Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-04-21
a}(istcllantous.
Mrs. Wyman's Furs !; or
Household Economy.
By s. s. MASON.

Mr.. and Mrs. Wyman were taking
breakfast at the fashionable hour Of eight.
There was an expression of discomfort on
the lady's face painful to behold, and hel
voice had taken its tone in accordance
Here it is the fifth Of December she
said fretfuIly, "and you promised that
should have the furs week ago. Every
body else that is anybody, had their win.
ter outfit before the snow came. But i,
is always the way when want anything,
have to wait forever"
Dir. Wyman sat quietly balancing his
spoon on cup for tew moments, and
then replied:
Il did promise you the money, Maria
but We havstound it SO difficult to collect
our bills this yea, to say nothing Of hig'
prices and deprecated currency. that il
is next to impossible for me to spare SC
much at present; especially while there
are many other things needed in the
house that we cannot well do without. -
And you do not really need the furs,
know. Maria"
"Oh, no of course not" was the
gracious reply. 81 should be very like.
" to ask for things | don't need. But
it's all the same to yo", | suppose, if l de
look like fright"
You are unjust, Maria, for you know
[ allow YOU all that | eau afford, to spend
for Yourself and the children. But there
are so many bills that must be paid be.
fore the first of January, that l hoped
you would be willing to do without your
iurs this winter"
But | am not willing" she answer.
ed sharply. sit would be just the same
next winter, and | might as well have
them now as any other time
Mr.. Wyman kuew that he ought to be
firm in his refusal, but he dreaded q
scene, and so, like many other men, he
yielded the point; and drawing out his
pocket book, he took from thence Fifty
dollars which he handed to his wife, with
the remark that she could do as she
pleased with it. Soon after he put OF
his hat, and with slow steps, and heavy
heart, went out to battle with the care.
and trials Of the day. Mrs, Wyman
who-we regret to say-was rather in
clined to be wilful and selfish, had fully
determined to get the best set of furs
that could be purchased for fifty dollars
and although the obliging clerk laid
variety of handsome articles before hel
hoping to make as handsome profits, ne
loubt-she put them all aside to look a
something more costly, or more suitable
to her style. A very good set was offer
ed her at the "lcw price Of twenty-five
dollars; really nice article tor the
price, and the color was such that they
would grow brighter in timc," &c. But
Mrs. Tyler's cost fifty could she. mer
chants vile pay less, and give spitefa
people a chance to make comparisons be-
tween them. No, no, she knew too mucl
for that.
We have one more set that VIC will
let you have for sixty.6ve dollars, altho
we shall positively lose more than VI
shall gain by the bargain :" said the We
raciou5 clerk with an insinuating smile
"Wil you look at them?" Mrs. Wyman
stood irresolute for several minutes. Sh'
knew that she was not able to pay sc
much, and that she would have to d.
without many other things that wer'
really needed in the family, but then i
would be so gratifying to 80 ahead Of he'
neighbors, Mrs. Tyler, who had tift!
dollar set, and Mrs. Henry Maynard, ,wh'
had no furs at all And thus the tempt
er-Vanity, triumphed, and she became
the happy posscssor of an expensive uxu
ry thai she did not really need. and Ger
tainly could i'll afford to purchase.
On entering her own house she found 1
young woman neatly, but very poorly at
tired in deep mourning; but whose pail
sad face, tod II tale Of want and suffer
ing that could not fail to incte pity i,
every feeling heart. Mrs. Wyman mere
Ily glanced at her; and crossing the room
deposited her late purchase on the table
upon which she unfolded her treasure
and spread them out for the inspection o
her husband, who sat near by writing
kr. Wyman looked up, said someth'n: