Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-11-05
MRS. SMITHS VELVET CLOAK.

John Smith was not named John Smith,
which is a good reason why he should be
known by that appellation in this relation.
For other heads would ache if his genuine
cognomen- was made public here in it's
given and Christian parts. He was not an
Incorporate man, but had a liking fol
what are called nips, SO called because
there is nothing substantial to nip about
them.
A married man was he, and in years had
passed SO far along, that the fire of five-and-
twenty had cooled in his veins, and the
smoke Of youthful passions had cleared
away from his brain, the covering of which
important portion of his sou1.s scorporeal
tenement had lost a portion of it's hair; SO
much of its hair, indeed, that viewed from
above it had remarkable resemblance to
(if there was ever such a thing) a mildew-
ed or moldy billiard ball. Mr.. John Smith,
that is to say, was an old young man. Not
old enough to be solid. and too old to be
Eighty; with a relish remaining from the
many relishes of his earlier days, for good,
tangy drink.
Mrs. Smith was a good young-old wo.
man, with weakness for ornamentation,
growing, like a fungus on fair tree-stem,
upon her honest love for home and it's COM
forts. In fact, Mrs. Smith was tri1e
vain, and her soul underwent much lacera-
ton when Mrs. Jones flauntr past her
window with her new hat On, or Mrs. Rob-
inson land how Mr.. Robinson ever saw
anything in that jilt of a homely thing she
never could understand) auttered past with
new parasol Of the latest style, and new
plum-colored ribbons all over her dress
But she loved her home, was devoted to
her husband, and, all things considered,
tolerably contented.
1t was the commonest thing in the world
for Smith, when he went down town in the
morning, to meet Brown, with whom,
when boy, he had been on terms Of never
dying intimacy; whose youthful sprees
were associated with his own, but who was
as they sauntered down Madison Street,
tAin't it about time to take. some medi-
cine?" to which Smith would respond, 81
think this is about the proper hour" And
they would imbibe wine of corn t, the ex'
tent Of about fifty cents worth, the ex.
pense being jointly divided; for one day
Brown would pay the doctor, and another
day Smith would pay him. So that theil
medical accounts amounted up, upon the
whole, some $75 to 800 year each. AND
it was all very ice, though wrong.
One morning, when Smith had finished
his breakfast and was preparing to sally
forth On his diurnal business, Mrs. Smith
arrested him with the observation, deliver
ed just ahead of the parting OSCILLATION
sJohn, my love, 1 want a velvet cloak"
melinda, my DEAR" said ne, swhy dc
you want velvet cloak?"
''Because," said she, ''you know yer,
well my old lace sacque is not so nice as i
used to be; and, besides, it is growing
chilly, and you know my old cloth sacqu
is so shabby declare IN ashamed to lool
either of them, and I can't go out withou
something on. And, besides, Mrs. Robin
son has just got beautiful new velve
polonaise, that only cost $3.50"
Smith shut one eye and WINGED.
and she trimmed it with the lac
off her last summers silk dress, and it look
just lovely, and really I feel so dowd
when see it aud then think of what Nv
got that could just cry. There!" An
the pretty little lady's pretty little lips be
gan to tremble. Smith grew serious.
Il know I could get a real handspm
cloak for $75. know could. The vel
vet wouldn't cost over $50, and could ge
it trimmed perfectly deliciously and mad
up for $25 more, and think I ought t
have it. Of course don't care for an
thing so grand as Mrs. Robinson's, becaus
know very well we can't afford it; but
; think 1 might have one that would cos
half as much"
"My dear, haven't the money to spare
I'm sorry, but haven't. If I had, 20
should have your cloak. Pm sure woul
be more pleased to see you with 1t on tina
you would be to wear it; but I can't a.
ford it.''
And Smith ,meandered downward, lea,