Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-01-14

himself on the sofa, one evening after tea, we
must have some new furniture for the parlor,
there's no two ways about it; ours is getting to
look decidedly shabby"
"Do you think so?" quietly replied Mrs
Lincoln. 81 thought it looked very oOmfOrta
bic and nice here" and her eyes glanced with
hOusekeeper's pride over the room, which
did wear an aspect of taste and comfort, though
every article of furniture was the same which
was bought at the time Of their marriage, ten
yesrs before.
Nothing was new; but the ingram carpet was
of bright, fresh colors, and Of such graceful
pattern that it was still pleasant to the eye,
there was a large, well-flled bookcase, some
pretty engravings scattered about on the walls
and side-tables, and the center-table, with its
brig y-burniDg solar-lamp, its little vase of
flowers, and its work basket, books and pa
pers, wore the eoZiest look imaginable; while
the sofa on which Edward was lying, though
covered with expensive material matched the
carpet and paper, and looked the very picture
Of ease snd comfort. Refined taste and cul-
ture were visible in the arrangement of every
article, as well as the hand of the neat, thrifty
housewife; well might Mrs. Lincoln say, "ev-
erything looked nice and comfortable
Why, yes, comfortable enough, perhaps, :"
rejoined her husband. a. But so old fashioned
and behind the times. There's John Waters
has just had both his parlors newly furnished.
and L Can tell you, Helen, things look elegant
there. The carpets and curtains are really
anu the e0IdS ana CQAlrS are covered
with damask Of beautiful pattern. havn't
seen anything so handsome for a long time;
ours looked dingy enough when came home -
After little pause he added, - know John
Waters isn't any better able able to furnish his
house in that style than am; and the Brights
and Bennetts, too, what rich and costly furni-
ture they have. The truth is, Helen, don t
think you are quite ambitious enough about
the appearance of things. / have made money
In my business the last five years, and we can
really afford now to live little more like other
people. Don't you feel a little mortified some
times, when callers Gomez"
Not at all, Edward, because / know every
lining is in good taste and nice order; and as We
make no pretsnsions to elegance, We are not
ridiculous If We are plain. But" she said
laying her ha1d softly in her husbands, Il am
ambitious Of one thing, dear Edward-it is to
make happy home for you and the children.
If fail here, shall indeed be bitterly disap-
pointed"
20, Helen, certainly our home is one of the
dearest and best in the whole wide world and
know it is your self-denying industry and
affection that makes il 30. Ne man loves his
home better than do; but" he added laugh
1ngly, "I do think it might be made q trife
happier by some Brussels carpeting and dam
ask sofas and curtcins"
II don't think So" said Helen, "and ,hat
is why L cling so fondly to this dear old furni-
ture; it is so homelike, so full of charming and
tender associations. Home might be made
more stylish, more snowy and brilliant, but
not more hapPy-I doubt that. How cold and
cherries that elegant parlor Of the Benefits
looks. 1t 10 too handsome to be used and the
chairs and sofEs, even the very books and vases
on the centre table, have a touch-me-n not COM
pany look about them; and instead Of having
cheerful sitting room, as they once had, they
now keep in that dark, dingy dining room, ex-
cept when callers come; and dare say poor
John Waters won't get half 80 comfortable
maps in that lounging chair. as he did in that
old chintz-eoyered one. No, / really believe
their home happiness will be lessened, rather
than increased by the change"
a. don't want things too good to use; con-
fess that would be foolish. But should use
them just the same, If they were handsomer -
Would ysu? Just fancy yourself, you lazy
man, stretched out On one Of those superb
crimson dsmask sofas. You could not do it
comfortably to save your life, and you need
not pretend you could, - said Helen, with a
merry laugh. Why, | don't dare even to put
new chintz cover on this old sofa, lest you
should feel little out of place"
Nothing but your economy, Helen, your
awful economy. II has been the making OF
me, L know; and poor miserable fellow
should have been bat for your industry and
judiciOus counsel; but we are no longer poor
we have good income, and can afford some
luxuries
!'' So we can; and too want luxuries, but
Wudt 10 q u 1s IL HOl u RTeAl
luxury to be eoEy and comfortable, more than
snowy and elegant? Is it not a luxury to
know that we owe no man anything; that we
are laying by something every year for the
children; and them" she ssid with a tender
tone OF voice, and tear shining in her soft
blue eye, it is such luxury to help those
poorer than we. o, what a heart satisfying
pleasure it was to settle the Woods on that
little farm last year, and to be able to carry
fanRels, fuel, and food to so many poor sick
people. Do let US look at things as they are
and not through other peoples eyes. We
don't want more costly furniture for our enjoy.
ment; it is only that other people may admire
1t, and what poor qualification is that com.
pared with other pleasures money can bring
Why, IL was only to-day / was thinking il
scanned almost wrong for US to be so fully graf
flying every taste and wish when there was SC
much suffering in the world, so many children
crying with hunger, so many shivering with
eeid, so many lying on sick beds without the
lktle comforts they need and above all, sc
many sunk in vice and degradation, who per-
haps might be saved by the hand of charity
held to them. o, Edward, those words OF
Jesus about self-denial, must have some mean
ing for us who profess to be His disciples
When 1 look at things in this light, it doe.
seem to me that il We have one or two hundred
dollars to expend IL might be better invested
than in furniture"
II believe you are right, Helen You Away,
see the light more clearly than do. Still il
cannot be wrong to indulge our tastes to som,
extent, and to enjoy what is beautiful in ma
ture and art.''
10 enjoy what is really beautiful is diff
ferent thing from being merely fashionable
from having costly dresses and furniture
which are oftener in bad taste than good Still
do not believe we ought to be too self-indul
gent even in these lines The poor and igno
rant have a claim upon Us, which should b.
met before We gratify even our innocent ant
laudible tastes. Don't you think so?''
Undoubtedly; but where are we to draw
the line between proper and improper in
diligence Of taste?''
I'VE cannot draw 1t for others, but con
science, think, is safe guide for ourselves
If On the same day We see a beautiful picture
q and poor, sick widow, suffering for want o
necessaries, if we can't do both, think con
science would tell us to relieve the poor. suf
fering sister FIRST; and if we did, would not th
thought Of her, made comfortable by our as
sistanee, be q real luxury TO US, as we la,
down our beds that nightl Should we not b.