Litchfield enquirer., 1868-06-18
A MIRROR.
IN WHICH SOME MAY LOOK WITH PROFIT.

Kate Landman spoke very carefully, fc she knew that her husband had not muc money to spare, and she spoke very carr estly, and there was world of entreaty i her look.
 'sWhat do you want seventy-fve cent for?" asked Albert.
 'sI want to get some braid for my ne' dress.'
 ''I thought you had materials all on han for that"
 s'So I thought had; but Mrs Shit and Mrs. Thompson both have a trimmin of braid on theirs and it looks very brett It is very fashionable, and it certainly add much to the look of the dress"
 Plague take these women's fashions Your endless trimmings and thing-a-ma gigs cost more thar the dress is worth. It nothing but shell out money, when once { woman thinks of a new dress'
 ''Surely don't have so many new dress es! I do certainly try to be as economica as can."
 s'It's funny kind of economy, at al events. But if you must have 1t you must. And Albert Landman took out his wallet and counted out seventy five cents; but hs let back into his pocket he did it with an
 
 take it out again in week. l When Albert reached the outer door on his way to work, he fouud the weather SC threatening that he concluded to go back and get his umbrella; and upon re-enter ing the sitting room he found his wife in tears. She tried to hide the fact thai she had been weeping, but he had caught her in the act, and asked her what it meant. l ''Good gracious! I should like to know ii you are crying at what said about your dress" 1 'I wasn't crying at what you said AL bert," replied Kate tremulously; ''but you were so reluctant to grant me the favor. l was thinking how hard have to work; l am tied to the house; and how many little things l have to perplex me-and then to 1 think" "Pshaw what do you want to be so fool ish for?' And away started Albert Landman a sec- 1 ond time, but he was not to escape so easi- l ly. In the hal he was met by his daugh- ter Lizzie, @ bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked girl of ten years.
 :'0h, papa, give me fifteen conts." Oh, want fifteen cents. Do please give it to me"
 "What in the world do you want of it? Are they changing yorr school books again?"
 ssNo. I want to buy hoop, Ellen Smith has got one and so has Mary Buck and Sarah Glen. MT. Grant has got some real pretty ones to sell. Can't I have one?"
 Nonsense! If you want hoop, go and get one off some old barrel. I cant afford to be buying hoops for you to trundle about the street. "
 ''Please, papa"
 ''No, tell you.'
 The bright blue eyes were filed with his ear.
 Albert Landman hurried from the house with some very impatient words upon his lips. This was in the morning. At noon when he came home to dinner, there was a cloud over his household. His wife was sad and sober, and even little Lizzie so gay and b]ithesome, was very sad and si- lent. But these things could not last long in that household, for the husband and wife really loved each other devotedly, and were at heart kind and forbearing. When Albert came to his supper, Kate greeted him with kiss, and ill 8 moment the sum- shine came back; and had the lesson ended there the husband might have fancied that he had done nothing wrong, and that the cloud had been nothing but the exhalation l of domestic ferment for which no one l was particularly responsible, though he might not have banished the conviction that women's fashions were humbug, as we'll as trightfrl drain upon the husbands pockets. After tea Albert did few chores around the house, and then he lighted cigar and walked out. He had gone but 6 short dis tance when he met Lizzie. In her right hsnd she dragged an old hoop which she had taken from dilapidated four barrel while with her left she was rubbing her red swollen eyes. She was ill deep grief, and was sobbing painfully. He stopped his child and asked her what was the mat ter.
 She answered as well as her sobs would let her, that the other girls had laughed al her, and made fun of her hoop. They had nice pretty hoops while hers was ugly and homely.
 ssNever mind," s;il Albert, batting the little one on the head flor the child's griei touched him;) perhaps we'll have Q new hoop sometime.
 s.Mayn't have one now? Mir. Graut'' got just one left oh, it is such a pretty one!"
 The sobbing had ceased, and the chil( caught her fathers hand eagerly.
 Not now, Lizzie-not now. I vii think of it.
 Sobbing again, the child moved on to lwards home, dragging the old hoop afte her.
 1 Atone of the stores, Albert Landma1 met some of his friends.
 'Halloa, Albert! Whats up?'
 Nothing particular,
 .What do you say to game of billiards IAlbert?'
 sGood I'm in for that.''
 And away went Albert to the billiard hal where he had glorious time with hi } friends. He liked billiards; it was health pretty game, and the keeper of the hal allowed no rough scuffs upon his prem ises.
 They had played four games. Albe1 had won two, and his opponents had wol two.
 s'That's two and two, cried Tom Piper What do you say to playing them off, A bert
 "All right, go in, " said Albert, full of ar