Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1870-04-07
Live Within Your Means.


The fire glowing in the CRATE, revealed
pretty and neatly furnished sitting room,
with all the appliances Of comfort. The
fatiguing business of the day was over,
and he at enjoying what he had.sall day
been anticipating, the delightsof his own
fireside. His pretty wife. Esther, took
her work and sat down by the table.
1t is pleasant to have a home of ones
own, he again said, taking satisfactory
survey of his little quarters. The cold
rain beat against the windows and he
thought he felt really grateful for all his
present comforts.
Now if we only had a piano. exclaim-
ed the wife.
'Give me the music of your own sweet
voice before all pianos in ereatios,' he OBJ;
servel, complimentary but he felt a
Rain secret disappointment that his
wife's thankfulness did not happily chime
with his own,
well, we want one for our friends
said Esther.
Let our friends come to see us, and
not to hear piano. exclaimed the hus-
taad.
But, George, every body has piano
nowadays we don't go any where with
out seeing piano, persisted Esther.
and yet don't know whaG we want
one for-for you will have no time to play
on one, ard I don't want to hear it,
why, they are so fashionable / s4iak
our room looks nearly naked without sue. u
I think it looks just right
L think it looks very naked-we want
a piano shockingly,' persisted Esther, en-
phaticaAy.
The husband rocked violently.
Your damp smokes, my dear, said he
after long pause.
When are you going to get one of the
Few kind of lamps? have told you
dozen times how maeh ne need one,' said
Esther, pcttishly.
These are very pretty lamps said her
husband. The prettiest of the kind l
ever saw
But, George. I do not think our room
is complete without lamp of the new
STYLE said Esther, sharply They are
so fashionable ! Why, the Morgans and
many others l might mention, all have
them, [ am sure we ought to-
we ought not to take pattern by 9TH
er peoples expenses, and l deu't see any
reason in that
The husband moved uneasily in his
chair
we want to live as well as others, said
Esther.
We want to live within our means,
Esther
4 anu sure you can afford it as we'll as
the NIorgans and Thorns we do not wish
to appear mean
Georges cheek crimsoned
Mean I am not mean he cried, an
grily.
Then we co not wish to appear, So
said his wife. TO complete this room,
and make it look like other peoples rooms
we want piano and fashionable lamps
I'VE want-we want! muttered the
husband; there's 70 satisfying wonan's
wants, do what :you may and lie abrupt
ly left the room,
How many husbands are in similar
dilemma ? How many houses and hus-
bands are rendered uncomfortable by the
constant dissatisfaction Of a wife with
present comforts and present provisions
How many bright prospects for business
have ended in bankruptcy and ruin in Or
der to satisfy this secret hankering after
fashionable necessaries! Could the real
cause of many failures be known, it
would be found to result from useless
expenditures at home expenses to an
swer the demands of fashion and what
people will think.
My wife has made my fortune, said
gentleman Of great possessions, by her
thrift, prudence and cheerfulness when l
wa: just beginning
And mine has lost my fortune an
swcred his companion, 'by useless extrav-
agence and repining when | was doing
well.
What world does this open to the n-
ducnce which wife possesses over the fu-
ture prosperity of her family! Let the
wife know her influence and try to use it,
wisely and well.
BE Satlsned to commence on small
scale. 1t is too common for young house /.
keepers to begin where their mothers en-
ded. Buy all that is necessary to work
skillfully with !; adorn your house with all
that will make it comfortable. Do not
look at richer homes and covet their costly
furniture. If secret dissatisfaction is
ready to spring up, 60 step further and
visit houses of the suffering poor; behold
dark, cherries apartments, Insufficient
clothing. and absence of all the comfort
and refinement of social life, then return
to your own with joyful spirit. You,
will then be prepared to meet your hus-
baud with grateful heart. and be ready
to appreciate the toll of self-denial which
he has endured in the business world to
surround you with she delights of home
and Yau will be ready to co operate cheer
fully with him in so arranging your ex-
penses that his mind will not be constant
ly barrassed with fears lest his family cx-
pendstures may encroach upon public pay
merits. Be independent; a young house
keeper never shows greater moral cour-
age than she does now to resist the arrog-
ance of fashion. Do not let the AS aud
BIS decide what you must have. neither
let them hold the string of your purse.
You know best what you can afford. 1t
matters little what people think, provided
you are true to yourself ana Geaily.
A Montana vigilance committee caught |
a very obnoxious character, set him on his