The union Democrat., 1870-04-16
Live Within Your aicans.

fire glowing in the CRATE, revealed pretty
and neatly furnished sitting-loom, with all
the appliances of comfort. The fatiguing 5u-
siness of the day was over, and he sat enjoy
ing what he had all day been anticipating,
the delights Of his own frsside. His pretty
wife. Esther, took her work and sat down by
the table.
at is pleasant to have a home of ones
own," he again said, taking a satisfactory
survey of his little quarters. The cold rain
beat against the windows and he thought he
felt really grateful for all his present COM
forts.
"Now if we only had piano." exclaimed
the wife.
"Give me the music of your own sweet
voice before oil the pianos in CREATION" he
observed, complementary; but he felt GER
tain secret disappointment that his wife's hap
piness 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 husband.
"But, George. every body has piano, now
a-days-we don't 60 anywhere without seeing
piano." persisted Esther.
"And yet don't know what we want one
6r-for you will have no time to play on one,
and don't want to hear it.
"Why they are So fashionable-I think
our room looks nearly naked without one. :"
II think it looks ust right"
81 thin; it looks very naked-we want C
piano shockinsly," protested Esther, emphat-
ically
| The husband rocked violently.
"Your lamp smokes, my DEAR" said he af-
ter long pause.
"When are you going to get one of the new
kind of lamps? have told you a dozen
times how much we needed one, said Esther,
pettishly.
"These are very pretty lamps" said her
husband. "The prettiest of the kind ever
saw"
"But, George, I don't think our room is
complete without q lamp of the new style, !"
said Esther, sharply. "They are so fashion
able Why, the Morgans, and many others
might mention, all have them, and | am
sure we ought"
"We ought not to pattern by other peo-
nle's expenses, and don't see any reason in
that"
The husband moved uneasily in his chair.
ave want to live as we'll as Others" said
Esther. 81 am sure YOU can afford it as we'll
as the Morgans and Thorns we do not wish
to appear mean.'
| Georges cheek crimsoned.
| Mean | am not mean ~ he cried angri-
ly.
"Then we do not wish to appear So, said
his wife. ITO complete this room, and make
it look like other peoples rooms, we want a
piano and fashionable lamps"
"We want--we want ~ muttered the hus-
band; 'theres no satisfying woman's wants.
do what you may" and he abruptly left the
room.
How many husbands are in similar d.
emma How many houses and husbands
are rendered uncomfortable by the constant
J dissatisfaction of wife with present comforts
i and present provisions? How many bright
prospects for business have ended in bank
ruptcy and ruin in order 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 answer
the demands of fashion and what people will
think.
INV wife has made my fortune," saM a
gentleman of great possessions. "by her
thrift. prudence and cheerfulness when | was
Just beginning"
"And mine has lost my Fortune y answer
ed his companion. "by useless extravaganza
and repining when was doing well"
Wha. world does this open to the iniuen-
ces which wife possessed over the future
prosperity of her family! Let the wife know
her influence and try to use it, wisely and
well.
BE satisfied to commence on small scale.
1t is too common for young honsekeepers 10
begin where their mothers ended. Buy all
that is necessary to work skillfulv with
adorn your house with all that will make it
comfortable. Do not look at richer homes
aud covet their costly furniture. If secret
dissatisfaction is ready to spring up. go q
step further and visit homes of the suffering
poor behold dark. cheerless apartments, in
sufficient clothing, and absence of all tie COM
fort and refinement of social life, then return
to your own with a joyful spirit. You will
then be prepared to meet your husband with
a grateful heart, and be ready TO appreciate
tae toll Of self-denial which he has endured
ia the business world to surround yon with
the delights cf home AID ycu will be ready
to cooperate cheerfully with him in so ar
ranging your expenses that his mind will moi
be constantly hGrrassed with fears lest hi,
family expenditures may encroach upon pub
] lie payments. Be independent; a young
house-keeper never needed greater mora
courage than she does now to resist the AFRO
gance of fashion. Do not let the AS and b.
decide what you must have, neither let then
hold the strings of your purse. You know
best what you can and ought to afford. l.
matters little what people think, provided
you are true to yourself and family.