influenced, more or less, by the
huasht 81 IIarvcy's wife 1t was the
'bac'> crow that stood ut the door OF
tine happy gi!c, and she never suspect
eL it.
Bat that morning the words Of her
husband haunted the thoughts Of Mrs.
Willard rhol.'s, as she slipped the little
roll OF bank noAes into her purse, and
away down in her soul voice com-
mcncci speaking alter this fashion
'N"sn there some trUth, now, in
what " Hard SAID this morning! l. ii
Il gUOI and sufficient reason that yoiI
should have new bonnet because liar.
vcy's wife has one? You know yOur
black velvet is as good Us new, though
you've worn it two years, and that you
could alter it, AMI with new face tim.
m.ngs and slrings, it would be hand,
some enough Tor anybody
but, then, lIavey's wife will come
olt IN something new and pretty, and
don't like to have her uutslinc me al
ways 1t WAS not the voice far down
in Mrs. Puelps's soLl, which added thi.
last consideration.
But ii answered promptly: "Sec
here, now, aren't you "a little weak and
.over-sensitive about Harvey's wife II
she can afford new hat, let her have
! il, but that's no reason you shouldn't
wear your old one. Now, yon are a
sensible woman, Mary Phelps. hope
you are u christian one, and it's Jnst q
mean and miserable way OF getting ON,
to carry this shadow vi Hayey's wife
about YOU. Look tho matter byayaly