Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-08-14
THE HOUSEHOLD.
WHAT THE PAINT COST.

who might wish 10 settle their accounts. Since
her husband died she had taken hold OF the bus
iness herself with earnestness and energy show
ing that sometimes woman can do better than
man, even on his own ground. She had shown
good tasto and judgment, not only in the pur-
chase and sale Of her goods, but also in the good
order and neatness that reigned everywhere in
the store.
Presently in came Philip Phillips, mechanic
and customer. His bill now amounted to up
wards of twonty dollars, q large amount for him,
for Of late Mrs Webster, considering his intem-
perAte habits, had seldom allowed him credit
to any great extent.
Il can pay you twelve dollars tonight, Mrs.
Webster; sorry it's no more" said Philips,
shambling up to the desk.
II am sorry, too, Philip. II is not what like
to say-for your wife and children's sake, re-
pret TO say itbut we will have to let the balance
Of this account stand till next pay day, and not
let Il grow any. / will sell right cheap for cash,
you understand and for tonight will give you
a receipt for ten dollars"
Phillip took long breath. Half sitting and
half leaning oil the bench at the side OF the desk,
he looked about while Mrs. Webster was writing
of the receipt. To change the subject for he
felt uncomfortable under the implied refusal to
trust him till the balance of his account was paid,
ho began to praise the looks OF the store in its
new dress Of paint and new fixtures.
" 1t looks very nice in here since You painted
up. II takes q woman to get ahead in the world.
II must have cost big sum to paint up after
this fashion"
hope you will take it kindly If speak candidly :
it ls fact that 1t has not cost more to paint up
my store than It cost to paint your nose"
Phillips started back confused and angry bis
cheeks almost red as his nose. But remem-
bering that il was D lady in whose presence he
stood, he checked himself and said
That's considerable Of liberty, Mrs. Web
ster that is right down personal"
Now Philip, you must bear with my plain
ness. You know as plainly AZ l can tell you,
with that wife of yours and children, too, you
might be in as prosperous condition AZ l am.
You are getting good wages, but at the rate you
are going on nobody knows how long il will last,
10 make a calculation how much 1t will cost to
keep you in drink-or what's the same thing, TO
paint your nose-you must add to what you pay
the tender va ious little losses and drawbacks
which the habit of tippling always occasions.
You know that things 20 wrong at home on ac-
count Of it, For instance, your being custo-
mer at the dram-ehop is the reason why yoIr
wife cannot affotd TO keep a girl, and being at
times quite overworked. she has an occasional
attack Of sickness, and then you have a doctors
bill to pay. In many ways your habit is seen to
be expensive. Your loss OF credit il no doubt
disadvantage, and some-mind, l say 1t for
your benefit-some have lost their position
through their incorporate habits, and have gone
down hill from that time. Perhaps you've
heard the funny remark that when man begins
to go down hill he finds everything CREASED for
the occasion The paint on ones nose costs
more and more, and at last it may cost the mans
life-and, what s infinitely Of more Importance,
it is likely to cost him his soul, too. II you
would save all that, make it settled point
never to go inside of drinking saloon"
With his face very red, Philip made an awk-
ward bow, and thanking Mrs. Webster for her
advice, he went out
1t was his intention to go to Van Lennep's ga
loon-where he had a bill to pay-for Philip i'm
Agnng himself to be an honest man, thought
that he tried as we'll as be knew how to pay his
way in the world. One thing he had nothing to
lay up at the end OF the week, and now he was
going behndhand.
Outside he met youngster the son Of a man
who was once neighbor, but now having risen
in the world, he lived in another street.
"Mr. Philips" SAID the boy Il was just going
over to your house to see IL Mrs. Philips don't
know Of any woman who'll COMO and wash for
us on Monday morning-or maybe she'll come
herseif-mother told me to ask"
"Well, that's queer in your mother to tell you
so My wife don't go out washing"
suppose that il all 30, MIR. Phillips. But
mother said Mrs. Phillips had been over there
and said she didn't know but what she would
have to do little in that way-wash or iron, or
something of that kind to get money to buy
clothes for herself, such as she would like TO
have You must not blame me, or mother eth
er for asking her about it.
Enough said, nuttered Phillips. My wife
don't go out washing or ironing either. Tell
your folks that for me
Az the boy went his way, Phillips stood irreso-
lutte, gloomily pondering what he had heard.
''She go out and do washing Never; not even
for friend. But then if we're going down hill
who knows but she'll come to it 2"
Phillips finally concluded that he would not
go to Van Lennep's that evening, but would let
him wait till the end of next month for his pay.
He had two reasons for going there he felt the
need OF dram, along with the attractions OF
Jolly associates, and he wanted to pay his score
But now he resolved to take II home.
lie took seat ia the room where his wife and
children were. They had little to say at first, for
he felt gruf and gloomy and little tender
withal. The talk of Mrs. Webster about paint
ing his nose had stun5 him to the quick. He
used to think himself handsome man; per-
heps his coarse habits had changed all that.
His little daughter Mary, not yet nine years old,
came and climbed on his knee and then remem-
beriDg, she said, Papa, I'll run and get a no.
quet made for you this morning out OF some
flowers in the garden, and she ran and brought
the flowers, bunch of morning glores now all
fading and dropping.
THEY'RE the only flowers / could get in the
garden" she said, land they are all spoiled,
she added compainingy and she held them
back, as il doubling whether to present them or
throw them away
Hand them to me- Mary. You did the best
you could suppose" said her father, trying by
blunt manner to hide his real feelings.
Lett 8 see-lOfuluB BlOtlob. DrlbuL lnluBh
In the morning, and pretty enough, but don't
hold out. 1hey are like people, aren't they
Maryl"
His wife, emboldeaed by this bit of mora-
zing, ventured to put in a word. They are
very much like ourselves, Philip. When we
were first married all was bright"
But it faded away like the morning glories,
continued Philip. well, now, if thOre's any
flower that keeps its color ii the year round lot
me know and I'll buy it,
As Philip said this his face colorod, for some-
how the thought ludicrously and yet plainly
struck him, that his nose was flower OF that
description the year round: and 1t seemed to
him that his wife and little Mary too were di-
vining his thoughts.
He arose, and as he did 80 he caught a glimpse
OF his face in the glass" There's the nose with
the red paint ON it, he reflected. " That's the
paint that cost us all 30 much" Opening hls
pocket-book he handed his wife ten dollars.
:" Take this, jamie, and I'll double it next
month you'll neod it to get you something
new"
And you'll buy me little photograph album
won't you, papa9" said little Mary.
Yes, my little one, II 1t don't cost too much
but wha. kind OF an album do you want me to
get you ?"
~ want little ons with twelve places in il
for pictures want your picture, papa, ant
mammals ; all the girls put their fathers ant
mothers in first
Suppose we wait, Mamie, till I'm bette
looking, Maybe I'll come to my good looks in
few weeks"
''oh you're good looking enough-only thu
In Na1.