The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-10-11

dollars"
Is that all ?" asked her husband
laughing.
Nes' and I am very anxious to have
a new carpet"
" would like to oblige you, Lucy F;
but cannot afford to spend so large a
sum Tor carpet when we do not abso-
lutely need it."
Hoq might afford it if you would,
UeorSe, said Mrs. Dawson. Lucy is
not e1travagant, and she knows YOUR
household wants better than YOU do. I
think her request reasonable, and I
think you ought to CRAFTY it,"
81 have every disposition to crafty
my WIFE,, said George, but cannot
do SO in this instance. l know that we
40 not need new carpet, and I know
'ha' cannot spend so much money for
one 90 here the matter must rest for
,he present, and I hope Lucy will see
he justice of my position"
There Is very little Justice about it."
SAID Mrs. Dawson sharply. Your
wife is the best Judge of her wants. and
with your income it is your duty to
grant every reasonable request from
her"
" Excuse me-" said George, but we
will not argue this subject now. I have
decided not to buy the carpet. There
the matter must end.
Mrs Dawson flushed angrily. but said
nothing. She went home quite early,
and thoroughly ont Of humor. 1t was
the first time she had met with any de-
cided opposition, and she was indignant
at it, She resolved that she would car
ry her point at all hazards.
George" said hrs. Hobbs as they
sat in the parlor in silence after her
mothers departure, "you ought TO have
been more gentle with mother she does
not mean any harm"
81 am always anxious to treat your
mother with the highest respect" said
her husband, but I cannot allow her to
interfere with my domestic affairs. She
will only make mischief"
The next day Hrs. Dawson began
her attempts to carry her point. She
was determined that her daughter
should have new carpet now at all
hazards. if it was only to be rcvenred
upon M. Hobbs. She urged upon her
aauohter the necessity Of having a new
carpet, and above all of managing her
affairs her own way.
at is your business to look after
your own house." she said and your
husband has no right to interfere.
George is fully able to crafty you in
this matter, and, must say it, dear, lie
is acting very badly in refusing to DO
So"
Mrs, Hobbs was in a most unenvia-
Bile position. She was devout be
lever in her mothers infallibility in
household matters, but also a good wife.
Nevertheless she was not a womae of
independence and was easily Influenced,
Mrs. Dawson. on the other hand, was a
woman of strong will aud determine.
tion, and she pressed her attacks vigor-
ously, so that she soon succeeded in
convincing Mrs. Hobbs that her hus.
band was denying her the carpet, she
wanted merely to exert his power over
her. This was a point gained, and
from this Mrs. Dawson succeeded in
persuading her daughter to get the car
pet on her own responsibility, and say
nothing of it to her husband until il
was put down on the floor.
"Georgo will never refuse to pay the
BILL" she said, "and it will do no harm
to teach him a lesson"
At first Mrs. Hobbs revolted at thC
idea Of deceiving her husband in such
a manner, but her mother succeeded in
perauading her that there was no harm
in it,
The carpet was bought, charged to
Mr.. Hobbs, and sent home. Mrs
Dawson came daily, aud assisted her
daugh,e ,er in making it up; and, in a
few days it was ready to put down. This
was fully six weeks from the time when
the subject was first mentioned.
Mr. Hobbs had heard nothing more
of the carpet since the night on which
he had declined to buy it. His whole
silence on the subject he construed into
a cheerful acluiesence on her part in his
decision, and he loved her all the bet
ter for her conduct At last, having
succeeded in some speculations in which
he was engaged, and having realized a
large sum from them, he determined to
reward his wife. for what he supposed
her goodness, by giving her a new and
handsome carpet for her parlor Aud
so it happened, that on the very day
on which Mrs, Hobbs and her mother
were engaged in putting down the new
carpet, Mr.. Hobbs went to the store
from which they had bought it, to Sc
lect one, having resolved to surprise his
wife with it, His astonishment was
very great, when, upon asking TO see
some carpets, he was told that Mrs.
Hobbs had purchased one few days
before. He asked for the bill and paid
it in silence. He was shocked and
q II 4 -, o,