The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-09-06


i" Don't believe | should, my DEAR" re.
piled the unfeeling husband.
Z" You don't care straw for my feel
ings now"
"Just as much as ever I did, my dear;
but YOU know [ don't believe in peoples
making themselves miserable for nothing
at all"
DO you call it nothing at all to be be-
hind all our friends aud neighbors
81 do, Janet. [ don't care what my
friends and neighbors have got in their
parlors That is their business, not mine
They must get what their taste dictates
and their means permit. We must dc
the same, without regard to them. This
rivalry is worse than folly"
{" | don't want to be behind everybody
else"
"Never mind everybody else. Now
look into our parlor. There is good su-
perfne carpet on the floor. six hair-cloth
stuffed seat chairs, sofa, a rocking chair,
book case, and other articles in keeping
with them. 1t is comfortable, pleasant,
in good taste, and as good as people in
our circumstances ought to have. We
cannot afford Wilton carpets, French
chairs, and rosewood tables"
Look at David Bennington's parlor.
/" have looked at it"
"Compare it with ours"
"That | am not disposed to do. dis
like this spirit of rivalry. His parlor is
elegant, and no doubt cost him years
salary to furnish it; but that is his bust
ness, not NINE Now, my dear, it pains
me to see you so much moved by the
splendor of your neighbors houses. De-
you know what that feeling is p
"It is something dreadful of course,
pouted the wife.
is is envy; and | am sorry to see you
cherishing such feeling. Just consider,
my dear, that cur house is very comfort.
ably furnished that we have all the com
forts and many of the luxuries Of life, and
ought to be very grateful for the bless
ings we enjoy"
Another homily on contentment-
pray spare me" replied Mrs. Greenway
with an expression of disgust.
81 will spare you, if the subject is dis
agreeable to you"
Il think you love money-that you
like to hoard it up. Do you know what
that feeling is calied?"
Perhaps | do"
"It is penuriousness; and people who
indulge the propensity are sometimes call
ed misers."
Il think your conclusion is rather
strained. We live very well. [ hope
you have never suffered for the want Of
good food, warm clothing, or any of the
comforts of life"
"Of course, I have not"
"By-and by the time will come when
shall want to 90 into business, and if
spend all | earn, | shall not De able to dc
so for the want of capital. 1t is best tc
think of the future"
"There is somebody at the door. II
is David Bennington and Ruth. They
promised to come over and spend the eve,
ming some day this week." said Mrs
Greenway, rising and going to the door
The visitors were warmly welcomed
and ushered into the comfortable parlor
which the lady had persistently decried
| CHAPTER II.
Henry Greeuway was clerk, and lived
in one of the suburban towns adjoining
the city of Boston. He was an iutelli-
gent, straight forward young man oftwen-
| ty-seven, who had been married four years
and hoped some time or other to make
his foltune by prudence, energy, and
minding his own business put as he has
already made his mark upon the reader,
we will uot enlarge upon his antecedents.
His neighbor, David Bennington, was
a young man, in similar circumstances
though his salary was fifteen hundred dol
lars. He was rather magnificent in his
ideas Of domestic matters, and lived in
the style of man who has an income OF
three thousand year. His wife was fond
of show, and dressed herself, and furnished
her house to such an extent, that her hus-
bands " bills payable" would have scared
prudent man out of his senses. But
David was not disturbed by trifes. He
had nerve enough to afix his signature
to note, and repeat the operation as often
as his wants or his embarrassments re-
quired.
Mrs. Bennington was condescendiug to
the lord and lady of the humble mansion,
and did not even sneer at the hair cloth
upon she was invited to be seated. But
this was not because there was DO malice
in her composition; it was only because
she had out.rivalled her neighbor III
chairs and silk dresses, and was compla.
cent in the victory. She soon brought
out the subject nearest to her heart, and