Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-03-22
A Story for Business Mems Daugh.
H+'t fnvp0

will you please beg papa to buy me that
beautiful set of pearls at Tiffany's? All
the girls in our circle have some, and
surely you would not wish me to seem
odd" .a-.
"My dear child, it is utterly impos
sible f: your father cannot afford it, and
even if he could, it would be piece of
useless extravaganza entirely III suited
to your age. ! consider it perfectly
ridiculous to see children like you be.
iecked With trinkets like some South
Sea Islander.''
"Why, mamma, how you astonisL
me! Why, every person knows papa is
very rich, and there is Clara Cllntcn's
mother, who is acknowledged to be q
lady of SUI ericr taste, ami allows Clara
to wear what she pleases."
"Mrs. Clinton has perfect right to
dress her daughter according to her
idea but prefer to see you in sim
ple garb so becoming to modest girl
hood. Your father, darling, is very
much embarrassed at present, having
entered into some speculations which ]
fear will prove disastrous we will then
be obliged to leave this splendid house
and seek one mere suited to our means.
1 tell you tn s, my chili, that you may
not be annoying him for money for
every elegant, costly triae you may be
pleased with. You know it hurts him
to :efuse YOU"
"And | have been forever teasing
him about new dresses and jewels. |
would not have Leen so unkind, dear
mother, had | known what you say"
said Meta Bancroft with fearful eyes.
"Only Moughtless, darling," said
her mother. Now attend to your
lessons-pcrhaps you may be able to
turn to your education to advantage,
and assist your fa:Eer, should trouble
come"
Meta Bancroft was a noble girl.-
From her infancy she had been the light
of homo. With firm and keen per-
ception Of right she never wavered
when she knew her duty, and although
reared in home Of affluence and &C.
customcd to be petted and caressed,
she was not spoiled. Yet she was 70,
entirely free from that great error in
, !, the female character, rivalry about
4 dress and despite Of her resolution
> she was sadly disappointed about the
pearls. In tho evening when her faith.
= ! er returned, his face looked very trou.
i bled. There was mournful tender.
ness in his eye as he met his wife art
daughter with their accustomed kisses
: The evening passed almost in silence
and wien Meta had retired to he
room he said to his wife, "Alice, tn
Z blow has fallen at last.''
Il had feared so, William" said hi
wife. "But you lave done all in you
yower to prevent it. Gad's Will b
done we will not murmur."
0 "And will you be willing to rcsig,
this home for one Of poverty % h
:. asked.
r "Willingly, my husband. l woul
: scorn to Keep up false appearacce
: when We have not means to supper
: It,"
It "My noble, noble wife. You hav
y lighted the burden on my heart. Blu
y will our daughter be reconciled to sue
: a change %
"She is darling," said the mothc
fondly. "To-day refused to allo,
d her to make some expensive purchase
: and ii timated the reason ; exc imme
:. diately acknowledge the justice of m,
II refusal, and was reall J troubled to thin
: Of the annoyance her many frivolou
: requests must have caused you"
G The fathers eye frightened. "Ou
J. reverse may be blessing for her
. will bring out and strengthen her char
acter."
$ care your hopes entirely blasted p
J asked tn. wife.
0 "Even the furniture will be sold t.
: satisfy creditors. l may possibly hav
I enough left to fu,ni few rooms
G and Mr. Greene of the insurance com
q pany has promised me situation. NJ,
Il salary will do the best we cam"
: Under the ruthless hand of the auc
:, tionecr scarce an article was left un
q sold. Objects Of great value were sac
1 riGced at half their cost.
e With rare determination, on the da,
I after Mr.. Bancroft's failure, his wifi
u set out for the first time in her lif,
house huLting. In a quiet street il
: Brooklyn, she secured the upper apart
ments in the house Of an cid WIDOW
lady, whose family consisted Of an onl,
Z daughter. Early IN the following wecl
9 they removed, and We're soon comfort
ably settled.
4 Mr.. Bancroft was happier than h,
D expected to be. The little parlor, will
cane chairs and pretty carpet, looked
so neat and comfortavle-never hac
his wife looked So beaut full. Attireo
In simple calico her cheek flushed
her eye beaming with happiness, and
singing song as she prepared theil
} evening meal. Even Meta looked
! more digni6ed as she sat at small
table writing copies for her scholars
for she had obtained position as
, teacher in school.
81 never felt such contentment be-
fore," said the fathtr. "RcalIy, peo-
pie Of fashion have no idea of the
pleasure they miss"
'And indeed papa" sail Meta, 81
find more enjoyment and instruction in
teaching my little class than during my
association with people of fashion.
The character Of my pupils is an in