Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-08-08
OUR PARLOR FURNITURE.

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OUR PARLOR FURNITURE.
We had been married something
more than year. Had boarded at the
Mason House for n few months, until
we were heartily sick of hotel life, and
then had retreated to Il private estab-
lishment. You know how that goes.
Life became bu den. A burdenp /
might as well call it an intolcrable bore.
We grew domestic very fast. We
envied Hawkins the trim little cottage
that had been among the many gi Us
bestowed upon his fair bride, and of
which neither he nor his bride seemed
particularly fond. We marveled at
their Indifference to tho blessing thus
forced upon them. The conclusion of
the whole matter was that we engaged
5l2 East Tenth street, the third house
in the white brick block on your right
rs you turn oil from Locust avenue. The
house would not be ready for us before
the expiration of thirty days.
In the meantime we sat down to re-
fleet, and you may rest assured that the
abstract consideration of this enterprise
was attended with no small amount Of
pleasure. There were some very de-
lightful visions of the coming bliss,
some very sharp contrasts drawn
between our present lot and that which
was to be, and some very astonishing
calculations. AS for the last, it might
amusc you to look over the sch edule of
probable expenses made out at that
time and fortunately preserved to our
future edticat on. Alter long series
of household belongings that should
constitute the original outlay it proceeds
with the items of ordinary daily ex-
pense Batter, so much per pound and
so many pounds per week lard so and
SO and so and so; potatoes, so much per
bushel and to last so long flour, etc..
etc. And to the grand total were lded
rent, and fuel, AMI light, and water, and
n servants wages.
There, you see, wife," cried /, 1--WE
shall save annually an even $500 and
live as people should live. Three hun
dred the first year! probably more; it S
low estimate. / think, my dear, we
might as well begin to talk about that
new piano."
"Oh. no." she replied, always pre-
ferring another's joy to her own, 'not
until the encyclopedia and the book.
case are bought and paid for.''
"Ah, yes," said |, "that is like you
we s. all discuss that matter again.
say that you would sm le if you
could see that outline of probable cx.
penses and the effect would be height
ened not a little if you should contrast
with it the itemized account kept with
scrupulous care by my wife. Suffice
it to say that neither piano nor book
case was bought out of the first year,
savings.
But to 90 back. We had thirty DAYS
to wait before we could get possession
of the house. In the meantime my
Uncle John paid us visit. Uncle John
was a man well advanced in years,
lived in the West. had no family, and
had the matte of his fortune comfort.
ably settled. He was on his way to
Buffalo to attend meeting OF the
stockholders of the p. n. IL c. Railway.
He stopped oil for a day to make the
acquaintance of my wife and to see
what kind of a man his nephew ha
come to be. Nothing remarkable hap
pened during his visit, and he soon re-
sumed his Jonrney. We told him OF
our housekeeping plans, of which he
heartily approved. And in that connec.
ton he casually remarked that as he
had not remenbe, ed us in any sub
stantial manner at the time of our mar
riage he wished to do so, if he could
find anything to suit, while he was in
the East What he said, however, was
in such an air that at the time neither
wi nor gave the matter second
thought.
We furnished our house simply but
comfortably. Clara, my wife's school
mate in other days, lived next door.
She is CHEEKY little body. and when it
comes to home affairs knows every-
taing; so we esteemed ourselves tort
unate in being able to retain her coun-
sci. She advised on the carpet pat
terms, the wallpaper, and even the
gas-fixtures; in short, went with us in
all our preliminary shopping. 1t is as
tonishiDg what store of wisdom some
women carry about with them as to the
primary comforts and little luxures
that make everyday life tolerable.
Yes, she knew everything and why it
was so. ii there was any mistake in
her counsel il consisted in the fact that
she was inclined TO estimate the con-
tents Of our pocket-boo by those oil
her own fat one. But we succeeded in
getting through quite satisfactorily in
the first outlay. And this rather sur
prises me, as Clara was in and out con.
stantly ior a week, coaxing us into what
seemed extrayagances, but which we
shortly learned were necessities that We
had overlooked
And now that we were settled and
the first blush was beginning to sub
side, we received shock of surprise
such as we shall not soon forget. NJ,
wife had left the house early in thtt
afternoon and had Joined her in tn,
evening at the house of friend VIII n,
we took tea. circumstances made 4
necessary Tor us TO return TO our owl
abode at an early hour. do not thinl
that 1t could have been as late as eigh
O'Clock. In the afternoons mail W,
found shabby little postal-card stat
ing that at the freight depot of the c
& M. Road there were some six hun
dred pounds OF furniture, from New
Buffalo. consigned to my address ant
that the same had been ON hand fo
several days. and that It would be wei
for me TO pay the charges and remoy,
the Aforesaid furniture at once. NJ,
wife lesped over my shoulder and yeal
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