The daily gazette., 1876-05-16
"Never COntented LOnq."
BY ELLEN ASHTON.

Mr.. Arnold looked up from his
newspaper, glanced at the carpet,
and said, "if you really think we
want one, my dear, you may go
and buy it tomorrow; but this
seems, quito decent yet "
eyes! decent, grant," said his
wife, with emphasis. "But l am
not contented with being dcceut
merely. If can't be moro than
dccent-nicc, in fact--I don't
want to live at ALL
"Wcll, we'll, my love- replied
the husband, "suit yourself For
Mr.. Arnold was doing a good
business, and knew he could afford
Il little extravaganza now and
then.
The carpet was accordingly
purchased, and, for while, Mrs.
Arnold was contented, or appeared
to be 80. AS long as the novel y
continued she really was satisfied.
But when she had grown tired of
admiring it, and when the neigh.
bors, having all seen it, ceased TO
oxpatiatc on its beauties, she be-
gan to be dissatisfied again. 1t
was not the carpet, Of course,
which now made her unhappy; it
was the parlor chairs.
"Ido think we have the shabbiest
chairs" she said, one evening, "of
any body l know. L declare LIN
ashamed to lie. the light in on the
room, when anybody calls, lest
they should see how mean cur
chairs are
"Thc chairs appear to me TO be
good chairs enough" 1crlicd Mr..
Arnold. "Perhaps they don't look
quite as we'll as they did before we
bought the now carpet, for its.
freshness makes them seem Il
little dull by contrast. But for
that you are to blame, you know, >.
Mary
The wife bit her lip and made
no reply. But on other occasions
she returned to the subject, until
Mr.. Arnold. who hated to be
"bothered," ~ he called it, sur
rendered for peace sake.
! he new chairs, like the new
carpet, pleased Mrs. Arnold for Il
while. But in tgme, they ceased.
like it to make her contented;
and she now began to see, for the
first time, that the furniture OF
her best chamber was unworthy
of her.
"James," she said, ''your newly
married sister IL coming, on Tues
day week., as ymt know. But the
bedstcad, dressjng-bureau and
washstand of our Dom are shock
ing, they are SO out OF fashion, and
so scatched. | wish you would
new furnish the chamber. It's dis.
grac tul 10 put % bride into srch a
place"
"rhe furnituFo was thcught
very fine replied her husband,
"when we purchased it, on setting
up housekeeping, ten years ago.
| am sure, Mary you were quite
proud Of it,"
But we can afford better now
stoutly answered the wife, "and
what was fashionable thcu, isn't
fas hionable now. Your sis.er will
think the meanness IS mine, for
she'll never believe its YOURS, as
men generally lie. their wives have
their own way in such matters,
especially if they are doing well
az everybody knows you are.
DWELL, WELL" said NJ. Arnold
a little annoyed, edo as you like.
suppose you'll have it out of me
some day, and you might as wVil
get it now"
"And the old furniture, added
tho wife, by way of = concluding
argument, "will answer for our
chamber, while that which we
now use will give to the
children
1t was not long subsequent to
this, when one of Mrs. Arnola's fe
male friends, who was married like
herself to II successful business man.
set up a one horse carriage. In.
stantly Mrs. Arnold herself began
to wish for 8 ,rriage. She haG
been healthy enough before, by the
laid of an oceasio ,al walk, but now
-he discoverd all at once, that botl
| she and the children required riding
| as an exercise. In ort, she wa.
| di.eonten ted once more, and shs
gave her husband. as usual, no
lpeace, till he gratified this new de
| sire. Not that she stormed, or sver
had the sullens; but she 10 ked dis
| tanntantnd ciuba6 op1 oftn,, o.,,.