Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-07-26

nestle entered the room and said
''There's sofa come ma'am, where
will it go ?''
| ga sofa There's some mistake, l
Think replied Mrs. Brown stepping to
the door.
But the man was so sure that it was the
right place, that she allowed him to bring
it in, although puzzled to know what Mr..
Brown wanted with another sofa, as they
already owned a good one; and as times
were so hard and money scarce, it did not
look reasonable that he would spenl TWEEN
ty-fve dollars for needless furniture.
But her doubts were dispelled when sup
per time came, and with it MI. Brown. r
$50 the sofa got here before me-" he
remarked, as his eyes rested upon his new
purchase. ''Have you examined it.,
Sarah?''
ssNo, for I supposed it was sent here by
mistake
''It's all right; I'll tell you how it was. >
he resumed. II looked in at Leonard's
when this was being knocked off for
trife, so 1 over-bid dollar and got it my
self. Only twenty six dollars for an ele-
CANT sofa, that undoubtedly cost fifty
originally. Do look at it, Mrs. Brown
Mrs. Brown did look at it, but without
getting out of her chair, or exhibiting any
more interest than sne would have done in
glancing as two shilling cricket.
cit was too good bargain to lose, so
I secured it. 1t occurred to me that it
would be capital thing for me to lounge
on when I smoke, and feel sleepy, stupid,
ETC., besides being so convenient for you
when you feel like taking nap" he con-
tinued.
Mrs. Brown looked at the baby sitting
on the floor, and then at the workbasket,
piled up high with the family sewing
(which Mr.. Brown had decided he could
not afford to have done out), and thought
her maps would necessarily have to be
short, and great ways apart. She had
suspicion, too, that he had consulted his
own feelings more than hers; but, having
a little scheme in contemplation, she pru-
IDENTIFY forbore to say so. That evening
was a fair sample of several following
evenings: Mr.. Brown smoked, lolled, and
Idozed alternately and Mrs. Brown sewed
diligently, in order to keep the juvenile
Browns in whole clothes.
II saw man who had some apples for
sale, and 1 told him to bring up a barrel:
has he done sop inquired Mr.. Brown, a
week or two afterwards.
GA man came with apples; but as he de-
handed the modest sum of five dollars per
barrel, 1 declined buying any, remember
ing that times were hard and money
scarce" Mrs. Brown readily replied, bend
ing droll look upon our economist"
who was remarkably fond of apple
dumplings.
Of necessity, he had no argument at
hand half so cogent and powerful as this,
so the apples were not again referred to.
Il thought we were to have roast to-
day. was his next remark, when the
family were seated at dinner, as he took
off one cover and then another, without
exposing anything that seemed to look
very inviting.
GA good roasting piece, Mr.. Brown.
would have cost you dollar and a half
and. I was not so extravagant as to sup
pose you would pay that amount for a
piece of meat, when fish is so much cheap
er. Don't for moment suppose, husband,
that 1 am SO thoughtless and improvident
as to spend money in that way, when Eye
had so many lessons in retrenchment," re-
sponded roguish Mrs. Brown, demurely
fixing plate of fish for the youngest boy.
'But 1 love roast better than this"
grumbled the latter, gathering courage
from his fathers disconnected expression
to express his dissatisfaction.
"But it's expensive, my DEAR" said the
mother. "Your father has 40 money to
waste, so we must be as saving and con-
tented as we can.''
| Mr.. Brown suddenly helped himself to
the piscatorial food, an act that greatly
stimulated the boys appetite, which was
governed in great measure by the fathers
example.
"I'm ready for pie mother,'' said the
lad, after he had dispatched a second al
lowance of the principal dish.
"No pie, to-day, my dear. The apples
cost so much that could not buy them,
and eggs are twenty-five cents dozen.
We must go without pies and buildings,
children, till things are cheaper. Think
of the little Wilson boys, Charlie, and how
glad they would be for plate of that nice
| fish,
'sWhen am to have new cap?' broke
in Jesse.
"Just as soon as your father can afford
to buy you one," replied Mrs. Brown.
'You mustn't be impatient, my son, for he
has great many things to get, and don't
like to be troubled with our applications.
Recollect, these are hard times, and we
must do without what is not needed very
much, and not find fault with simple din
| ners, because it will make it easier for
him if our market bills are not as large as
they used to be. Self-denial, Jesse, is a
good quality, and cannot be too much
practiced by little boys"
| Mrs. Brown talked to the children and
at Mr.. Brown-a method, we believe,
which has been practiced before. But
though every word that she uttered had
meaning, and he felt the full force of
them, he could hardly suppress smile at
the facility with which she employed his
own mode of reasoning, and her aptness in
turning the point Of his own weapons
against himself.
Mr.. Brown got no roast beef or poultry
that week: soups, vegetables, and other