Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-07-22

gaace. We are not ridiculous if we are
pain" But" she said, laying her
hand softly in her husbands, .'I am am
bhious o one hing, dear Edward; i, is
/ 10 make happy home for you and the
children. Ii fail here. | shall indeed
be bitterly disappointed.
30 Helen, certainly our home is one
the deares, and bes, in the whole wide
world; and know i! is your selfdenying
industry aud affection that makes it so.
No man loves his home better than do,
but" he added laughlngy, 81 do think ii
migE, be made lrAe happier by some
Brussels carpe,ing, and damask sofas and
curtains"
al don't think so." said Helen. sand
thars why | cling so fondly 10 this dear
old furniture; il is so homelike, SO full of
charming and tender associations. Home
might be made more stylish, more snowy
and brilliant, but not more happy-l
doubt that How cold and cheerIess
tha, elegsn, parIcr Of the Benefits looks !
Ii is too handsome TO be used, and the
chairs and sofas, ,and even the very books
and vases on the centre table, have a
louch-ne-not company look about them;
and instead of having a cheerful sitting
room. as they once had, they now keep
IN that dark, dingy dining-room, excep,
when callers come; and dare say, poor
John Waters won'l get half so comforts
BILE maps in ths, magnificent loanging
chair, as he did IN the old chinlz covered
one. No, really believe their home
happiness will be lessened, rather than
Increased by The change"
al don't want things too good 10 use; !
confess that would be foolish. But |
should use them jus, the same. il they
were hsndsomer.'
"Would you p! Just fancy yourself,
you lazy man, stretched out on one OF
those superb crimson damssk sofas. You
couldn't do il comfortably to save your
life, e,and you need not pretend you could, '
said Helen, with merry laugh. "Why.
don'I dare even TO put anew chintz-
cover on this old sofa, lest you should
feel little on, Of place"
Nothing but your economy, Helen. your
awful economy. 1t has been the making
of me. know; and poor miserable iel-
low should have been but for your in
dusEy and judicious counsel; but we are
no longer poor, we have good income
and can afford some luAuries."
So we can; ant TOO want uxuries, but
whal is luxury Edward! Is il not great
luxury. TO be cozy and comfortable, more
than showey and elegant ! Is it no, lux
ury 10 know thaiwe owe no man any
thing; that we ale laying by something
every year for the children; and ihen,'
she said with tender tone of voice, and
tear shining in her soft blue eye, "it is
such luxury 10 help those poorer than
we. O,what heart satisfying pleasure it
was 10 settle the Woods on that little
farm last year, and be liable TO carry fan
nels, fuel and food TO go many poor sick
people. Do let Us look al things as they
are and not through other peoples eyes.
We don't want more costly furniture for
our enjoyment, il is only that other peo-
pie may admire it, and wha, a poor graft
ficalion is that, compared with other plea
sures money can bring Why, ii was
only to-day was thinking II seemed al
most wrong for us to be so fully crafty
Ii ing every taste aud wish when there was
80 much suffering in the world, so many
shlveriug with cold, so many lying on
sick beds, without the little comforts they
used, and above all. so many sunk in vice
and degradation. who perhaps might be
saved by The hand of charity held to them.
| o, Edward. those words of Jesus about
self denial, must have some meaning for
us who profess 10 be His disciples.
When look at things in this light, i'll
does seem 10 me that if we have one or
two hundred dollars to expend, it might
be better invested than in furniture."
IL believe you are right, Helen. You
always see the light more clearly than
do. SILL 1t canno. be wrong 10 indulge
our tastes TO some extent, and 10 enjoy
what is beautiful in nature and in art"
"To enjoy what is really beautiful is a
different thing from being merely fashion.
able, from having costly dresses and fur
ni,ure, which are ollener in bad taste
than good. Still | do not believe we
ought to be too self.indulgent even in
those lines. The poor and ignorant have
claim upon US, which should be met
before we crafty even our innocent ant
laudsble tastes. Don't you think so =
"UDdoub,edly; bu, where are We 10
draw the lines between the proper and
improper ndulgence Of taste o.
1--WE cannot draw il for others, but con.