The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-10-29


ness is home; - the home y, 20 win
our lives be-rasher let me say, - we are.
20 will our homes be-centres of gl0o !,
or brightness. What others think Of M
is really Of little account 10 making up
the sum Of our enjoyments @ We pass
through l,fe; but what We are in onr-
selves is everything We must be the
centres of our own world Of happiness, or
our lives will be incomplete. Can : 6ne
establishment like this, in which I live in
weak dependence, Gil the measure Of my
| desiresp Can it bring peace and content
nent No, no, Henry. The humblest
apartments, shared with you, would be .
palace to my soul instead. I am not
speaking with the romantic enthusiasm
Of an ardent girl, bat soberly, tsathfully,
Henry. No, dearest, we will not make
our lives wretched by living apart, be-
cause we cannot make q fair appearance
10 other peoples eyes. God has given NJ
love for each other, and the means
of happiness if We will use them.
Lst us take His good gifish in in thsnktul-
ness. You have an income Of twelve
to live AZ those who have - many thou
sands a year. Be that folly far from us,
Henry! l am equal to the selfdenial it
vii require, if IT,. word 'self-denial is to
be used. Are not you, also? Oh, Henry !!
is there any joy to be imagined beyond
that which flows from the conjunction of
two loving hearts? and shall pride and
weak spirit of social conformity come in
to rob us of our blessings ?"
The young man had come, sternly re-
solved to put off the day of marriage. He
parted from his betrothed that night,
looking forward with golden-hued hopes
of its arrival. They had talked over the
future practically and sensibly. The low
er's fond pride, which had looked to fair
social appearance for his young wife,
gave place to better view Of things. He
saw that his love had fixed itself on .
true woman, and that in the humber
sphere in which their lot was cast all at
tainable happiness was in store for them,
if they would but open their hearts in an
orderly way for its reception. One thing
said to him by Rosa in that evenings
talk we repeat for the sake of the young
wives or maidens on the eve of marriage {:
Be mine, dear Henry" she said, the
task of ordering and regulating our do
mestic affairs 10 conformity with your
means. l will give all thought to that.
Your income is fixed, and shall know
exactly the range of expenditure we must
adopt Do not fear debt and embarrass-
ment. These wretched forms shall never
enter your home while stand sentinel at
the door. If the husband gives his life
to care and work, shall not the wife do
the samep If he provides to the best of
his ability shall not she dispense with
wise frugality his earnings? She that
fails to do this, is not worthy of her posi-
tion."
"And so you are bent on this folly ?"
said the batchelor clerk, on the day pre-
ceding that on which Adrian was to be
married.
Yes, if you choose to call it folly"
was the answer.
Where are you going ?"
We are going nowhere"
What! Not going on bridal tour ?"
"No. A clerk who only receives
salary of twelve hundred dollars can't af-
ford to spend two hundred in making
bridal tour"
Mr.. Blair shrugged his shoulders and
arched his eyebrows, as much as to say
If could not afford bridal tour I'd
not marry"
On the day after Adrian's wedding, he
was at his usual place in the counting
house. He received from his fellow clerks
a few feeble congratulations. Most of
them thought him fool to burden him
self with wife not worth dollar.
When marry, I'll better my condi-
tion-not make it worse" was the unspok-
en- thought of more than one.
Where are you boarding? asked Mr..
Blair, indifferently, two or three weeks af-
ter Adrian's marriage"
Nowhere" was replied. "We are at
housekeeping"
"What -
"At housekeeping"
"What is your rent p
"Two hundred dollars, and half of that
my wise little wife is to pay in music les
sons to our landlady's daughters. We
have two pleasant rooms in q fine. old
country mansion in New Jersey, not an
hours ride from here. furnished these
with the money it would haye taken for
the usual bridal tour. Rosa has the use
of the kitchen, and insists on doing her
own cooking and housework for the pres
ent. / demurred, and do demur; but she
says that work is worship if performed
conscientiously and dutifully, as she is
performing it. And, with all this, we
are happy, Mr.. Blair, as you shall witness.
Tomorrow you must pay rs visit, take
tea, and spend the evening.
Mr. Blair accepted the invitation. He
had met Rosa occasionally before her
marriage, and knew her to be q bright,
accomplished young woman, fitted to
move in refined and intelligent circles,
and he felt some curiosity to see her in
her new position Of mistress and maid to
her own household. The train took Mr..
Blair to within . short distance Of the
home where Henry Adrian and his cour-
ageous wife were located. A few min
utes' walk brought him to the old place,
with it's fine, healthy, country aspect. Ex-
pecting him by that train, Adrian and
bis wife were on the piazza, prepared to
receive him, aud after the customary
greetings they led him up stairs to their
apartments-not with stammering apollo
gies for their poor home, but with such
ease and self possession-with such hap
py light in their eyes, and with such low
ing smiles about their lips-that Mr.. Blair
found himself all at once transferred to an
earthly paradise. As soon ~ opportuui-
ty came for observation, he became inter-
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