Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-12-24
OUR PARLOR FURNITURE.

OUR PARLOR FURNITURE.
We had been married something
more than year. Had boarded at the
Mason House for few months, until
we were heartily sick of hotel life, and
then had retreated TO II private estab-
lishment. You know how that goes.
Life became q burden. A burdenp l
might as well call il an intolerable bore.
We grew domestic very fast. We
envied Hawkins the trim little cottage
that had been among the many gifts
bestowed upon his fair bride, and of
which neither he nor his bride seemed
particularly fond. We marveled at
their indifference to the blessing thus
forced upon them. The conclusion of
the whole matter was that we engaged
512 East Tenth street, the third house
as you turn off 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 schedule of
probable expenses made out ut that
time and fortunately preserved to our
future edifcation. After long series
of household belongings that should
constitute the original outlay it proceeds
with the items of ordinary daily ex-
pense Butter, so much per pound and
80 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 aided
rent, and fuel, and light, and water, and
n servants wages.
There, you see, wife," cried i, "we
shall save annually an even $500 and
live as people should live. Three hun
dred the first year probably more it,
a 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, mot
until the encyclopedia and the book.
case are bought and paid for.'
"Ah, yes" said l, "that is like you
VIC shall discuss that matter again"
| say that you would smile 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 sly that neither piano nor book
case was bought out Of the first year,
savings.
But to go back. We had thirty day,
to wait before we could get possession
of the house. In the meantime my
Uncle John paid us visit. Uncle Johr
was q man well advanced in wears
lived in the West. had no family, anC
had the matter of his fortune comfort
ably settled. He was on his way tc
Buffalo TO attend meeting of the
stockholders of the p. N. & c. Railway
He stopped of for q day to make tn,
acquaintance of my wife and to sc,
what kind of man his nephew ha
come to be. Nothing remarkable hap
pencd during his visit, and he soon re
sumed his Journey. We told him o
our housekeeping plans, of which h,
heartily approved. And in that connec
ton he casually remarked that as h,
had not remembered us in any sub
stantial manner at the timo of our mar
rage he wished TO do so, if he coul,
find anything to suit, while he was il
the East What he said, however, wa
in such an air that at the time ncithe
wife nor l gave the matter a secon'
thought.
We furnished our house simply bu
comfortably. Clara, my wife's school
mate in other days, lived next door
She is CHEEKY little body, and when
comes to home affairs knows every
thing; so we esteemed ourselves fort
innate in being able to retain her coun
sci. She advised on the carpet-pat
terms, the wallpaper, and even tn
gas-fxturos; in short, went with us i
all our preliminary shopping. 1t is as
tonishing what store of wisdom som
women carry about with them ms to tn
primary comforts and little luxurie
that makeI everyday life tolerable
Yes, she knew everything and why
was so. II there was any mistake |
her counsel il consisted i'm the fact tina
she was inclined to estimate the cor
tents of our pocket-book by those c
her own fat one. But we succeeded |
getting through quite satisfactorily ]
the first outlay. And this rather SUI
prises me, as Clara was in and out cor
stantly for week, coaxing us into wins
seemed cxtravagances, but which W
shortly learned were necessities that W
had overlooked.
And now that we were settled an
tho first blush was beginning to sui
side, we received shock of surpris
such as we shall not soon forget. M
wife had left tho house early in th
afternoon and had joined her in u
evening ut the house of a friend whel
we took tea. Circumstances made
necessary for us TO return to our ow
abode at an early hour. l do not thin
that IL could havc been rs late as eigl
o'clock. In tho afternoons mail "
found shabby little postal-card sta
ing that at the freight depot of the
e. M. Road there were some six hui
drcd pounds of furniture, from Ne
Buffalo, consigned to my address; m
that the Same had been on hand {,
several days, and that IL would be we
for me 70 pay tho charges and rcmo'
tBQ. G{byoSaid fprniture ut once. N