The Van Buren press., 1875-04-27
MISCELLANY.
Cant Afford IT.

Il tell you, Uncle Josh, can't afford
it. Girls, nowadays, are so extravagant,
that it fairly terrihes man eontempla.
ting matrimoAy There is your favorte,
Miss Hartley; she declared to me in the
strictest confidence, last evening, that
she couldn't imagine how any one could
exist without the opera. And not week
ago knew of her mentioning an India
shawl as a positive necessity for lady 6
wardrobe.
Mere girlish exaggeration, Will. She
has always had a rich father to pay her
bills
And naturally will expect rich hus.
bard to do the same If had Mr. Hart
ley's bank account, the matter would be
different, but though my salary is good.
my income independent of that is small.
If ! provide India shawls and opera
tickets without limit to the future Mrs
Stanton, l can scarcely meet expenses, il
do not actually run in debt. Now, | am
quite resolved to save little every year
till own home, and can start bust
ness for myself
"A good wife would help you, Will.
But where is she to be found ?
Uncle Josh chuckled a little at the idea
Of his giving information on the subject,
and the gentlemen having finished their
preparations for departure, started for
their place of business.
Uncle Josh was the cashier, and his
nephew clerk, in a large retail dry goods
. l,,,t tl,a nj .yautlonap
ing ample means, employed his time, not
from necessity, but from horror Of
idcness. He boarded, as did his naph.
ew, at a fashionable boarding house in
Brooklyn, crossing the ferry every morn
ing for the store in New York
Handsome, well conducted, and we'll
educated, Will. Stanton was a favorite in
society, and the fact that his bachelor
uncle was fond of him, was no drawback
to his popularity. Many a girlish heart
fluttered, when he drew near, and Uncle
Josh was quite eloquent on the charms
Of matrimony, and home for Will
where they might STARE the domcitic cir
Gle.
On the morning when the gentlemen
held the conversation recorded above,
Will found his services were required as
salesman, owing to the illness Of one
Of the men in the silk department. He
had served in the same capacity before,
though he held more lucrative position
in the counting house; but stepping be
hind the counter, he found, already, few
fair customers in the store. Two ladies.
young and pretty, required his services
at ,once.
"Evening silks, il you please said
one, tall, very stylish looking girl,
dressed in exquisite taste, and with rich
garments. "Show me some Of the new
shades"
Several pieces Of the shining fabric
we're uarolled, and Will noted the fact
that both ladies seemed equally interest
cd in the choice Of dress. But the com
panion of the stylish girl, who had FIRST
spoken, was far more quiet than her
rriehd, in voice, manner and dress while
every detail OF her neat walking suit was
perfect in finish, fitting her exquisitely,
and was tasteful and simply elegant
Wills experienced eyes told him that the
cost was less than half Of the companions 8
and ye, she seemed equally well dressed,
setting aside that one item Of expense
A cloth cloak, instead Of a velvet; dress
of fine French psplin, instead of silk a
collar and cuffs Of embroidered linen, in.
stead Of real lace; kid gloves Of dark.
scrviccable tint, instead Of pale buff ones.
and furs less expensive than the real er.
mine of her friend, all left large bal
ance in her favor, while her appearance
was lady like and refined.
"Oh, Winnie" said her companion.
:" this shade of sage will suit you per.
fectly am not fair enough to wear it,
but it is a lovely tint for blonde. Don't
look any further for silk"
/ am not going to get new silk,
Marcia
Not get new silk for Mrs, Hartley's