The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1871-11-23
Do Not Live Beyond Your Means.

uIS 10 SACldimCu yOuUQ
husband, taking his seat in the rocking,
chair as the supper things were removed.
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 sat enjoying what he had all day
been anticipating, the delights of his own
freside. His pretty wife, Esther, took
her work and sat down by the table.
"It is pleasant to have 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, five only had piano." exclaim-
ed the wife.
"Give me the music Of your own sweet
voice before all the pianos in creation"
he observed complimentary but he felt
certain secret disappointment that his
wife's thankfulness did happily chime
with his own.
"Well, but we want one for our friends"
said Esther.
"Let our friends come to see US, and
to hear piano. exclaimed the husband.
"But, George, everybody has piano,
now-adays-we don't 60 anywhere with
out seeing piano" persisted the wife.
"And yet, don't know what we want
one for-you 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"
"I think it looks just right
II think it looks very naked-we want
piano shockingly," protested Esther
emphatically.
The husband rocked violently.
"Your lamp smokes, my DEAR" said he
after long pause.
"When are you going to get chande-
lier [ have told you dozen times how
much we needed one," said Esther pet
tishly.
"Thesc are pretty lamps-we don't
need chandelier" said her husband
"These lamps are the prettiest of the
kind ever saw"
"But, George, do not think our room
is complete without a chandelier" said
Esther, sharply. "They are so fashion
able Why, the Morgans and Millers,
and many others l might mention, all
have them | am sure we ought to-"
ave ought to if we take pattern By
other peoples expenses, and don't see any
reason in that"
The husband moved uneasiIy in his
chair.
awe want to live as we'll as Others"
said Esther.
"We want to live within our means, Es-
ther," exclaimed George.
81 am sure we can afford it as we'll as
the Morgans, and Millers, and Torns We
do not wish to appear mean."
Georges check crimsoaed.
"Mean L am not mean :" he cried
angrily.
"Then we do not wish to appear, So"
said the wife. "To complete this room,
and make it look like other peoples we
want piano and a chandelier"
ave want-we wautw muttered the
husband, "there's no satisfying uoman's
wants, do what you may" and he abrupt
ly left the room.
How many husbands are in similar
dilema How many houses and husbands
are rendered uncomfortable by the con-
slant distisfaction of a wife present com
forts and present provisions. How many
bright prospects for business have ended
in bankruptcy and ruin, in order to salts
fy this secret hankering after fashionable
necessaries Could the real cause of so
many failures be known, it would be
found to result from useless expenditures
at home-expenses to answer the demands
of fashion and "what will people think ?"
My wife has made my fortune" said
gentleman of great possessions" "by
her thrift, and prudence, and cheerful
ness, when was just beginning"
"And mine has lost mine," answered
his companion, "by useless extravaganza
and repining when [ was doing WE'LL"
What world dose this open to the in.
huence which a wife possesses over the
future prosperity Of her family Let the
wife known her influence, and try to use
it wisely aud we'll.