Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-07-08
SELECTED STORY
ONLY FIFTEEN CENTS.
Or Cheap Happiness.

Or Cheap Happiness.
Albert, l wish you would let me hav,
seventy five cents.
Kate Landman spoke very carefully, TO
she knew that her HUSBAND had not mucl
money to spare ; yet she spoke earnestly
and there was world of cntreaty in hel
look
What do you want seventy five cent.
for 2 asked Albert.
L want to get some new braid for my
new dress
1 thought you had all the material or
hand for that
SO | thought had but Mrs. Smith
and Mrs. Thompson both have a trimming
Of braid upon theirs, and it looks very pretty
1t is very fashionable, and 1t certainly adds
much to the beauty of a dress
plague take these women's fashions !
Your endless trimmings and thing -a-ma-
jigs cost more than the dress is worth It's
nothing but shell out money when once a
woman thinks of a new dress:'
4 don't have many new dresses I do
certainly try to be economical as I can
1t is funny kind Of economy, at al
events. But if you must have it I suppose
you must
And Albert Landman took on. his wallet
and counted out the seventy-fve cents )
but he gave it grudgingly, and when he put
the wallet back into his pocket he did it with
and emphasis which eeemed to say thai he
would not take it out again for week
When Albert reached the outer door on
his way to his work, he found the weather
SO threatening that he concluded to go back
and get his umbrella and upon returning
to the sitting, room he found his wife in
tears. She tried to hide the fact that she
had been weeping, but he had caught her in
the act, and asked what it meant
Good gracious 7 cried the husband -
I should like to know if you are crying at
what I said about the dress
i was not crying at what you said, AL
BERT replied Kate, TREMENDOUSLY but you
were 80 reluctant to grant me the favor
I was thinking how hard I have to work ;
I am tied to the house; how many little
things have to perplex mc-thcn to
think
'Pshaw =? what do you want to be foolish
for?
And away started Albert Landman a
second time, but he was not to escape so
easily In the hall he was met by his daugh-
ter Lizzie, bright-eyed, rosy-chcehed girl
Of ten years.
o, papa, give me fifteen cents?
'What?'
% want fifteen cents. Do please give
it to me-
What in the world do you want with it ?
Are they changing school books again ?
No, want to buy hoop Ellen Smith
has one, and so has Mary Buck and Sarah
Ellen. Mr. Grant has some real pretty
ones to SELL Can't have one 2
Nonsense If you want hoop 60 and
get one off some old barrel. I can't afford
to be buying hoops for you to trundle about
the streets
please, papa
No, told you
The bright blue eyes filled with tears,
and the child's sobbing broke upon his ear.
Albert Landham hurried from the house
with some very impatient words upon his
lips,
This was in the morning. At noon, when
he came home to his dinner, there was a
cloud over the household. His wife was
sober, and even little Lizzie, usually gay
and blithesome, was sad and silent.
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 AL.
bert came to his supper, Kate greeted him,
with kiss, and in amoment sunshine 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 exbalation Of do.
nestle ferment for which no one was parti
cularly responsible, and might have Danish.
ed the conviction that women's fashions
were nuisance apd humbug, as well as 8
frightfll draft upon husbands pockets.
After tea, Albert did few chores around
the house, and then he lighted a cigar ano
walked out. He had gone but short dis
lance when he met Lizzie. In her RICH
hand she dragged an old hoop, which sh'
had taken from dilapidated old -four bar
rel, while with her left she was rubbing he1
red, swollen eyes She was in deep grie
and was sobbing painfully. He stopped
his child and asked what was the matter.
She answered, as well as her sobs woul(
let her, that the other girls had laughed
her and made fun of her old hoop. The.
had nice, pretty hoops. while hers was ugl'
and homely
Never mind patting the little one upol
the head, (for hechild's grief touched him;
perhaps We IL have new hoop sometime.
'Maynt have one now Mr.. Grant
70! one left-oh such a pretty one
The sobbing had ceased, as the child ha
caught her fathers hand eagerly.
Not now, Lizzie-not now. III thin
of it,"
! sobbipg again, the child moved toward
home, dragging the old hoop after her.
! At one Of the stores Albert Landman me
some of his friends.
Hello, Albert What's up?'
Nothing in particular .,.,,:
What do you say to game OF billiards
Albert 2
Good !! I'm in for that ..,,.
| And away went Albert to the blillai
hall. where be had glorious time with h