The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-11-04
MY PUNISHMENT.
IsN,r it beautiful. George p

Ism IL DeautIul, george
Well, it as rather pretty" I said,
with half-suppressed yawn.
"Now, George" she said, Indignantly,
that is too bad. Do be generous for once.
Isn't it perfectly IoUely ?"
"Well, l suppose it IS ifyoW say so, my
dear; )" and l leaned back 10 my chair,
and with closed eyes placidly emitted a
dense volume of smoke from nv lips.
1t was six O'Clock in the evening, din
ner was over, and I had subsided into the
comfortable tranquility of my dressing
gown, slippers, and cigar. Alice had
been out shopping that afternoon, as sew
eral pIethoric-I looking bundles on the side
table testified and now 1 must witness
and share in the investigation Of their
contents.
So listened while my wife commented
on the texture of the linen intended for
the bosoms of my new shirts
She then produced a mysterious 10 king
package which, divested Of its paper COW
ering proved to be a very handsome black
silk dress pattern. She looked so pretty
as she stood be ore me-the bright fire
light shining on her sweet face-and it
was all in a glow, and she was enthusias-
tic in the praise of her last purchase,
which she was holding up before my un-
approaching eyes. She was not at all sat
isfed with the limited praise bestowed
upon it.
" How provoking you are George
Warden, do you hear Do take that ci-
gar out of your mouth and come out of
your smoke clouds little while I never
can get vord out of you when you once
get to smoking. Now how much do you
suppose 1 gave for this piece of silk?'
Mrs. Warden's husband opened his eyes
aud declared he "h4dn't the slis htest idea!
how should he know" Mrs W. was well
aware that he knew little and cared less
about the paraphernalia of lady's toll
ct.
"Ouly fifty dollars for the pattern
not cent more It's vel worth fifty
six; I've saved that much any how. And
it's so rich and thick it'll wear well, I am
sure. Now don't you think it cheap?"
"Well, rather )" and I knocked the ash
es from the tip of my cigar and prepared
to resume my train of thoughts when her
voice aror ID me again.
"But it isn't paid for yet" she was
saying, bcsitatingly. Il hadn't enough
money with me, and I was afraid if 1
waited till tomorrow I should lose the
chance and I was sure you wouldn't care
just this once" she SAID, timidly, as if
she wasn't so sure l wouldn't care after
all.
sat upright-all awake in a moment,
If there is any thing l abhor it Is the cred
it system-I mean where women are con
cerned Positively the idea that nly lrift
was going in debt for things, and getting
into the habit of running up long bills at
the dry-gOods stores, was mere than
could bear. My prophetic eye saw in the
future visions Of temptation, deception,
anxiety, unhappiness, and perhaps, ruin
all resulting from those terrible bills /
had labared so hard toimpress on her mind
this one lesson, " Pay as you 60" And
the thought that she had disobeyeI me on
the first temptation made me very wrath
/ ful. The storm burst over her uuconso-
ious head
''Alice, is it possible ?--when have told
you repeatedly never, under any circum-
stances, to get anything on credit, if you
can possibly avoid it? must say"
But, George, it is the first time ev-
er did so, and
alt must be the last hope am moi
n;ggardiy. am willing to let you have
ali the money you need; but 1 will not
consent to your running up long bills a
the store could tell you how many mer
of my acquaintance have been ruined by
their wives doing so. 1 tell you, Alice
YOU have no idea how a bill will run uI
before you know it. These little debt
seem very insignificant until you put then
all together. 12,cn tue aggregate is euor
nous. l did not thigk my rife would ac
in such direct opposition to my knowr
wishes,