The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-01-30
Glitter and Gloom.

NAAsSSA esh4 NASSAAe
Many homes are elegantly furnished with
small addition to domestic comfort. in this
fast age, the Mrs. Potiphars often live in pal.
acial residences, ovcrlaid with gorgeous doc
orations, for the eyes Of fashionable visitors,
while the homo-loving Mr.. Potiphar sighs
for the quiet case Of the humble, old home.
stead. The Marysville Tribune gives On
amusing sketch Of the inner life Of one Of
those comfortable households.
III declare, Mr.. Smith this is too bad
Here you are, stretched out on the sofa,
mussing 1t up, and my nice carpet is oil
spoiled by the tramp Of your coarse boots.
shall be ashamed to bring any one into the
parlor again-and I have taken 80 much
pains to keep everything NICE do think
Mr.. Smith, you arc tho most thoughtcss man
ever did see-you don't appear to care how
much trouble you give me. II | had no more
care than you have, we would soon have q
nice looking house-it would not bo long till
our new house and furniture would be just
as bad as the DID," so said John Smiths
wife to him as sho saw him in tho parlor
taking nap on the sofa.
Mr.. Smith rose up quickly and answered
III was tired and sleepy, Mary, and tho
weather is so hot, and this room 30 quiet and
cool, and the sofa looked 80 inviting, that |
could not resist the temptation to snooze q
little. thought when We were building a
new honso, and furnishing 1t thus, that We
were doing II because the old house and fur
niture were not so comfortable and desirable,
and that I, and my own dear Mary would in
dulge ourselves in little quiet leisure in
these nice rooms, and il we choose, in laung-
ing on the sofas and rocking in these cush.
ioncd arm chairs, away from the noise OF the
family and the smell of the cooking stove.
81 did not dream Of displeasing you Mary.
and thought it would give you pleasure to
see me enjoying nap on the sofa, this warm
afternoon. noticed when Mr.. Merchant
Sewell, or Col. Bingham and their families
are here, you seem delighted to have sofas
and cushioned arm chairs for them to sit in
or lounge upon. I thought the house aud
sofas were to use-that we were seeking our
own pleasure when VIC paid n large sum Of
money for them but suppose I was mis-
taken, and that the house and furniture are
for strangts, and that wo are to sit in the
kitchen, and IL want to take nap. or rest
little when fitiegued, an to lie down on n
slab in the woodhouse; and IL You want to
rest, you can go to tho chldrcn's trundlo-bed
in the little close bedroom, where the flies
can have a chance at you"
The irony of Mr.. Smiths reply only pro.
vokod his wife, and seeing himself threatened
with repetition Of Mrs. Smiths speech
with unpleasant additions and variations, and
knowing that he would get tired Of gaining
victories over her in argument, before she
would think Of getting tired Of defeat, he
took himself of, and left Mrs. Smith to fix
up and dust out, and lock him out Of his
own house, and took seat In an old char
in the kitchen, which Mrs. Smith said was
good enough to use ovcry day-in the kitch.
en-, where no one sees it.
Poor, mistaken Mrs. Smith, thought L.
And yet many are like her. Thcy want
fine house, and when they get 1t they want
an outhouse built to live in, and they coninc
their families to few small rooms, poorly
furnished, while the main room, we'll fur
uished is snever seen by tho family, only when
visitors come both house and furniture are
too grand for use. The carpet is too fne for
their husbands to walk on the mirrors are
too fno for him to look into; the furniture
is all too 6no for him to SEQ or use. just so
IL goes; we dress-we women mean. and
a,n sorry that many men are as foolish as
we are-to pleas others; or rather to excite
their remarks: VIC build houses and furnish
them for those outside Of the family, and live
rs poorly when we are rich as wo did when
wo were poor; as poorly in tho new house
as in the old.
1t Is q fated day to enjoyment when
family gets house and furniture too fine for
uso and yet many have an ambition to have
il so. Better would It be il thoy were con-
tented with such house and such furniture
us is suited to every day use the house
large enough to accommodate ones friends,
and the furniture such as oil use when at
home.
THgGULr STREAM. letter describing a
voyage to Earopo says: nn
While bounding along in the current OF