Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-12-02

talk with you no more now. We have a
society meeting at seven o'clock"
Mr.. Jefferson Sharpleigh went out, and
Mrs. Jefferson Sharpleigh nodded in her
own peculiar way as she resumed her sow
ing.
I Two or three days afteI this Mrs Sharp
leigh informed her husband that there was
a poor family living not far away that need
| eo assistance.
at is John Nutter's family" she said,
land there are five children who would at
tend our Sabbath School if they only had
clothes fit to wear Now, if you men will
furnish The money, we women will make
the clothes"
Il declare wife, you've hit me in the
wrong time. | haven't got cent to spare"
''But, Jefferson, if you could let me have
FIVE dollars"
Give dollars Goodness gracious
couldn't spare half Of it,"
| Then let me have two and"
mot now, not now, tell you havsn't
got cent to spare. If you can find any Of
my old clothes that vii do to work over,
you may have them"
That evening Mr.. Sharpleigh saw his
wife putting down some something in a
little memorandum book, and he asked her
what she was doing
co." she replied. putting away her pen
Gil and closing the book. Il am just making
few items
Making items p
ayes"
.'Ha! ha !! Aud what is 'nsakiug items
I'd like to know
Don't the newspaper reporters make
items?"
care you going to report for newspa-
PERI"
"No, I'm getting report ready for
new Moral Reform Society"
And before hor husband could ask any
more questions, the little woman had slipped
out from the room.
Some time after this committee Of ladies
called upon Mr.. Sharpleigh to solicit his aid
toward establishing free evening school fer
those children and youth that could not at
tend the common school. They thought if
they coull find twenty men who would pay
ten dollars apiece, they could place such a
school upon basis. Jefferson Sharplcigh
acknowledged that the object was most
excellent one-s philantropic and righteous
one-but be really had not the money to
spare just then There would be no use in
urging him, for he could not raise ten dol
lars at that time for such purpose without
borrowing, and that he would not do
80! that is too bad lit is wicked =
And I have no doubt that these people call
themselves Christians and who knows but
that they belong to some Christian church =!
"What is it, husband ?" asked Mrs.
Sharpleigh, looking up from book she had
been reading.
'Listen, and I will read it to you"
And thereupon Jefferson read from bis
evening paper an account Of great ball
which had been held in New York, at which
the Upper Ten we're. present, and where
there seemed to be an effort among the la
dies to see which could wear the most costly
dress and display the most jewels. One
woman, the wife of celebrated banker,
wore upon her person jewels worth two
hundred thousand dollars.
''In mercy's name, just think Of it! Two
hundred thousand dollars Almost equal to
the valuation of our town! What a world of
good might have been done with that mon
ey"
"Well," suggested Mre. sharpleigh, IF
the money is kept in circulation, it may
finally fall into the hands Of somebody that
will know how to use it properly"
"Mrs S." said the husband, severely,
Il have no doubt that you would excuse
such wicked expenditure
Il certainly see nothing so very wicked
about it," returned Mrs. Sharpleigh. "You
may call it foolish, if you please"
but perhaps you would not oven eal it
foolish, my lady"
II should wish to examine into my own
record first, my husband, so as to be sure
that my skirts were clear, before [ blamed
others"
"Wsll-upon my soul Perhaps Mrs. S.,
you would like to accuse me Of extrava
gance."
1T is not impossible, Mr. S.. that you
might, upon examination, fud Yourself full
~ as blameworthy As is the banker who
bought two hundred thousand dollars worth
of jewels for his wife,"
Jefferson Sharpleigh leaned back and re-
garded his wife very much as he might have
regarded his dog, had that animal stood up
before him and spoken the very words she
had used. But the little lady did not give
him time to interrupt her.
Every man." she continued, ''nust be
judged in the light of the circumstances un-
der which be is placed. Now the banker in
question may have thousands of dollars left
with which he can bless the poor and needy
and if he has earned his wealth honestly, he
certainly has right to purchase any luxu
ries that can add to the pleasure Of any Of
his family. 1t is not the amount expended
that constitutes criminal extravaganza, but
, it il rather the proportion Of ones posses
sions SO spent. We are in the habit Of look
ing to startling events and huge figures
, when saeking for lessons in life, forgetting
that the principle is the thing to be kept in
view. Now. sir, would you like to SEQ my
little book, and learn some Of those itemi
that have there cot doRag'
!. Il should like to - it," said Mr.. Sharp
leigh, coadssssn dinghy.
Mrs s., reached sitter hsr sork-bssket
A and took therefrom the book, and when sh