The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1867-10-03
A MI r R O r !,
IN WHICH MANY PEOPLE MAY SEE THEM
SELVES REFLECTED.

ALBERT, I wish you would let me have
a couple of dollars"
Kate Landman spoke very carefully,
for she knew that her husband had not
much money to spare she spoke earnest
ly, and there was world of entreaty In
her look.
"What do you want money for ?" ask
ed Albert, not very pleasantly.
81 want to get some braid for my new
Dress"
81 thought you had the materials all
on hand for that"
81 thought had; but Mrs. Smith and
Mrs. Thompson both have trimming of
braid upon theirs, and its looks very pref
ty. 1t is very fashionable, and it cer-
tainly adds much to the dress"
"Plague take those women's fashions.
Your endless trimmings and thing. a ma
gigs cost more than the dress is worth
It's nothing but shell out money when
once q woman thinks of new dress"
"Surely, Albert, | don't have many
new dresses. | try to be as economical
as | can"
''It's funny kind of economy, at all
events. But if you must have it, sup
pose you must"
And Albert Landman took out his
purse, and counted out the money; but
he gave it grudgingly; and when he put
the purse back into his pocket, he did it
with an emphasis which seemed to say
that he would not take it out again for a
week
When Albert reached the outer door,
on his way to his work, he found the
weather so threatening that he resolved
to 60 back aud get his umbrella and up
on re-entering the little parlor he found
his wife in tears. She tried to hide the
fact but she had been caught in the act,
and she was asked what it meant
"Good gracious ~ cried her husband,
81 should like to know if you are crying
at what | said about your dress ?"
al wasn't crying at what you said, AL
bert" replied Kate, TREMENDOUSLY "but
you were so-reluctant to grant me the lit
tie favor. | was thinking how hard l
work-how l am tied to the house-how
many little things L have to perlex me !;
and then to think"
"Oh, pshaw What do you want to
be so foolish for ?"
And away started Albert Landmnn a
second time but not to escape so easily.
In the passage he was met by his daugh-
ter, Lizzie, bright eyed, rosy checked
girlsten years of age.
"Oh, papa, give me twenty-five cents" ;"
"What 2"
ooh, want twenty five cents. Do
please give it to me"
"What in the world do you want it
for ?'
"I want to buy hoop. Ellen Smith
has got one, and so has Mary Allen. Mr..
Grant has got some pretty ones to SELL
Mayn't / have one ?"
"Nonsense l can't afford to be buy
ing hoops for you to trundle about the
streets"
"Please papa"
"No, tell you %
The bright blue eyes were filled with
tears, and as the child's sobbing broke
upon his ear Albert Landman hurried
from the house with some very impatient
WOTuS upon MS lips.
This was in the morning. At one o.
clock, when he came to his dinner, there
was a cloud over the household. His
wife was serious /; aud he was silent; and
even little Lizzie, usually SO gay and
blithesome, was sad and silent.
But these things could not last long in
that husehold for the husband and wife
loved each devotedly, and were really at,
heart, kind and forbearing When AL
bert came home to his tea, Kate greeted
him with kiss, and in moment the
sunhine came back (; aud had the lesson
ended there the husband might have
fancied that he had done nothing wrong
that the cloud had been but the exhal-
tation of domestic ferment for which
no one was particularly responsible /;
though he might not have banished the
conviction that women's fashions were
nuisance, as well as frightful draft up
on husbands pockets.
After tea Albert lighted pipe aud
walked out. lie had gone but short
distance when he met Lizzie. In her
right hand she dragged an old hoop, which
had been taken from dilapidated flour
barrel, while with her left she was rub
bing her red, swollen eyes. She was in
deep grief, for she was sobbing painfully.
He stopped his child and asked what was
the matter.
She answered, as well as her sobs would
let her, that the other girls had laughed
at her, and made fun of the old hoop
They all had nice, pretty hoops, while
hers was ugly and homely.
"Never mind" said Albert, patting
the little one upon the head-for the
child's grief touched him-"perhaps well
have new hoop some time"
"Mayn'tl have one now Mr.. Grants
got one left--oh such a pretty one !"
The sobbing bad ceased as the child
caught her fnther's hand eagerly.