The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-05-22

Your parlor is exactly the size Of mine
Its all made and bound nicely. as you cal
see; and this work on il shall cost yot
nothing. We paid little over 6ity dollar'
for the carpet before stitch was taken ia
It; and fly dollars will make you the pos
sessor."
"Arc you really in earnest7" said tic
neigl'bor.
"Nsver moro SO in my lifc."
"It Is q bargain, them"
avery we'll"
.'when can have it7'
Gust as soon MS I can rid II from the
floor" said Mrs. Cartwright, in real ear
nest.
"Go to work." replied tho neighbor,
laughing out at the novelty Of tho affair
"Be(ore your task Is half done, I will be
batk'wilh the fifty dollars, and man 10
carry home tho CARPET"
And SO she was. In less than half an
hour alter the sale was made, in this of.
hand fashion, Mrs. Cartwright sat alone in
her parlor, looking down upon the naked
floor But she had five ten.dollar gold
pieces in her hand, and they were Of moro
value in her eyes than twenty carpets. Not
long did she sit musing here. There was
other work to do. The old carpet must be
replaced upon The purlor floor ere her h,is.
bands return. And 1t was replaced. In
the midst of her hurried operations, the old
blinds with the new hangings came in, and
were put up to the windows. When Mr..
Cartwright returned home, and stepped IN.
side of the litlo parlor, where he found his
wife awaiting him, he gave an exclamation
Of surprise.
"Why, Mary What is tho meaning OF
this 2 Where is the new carpet ?"
She laid the five gold pieces in his hand (,
and then looked earnestly, and with tears
In her eyes, upon his wondering face.
"Wlat are these, Mary? Where did they
come from? ?"
'"Cousin Sally is gone. The carpet did
not seem attractive in her eyes and It lus
lost all benuiy in mine. So ! sold tho upi
lovely thing, md here is The money. Take
II, dear Henry, and lie, it serve the purpose
for which II was designed"
"All right ngain ~ exclaimed Mr.. Cart,
wright, rs soon rs the whole matter was
clear to him. "All right Mary, dear
Tint carpet. had It remained, would have
wrecked, fear, the happiness of our home
All, let us consult only our own eyes, here.
after, Mnry-no, the eyes of other people
None think the better Of us for what we
seem-only for whnt we are. II Is not
from fine furniture that our true pleasure in
life is TO come but from consciousness
of risLi.auing Let tho inner life be right
and the outer life will surely he In just har.
mony. IN the humble aboio OF virtue
there is moro rcal happiness than In the
palace.homes of the unjust, the selfish, and
wrong doers. The sentiment Is oil rs the
world but It must come to every heart, at
some time in life, with all the force OF an
original u,terance. And let It SO come to
us now. dear wife !"
And thus II did come. This little expo.
rience showed them an aspect Of things
that qnickened their better reasons; and its
smart remained long enough 10 give It the
power Of monitor In all their after lives.
They never erred again in this wise. For
Two or three yeurs more tho old carpc, did
duty In their neat little parlor, and when It
was at lust replaced by new one, the
change was made for their own eyes, AMI
not for the eyes Of another.