The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-06-26
A GREAT MISTAKE.

When pretty little Nellie May married
Frank Chester, she really believed that
she was entering upon n life OF uueloud-
ed happiness-lu unlimited extension,
iu fact, of her golden courtship days,
wherein discords would be altogether
impossible.
Loving her husband sincerely, tho lit
tie vito was far too loyal to admit even
to herself the greatness Of her disap-
pointment, yet tho melancholy truth was
plain. A cloud had darkened the do.
nestle horizon-a cloud OF such size and
blackness that it had well nigh shaded
the honeymoon, and had threatened dire
storms and tempests ever since. And
this cloud, to drop metaphor, was moth.
l,g less than Frank Chester's mother
to him, the embodiment Of wisdom, tho
fountain-heaJ Of knowledge; to his
wife, constantly quoted, and therefore
,lisagrecable. paragon, who threatened
to develop into the destroyer OF her hap
pincss.
Whatever Nellie did-whether she
arranged her house or meditated some
new decoration OF walls or rooms,
whether she superintended his favorite
dish or made his after dinner coffee
with her own hands-the result was al-
ways tho same. "Ah, that isn't the
way my mother used to do" or, ~
only wish mother was here; she could
show you better way" was Franks in-
variable comment, until Nellie begun to
fear that shc should learn to hate her
mother-in. law, and to look forward with
dismay to the visit which Mrs. Chester
senior talked Of paying them. butwhich
had been fortunately delayed thus far.
At tho end Of this first month OF house.
keeping Frank expressed himself in no
measured terms when poor Nellie timid-
ly announced that she had not money
enough 10 pay all the bills.
"Not money enoughi Why, Nellie,
you must have been very extravagant or
very wastful, or both. Why, my mother
always kept house on just half Of tho
allowance I make you; and she had five
children ut home, while here We have
only ourselves! Really, my dear, you
must look after things n little better
than this, or you will ruin me. All that
money spent on two people, and the
bills only half paid |"
"But, Frank" urged Nellie, trying
hard to be cool, and forcing back tho
tears that would spring to her eyes
"but, Frank, you know your mother
has only one servant-you havc often said
so-and wo have three. or course that
makes difference. And then you have
had q great many dinner parties, and
you have no idea how many extra things
dinner involves"
"Nonsense, Nellie You need not lay
tho blame on our having dined hall o
dozen people during the month, for :!
don't believe that makes M atom OF
difference in the long run. No, the
fault is in your inexperience. You must
look after those servants OF yours moro
closely. l only wish you had mother
here for couple OF months she would
find tho leaks, I know, and stop them
too! But then, OF course, you hayo
never had the advantage Of such thorough
trimming M mother has given her daugh.
ters. Why, she has made Jane as capa-
bio az herself" ,
"And I am very glad 1 haven't had
such n training rs you speak of," said
Nellie, hotly. my own dear mother
was always prudent, and taught her chill
dren to be tho same but she used to
to say that when people had ample
means, economy was too often another
namc for stinginesS, and I believe she
was right"
"Mother was not stingy, said Frank,
with m angry flush.
"I don't SEQ how she lived on such
paltry sum and supported so large 0
family without giving her whole mind tc
petty savings, which could have left hei
no time for better and brighter things.
She must have given up reading and
music and all that, aud to what end
Just to add o few moro dollars to youl
already largo income. Now l think thai
is the worst kind OF stinginess, since il
defrauds tho mind and soul to no pur
pose whatever"
"Aud I think it is n wifc's duty Z
please hor husband" Frank exclaimed