, 1876-07-21
What VIII People Say'"
A DOMESTIC SKETCH WITH A MORAL

furnished SlttluS-IOOA WIZ
pliances of comfort. The tatlgulng
business of the day was over, and ne
sat enioving what he had all the DAY
been anticipating, the delights OF his
own fireside. His pretty wife, Esther,
took her work and sat down by the Ia
BILE. ,oso,o,s
own. he said, again taking a satlsiac-
tory survey of his snug quarters Inc
rain beat against the windows, and ne
thought he felt really grateful for his
present comforts.
"Now, if we only had q piano" said
the wife. ,,,t
"Give me the music of your sweet
voice before all the pianos OF creation,
he declared, complimentary, despite q
certain secret disappointment that his
wife's thankfulness did not happily
chime with his own.
"Wel, but we want one Tor our
friends" said Esther.
"Iet our friends come to see us, and
not to hear piano !" exclaimed the hus-
band.
"But, George, everybody has a piano
NOWADAYS we don't go anywhere with
out seeing a piano." persisted the wife.
"And yet, don't know what we want
one for; you will have no time to play
on one, and 1 don't like to hear it.
"Why they are so fashionable
think our room looks really naked with
out one."
"I think it looks just right"
"I think it looks very naked; we want
a piano shochngly," protested Esther
emphatically.
The husband rocked violently.
"Your lamp smokes, my dear, he
said, after long pause.
"When are you going to get an astral
lamp? Ihave told you dozen times how
much we need one, said Esther, pet
tishly.
"fhose will do"
"But, you know everybody nova
days, wants astral lamps"
"Those lamps are the prettiest of the
kind I ever saw-they were bought in
Boston,
"But, George, 1 do not think our
room is complete without an astral
lamp" said the wife, sharply, 'they are
80 fashionable; why, the -s, and
B-s, and As, all have them.
am sure we ought to-"
eve ought to, if we take pattern by
other peoples expenses, and I don't see
any reason for that"
The husband moved uneasily in his
chair.
1--WE want to live within our means,
Esther" exclaimed George.
az am sure I should think we could
afford it as well as the B-s, and LIS,
and many others we might mention-we
do not wish to appear mean"
Georges cheek crimsoned.
"Mean / am not mean," he cried
angrily'
SThen you do not wish to appear so, -
said the wife, "To complete this room
and make it look like others, we want
piano and an astral lamp"
1--WE want-we want" muttered the
husband; "there is no satisfying wo
mans wants, do what you may" ," and he
abruptly left the room.
How many husbands are in a similar
dilemmal How many husbands are rem
dered uncomfortable by the constant
dissatisfaction of wife with present
comforts and present provisions. How
many bright prospects for business have
ended in bankruptcy and ruin, in order
to satisfy this secret hankering after
fashionable necessaries. If the real
cause Of failures could be made known,
it would be found to result from useless
expenditures at home-expenses to an
swer the demands of fashions, "and
what viii people say of us?"
"My wife has made my fortune, said
q gentleman Of great possessions, shy
her thrift, prudence and cheerfulness
when I was Just beginning"
And mine has lost my fortune" an
swered his companion bitterly, "by use
less extrayagance and repining when 1
was doing we'll"
What q world does this open of the
influence which wife possesses over the
future prosperity of her family Let
the wife know her influence, and try to
use it wisely and well.
Be satisfied to commence small. It
is too common for young housekeepers
to begin where their mothers ended.
Buy all that is necessary to work skill
fully with, adorn your house with all
that will render it comfortable. Do not
look at richer homes and covet their
costly furniture. If secret dissatisfac-
ton is ready to spring up, go a step
further and visit the houses of the poor
and suffering; behold dark, cheerless
apartments, insufficient clothing, abb
sence of the comforts and refnements
of social life; then turn to your own
with joyful spirit. You will then be
prepared to meet your husband with
grateful heart, and be ready to appreci-
ate the toll and self-denial which he has
endured in his business world to sur
round you with all the delights Of home;
then you will be ready to cooperate
cheerfully with him in so arranging