The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-11-06

Effic struck her hands together, ex-
claiming Splendid! Oh, l do so ad
mire curtains! They give to a room
such an elegant appearance. We must
get them before the party"
81 eyes. / mean that"
"And, ma" said Effie, her manner
changing, "don't yon think We ought
I" have new sofa, and a set of chairs
Halr-cloth has such poor look"
Mrs. Drayton shook her head. "Your
father will say no to that"
"Just look at them, mai" And Effie
caugtt hold of caair and turned it 10
the light. 'All the freshness has gone.
They are dull and mean. After the
new carpet is down, and the curtains
at the windows, we'll be ashamed of
the sofa and chairs. For my part I'd
rather not have any curtains, unless
other things are to accord. "This
'would-ify you could way of doing things
| despisc."
'Just my feeling" answered the
weak, foolish mother. "But, Effie, you
know how hard it is To do ANYTHING
with yonr father We must manage
the best we can, and get things by de-
grees. The curtains and carpet will
do for this time. There will be crowd
in the room aud no one will observe
the furniture"
But Etfie was not satisfied. She
argued for the new chairs and sofa,
and argued SO conclusively, that her
mother came over to her side. Soon
after breakfast, started out to select the
carpet. Between one at two dollars a
yard and one at three dollars, the con.
trast of quality and appearance was so
great thai the costlirst was chosen.
From Orne's they went to Carryl's,
aud after an hours examination of cur
tains, selected a set for three windows
at one hundred dollars set, To be put
mp on the morning of the day on which
the party was to be given.
"Sial we call at White's?" said
Effip, as mother and daughter emerged
upon the street.
"We can't go any further in this di-
rection," was the answer, in a tone
from which all life had departed.
"Why not ?' l
Mrs. Drayton shook her head, and
closed her lips tightly.
"Wby not ?" repeated Effie.
Because we have gone far enough
Your father didn't say we might get
the curtains, and l don't know what
he will think of it. I'm almost sorry
that l ordered them. He'll be angry
when the bill comes in.''
"It will soon be over," returned Effic,
lightly. "Father's anger isn't very
terrible at any time. I'm not afraid
nf it,"
"The curtains and the carpet must
suffice" said Mrs. Drayton, firmly.
"Any h"w," perSevered Ellie, eve
can drop in at Whites, as we go up
street, and look at his furniture. We
needn't buy, You know"
So they stopped in; and it turned
out as Effie had anticipated. A set of
half a dozen brocatelle chairs at ten
dollars each, sofa to match at seventy
five dollars, three reception chairs at
five dollars each, and small sofa M
forty dollars, were ordered to be sent
or the day the curtains We're to go up.
Mrs. Drayton returned home in "A
soberer mood than when she went out.
Her husband had not consented, with
anything like pleasure, to the expendi
rure of hundred dollars for carpet
and now, as she mentally added mp the
price of carpet, curtains, and furniture,
1.-The startling aggregate of six hundred
and forty dollars looked her rebuking
ly in the face. Mrs. Drayton was un
usually quiet for the rest of that day !;
for she could not help looking forward,
with a vague feeling of anxiety, tn the
time when her husband would know
what had heen done. Purposely she
had directed that the curtains be put
up, and the furniture sent home on the
day of the party; and her hope was
that, in the exhilaration and social de-
light of the occasion, her husbands
displeasure, if any was felt, would be
absorbed. ~ Ha.
Bnt something more than parlor
adornmcnts were to grace the occasion.
These made only part of the expense.
There must be new dresses, and some
costly if not snowy ornaments, befitting
the hostess and her daughters, who
were considerably vexed and annoyed
at the perversity of Mr.. Drayton in re-
l fnsing To order a suit of clothes from
his tailor. a4E.
n