The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-01-18
Two Sides to Icverytl,In

"Nlary," said Mr.. Norris to his vile, as
he cntcrcd his snug little home one even
ing, 1--WE arc to have company to supper
Tomorrow. l met my old friend, Henry
Ard, in the street to day, and asked him
to come out"
"lsn't ho tho Ard who has grown sc
wealthy in The past few years ~ asked
Mrs. Norris, as she stopped briskly around
in laying tho toa-table.
eyes; but don't think his wealth has
spoiled him. He was rs cordial to me as
ever, regretted that was sllll only clerk
get along on such poor salary. He doesn',
put on any airs at all. So wear your pref
ticst dress TO- morrow, Mary, and have n
good SUPPER
''He shall have no reason TO complain,
I'll promise that" suld Mrs. Norris, who
was IN excellent cook and q capable house
keeper. II was TO her careful management
that her husband owed his freedom from
debt; for only the most Systematic and
judlclous economy could have made his
small salary adequate for The support OF
his large family.
While several of his rricnds-amC ng
them Henry Ard-had risen rapidly,
through fortunate speculation, to positions
of afllucnce, Mr.. Norris had remained
poor, a clerk only in the house in whici,
he started as al GRAND boy. But, by
means OF the most rigid economy ana
numbcrlcss sacrifices, he had been able to
purchase small collage on Tho outskirts
of the city, and he declared that the day
he made tho last payment upon it was the
happicst of his life
1t had been tho dream of mauy years to
own IA home, and, in his enjoyment, he
forgot the sacrifices he had made, which
at the time seemed very hard. Ills wlfo
had worked nobly to beautily the GROUND )
planting rosc-bushcs with her own hands
and training vines over the cottage. a
prctticr place in the summer ii would have
been hard to find.
Mrs. Norris was dressed in her best and
the children were as fresh amt sweet rs
could be, wien MIR. Norris reached home
The next evening, accompanied by hls
friend.
The gentleman was cordial in his man.
ncr, it is true; but his coming cast gloom
over the household, for he tcnan at once
to complain ol the tedious ride he hau
from tho city, C0mmiser"cd them on hy-
ing 80 far out, and he avc:rLd that he had
heard that land was cheap in this section
because it was unhealthy. lTo asked Mrs
Norris il she did not think her children
looked pale; and he advised Mr Norris to
sell out aud buy somewhere else. He
dWelt earnestly upcn the fact of there be-
ing SO lew nelghbors, and no doctor within
milo or two; aud he succeeded in filling
the breast OF his hostess with anxiety and
alarm.
~ the tea table he spoke of the elegant
tea service he had given his wife Il few
weeks previously; OF the delicious tea he
had drank a. the house OF a friend tho
evening before, of the rare old china which
had been used, and the dozens of luXurics
which had been hcaped upon the table in
his hOror.
Mrs. Norris listened and sighed. Her
china set, used for many years, began to
look poor and mean III her siu,l,. as she
imagined the beauty OF Mrs. Ards SILVER;
the icn tasted bitter; and she had no appc-
tito Tor the fried oysters, salad, jelly, and
cake she had prepared so carefully, and
with SO much pleasure, anticipating, as
she had, somo compliments from her guest
on her cooking.
After supper. the whole family gathered
about the stove, and listened cnviously MS
MIR. Ard dlated on the deli shts OF an open
CRATE; Of the actual necessity of home
library, where there WAS growing children;
Of the costly books in his own home, Of
tho rare pictures and elegant iuvnllure in
tho house OF his friends; Of TIC fine society
in which his wife moved; of her jcwelry,
her costly dresses, and the number o. SER
wants he found 1t incumbent nn him to
keep in order to secure comfort; OF the
convenience OF gas, and the danger of U.S.
ing kerosene; and of twenty other thlngs
that the host, Of whose hospitality he was
pa,taking. did not and could not possess.
Yet he was nei her Doastiul nor lli.tcm
pcred, and gave no occas<loa for offence
in anything lie saiI.
But, when he arose to depart, neither
Mr.. Norris or his wife felt any regret to
have him 20 SO carly, nor did they urgo
him to come again. They felt Sad aud
dlscontcntci. The little home IN which
they had taken snch genuine c)> fort
now looked shabby and mean. The small
rooms seemed more crampcd than ever,
and they felt ashamed of tho poverty
which prevented thom from living AZ MIR.
Ard and his friends lived.
Mary put her children to be |, and then
went to bed herself, where, after thinking
over her lot IN life, and recalling the many
SACRIFICES She had made, aud the punching
economy she was obliged to practice, she
finally cried herself To sleep.
A few days passed, aud the cloud of
discomfort which had settled upon the
family was still heavy, when, one evening
a Yisllor, Mr.. Andrews, called Jus, as
they were about TO SIT down to supper
MIR. Norris invited him to the table; and
Mrs. Norris began to apologize for the
homcly iarc, wishidg 1t WAS better.
''No apologies arc necessary, my dear
madam" SAID the gcntlcnan, as he threw
off his coat and seated himself at the table
Il walked out from the city ard have ac.
quirtd tue sha:pest kind of an appetite |
feel as if could relish any and every
thing"
1--WE live such terrible distance from
town. said Mrs Morris, "it ls wonder
tome That our friends Lvnr tini us a, ALL.
AS is, they come very seldom"
"Why, | think your home most delight
fully situated exclaimed M. Andrews,
who was even wcalthier than Mr.. Ard,
and lived in far greater style. 81 drove
past here ono day last summer and re-
member thinking how like bower of
beauty this cottage looked, almost covered
with climbing roses, and surrou dcd by
shrubs And you couldn't have found "A
healthier spot anywhere. You. children
4.