Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-12
The Two Guests.

1t was once Causeur's good fortune to
spend few days in the modest home Of
friend, of slender means,-a home that was
all that its owner could afford to make it,
yet lacked many things that would have
made it more comfortable and convenient.
During Causeur's stay, two guests were
entertained at tea, both of them men of
means and wide acquaintance accustomed
to all the luxury that wealth can give.
But they were widely different in their be-
havior. The first dwelt upon the fact that
the house was in an out of-the-way spot and
that there were few or no neighbors. At
table, he told of the delicious tea he had
drunk at the house of one friend of the rich
teaservice that he had seen upon the table
of another; OF the rare old china that was
used in his own household and of the dainty
meals he had eaten from it. In the cramped
little sitting.room, after tea, he sat by the
stove and talked of the delights of an open
wood fire, of his enjoyment of rare and costly
books and pictures, and of twenty other
things that the host of whose hospitality he
had partaken did not and could not possess.
When he had gone, it was clear, although
nothing was said that his visit had caused
pain that it had made the wife feel her
straitened circumstances more keenly than
ever, and cast shadow over her husbands
thoughts.
The next evening came the other visitor.
lie brought goodcheer in his very face.
The room, he said, felt SO warm and com
| Portable after his walk, which, he added,
was just the thing to give man good ap
petite for his supper. At table, he spoke OF
everything that was nice, congratulated his
host on having such snug little home,
apologized for eating so much, but couldn't
help it, because it was so good and tasted
/" SO homelike," liked the old black teapot
because it was Just like the one his mother
had when he was boy, and told his hostess
who was all smiles and as happy as a queen,
that she ought to thank her stars that she
had no gas or furnace to ruin the flowers
that made her room look so cheerful. After
tea, he insisted that the children should not
be sent to bed Just yet !" said he wanted
to tell them story, as he did and when he
had done, and had kissed them goodnight,
they trudged off upstairs with beaming
faces, under the guidance of a mother who
felt that ray of real sunshine had entered
her home, making it better and happier for
all time And then he smoked pipe, de
claring that he preferred it. because he had
that delicacy which forbade his taking out
his welLflled cigar-case, praised the house
wife's taste in arranging the prints and
chromos that adorned the walls, aud de.
clared that the homemade mat on the floor
was very marvel OF needle-work. The
very first book he laid his hand on proved
TO be his favorite author" and furnished
the theme for half hours chat. And when
II was time for him 10 leave he said that he
hadn't had so good time for months,
hoped they'd invite him again, and left
with a hearty goodnight TO everybody.
And the best of it was that there was moth
ing studied in all this. He said pleasant
things because he liked pleasant things, and