The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-03-13

sented har with recelpted Dill. Ills face
wearing pleased expression.
"How much shall pay you ~ asked
Mrs. Whitman, drawing out her pocke'
book.
Nothing; the watch is not defaced"
you have done kind act, sir" said Mrs
Whitman witt feeling trembling along her
voice. 81 hope you will not think unfavora.
bly, of my husband. It's no fault Of his that
the debt has not been pail. Good morning
sir"
Mrs. Whitman drew her veil over her face
and went withlight steps, and light heart
from the store. The pleasure she had ex-
perienced on receiving her watch, was not
to be compared with that now felt in parting
with it. From the jewelers. she went to the
boot makers and paid the bill of twenty
five dollars from thence to her milliner's
and settled for her last bonnet.
81 know your dying to see my new dess. >
said Mrs. Whitman, gaily as she drew her
arm within that other husbund on his ap.
pearance that evening. "Come over to our
bedroom and let me show it. Come along !
Don't hang back Charles, as you were so
afraid"
Charles Whitman went with his wife
passively, looking more like man on his
way to receive sentence than in expectation
of pleasant sight. His thoughts were
bitter "
"Shall my Ada become lost to me ?" he
said in his heart "lost to me in a world OF
folly, fashion and extravagence ~
"Sit down, Charfcs"
She led him to large cushioned chair
Her manner had undergone change. The
brightness Of her couutenance had departed.
She took something in a hurried way from
the drawer, and catching up footstool,
placed it on the floor near him. and looked
tenderly and lovingly into his face. Then
she handed him the jewelers. BILL
sit is receipted you see." Her voice fal.
tered little.
"Ada, how is this what does it mean ~
He flushed and grew eager.
81 returned the watch and Mr.. R re-
cepted the bill I would have paid for
damage, but he said it was uninjured, and
asked nothing"
"Oh, Ada n'
"And this receipted also; and this
handing the other bills which she had paid.
"And now DEAR" she added quickly, ''how
do you like my new dress Isn't it beau
tiful ~
We leave the explanation and scene that
followed to the readers imagination. If any
fair lady, however, who, like Ada, has been
drawing too heavily on her husbands slen-
der income for silks and jewels, is at loss
to realize the scene, let her try Ada's expe-
riment. Our word for it she will find new
and glad experience in life Costly silks and
jewels may be very pleasant things, but they
are too dearly bought when they come al
the price Of husbands embarrassment
mental dsquie'ude or alienation. Too often
the gay young wife wears them as the sign
Of these unhappy conditions. Tranquil
h"arts and happy hoIaes a1o precious ,slings;
too precious to be burdened with weak vanity
and love of show. Keep this in mind, Oh
ye fair ones, who have husbands in moderate
circumstances. Do not let your pride and
pleasure Cypress them. Rich clothing, COS!
ly laces and gems, ere POO. substitutes, for
smiling peace and hearts unshadowed with
care. Take the lesson and live by it rather
than offer another illustration, in your own
experience, Of the folly we have been trying
to expose and rebuke.