Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-12-30

n building blocks. Arrived at home, his dead
) latch key turned briskly in the lock, and
@ he entered with light, almost springing
o footsteps. First glancing into the parlo,
It to see if the vases had arrived, he found
}. them adorning the marble mantel. They
really looked elegant, and threw an air OF
9 taste over the whole apartment. A littl
r while he remained, enjoying the sight, and
then went up to his wife's sitting room.
Mrs. Jones received her husband with hsl
accustomed smile, though it was not al
q mine her countenance.
! "What is this?" she inquired, as he laid
the package he had brought home in hel
f lap.
. 'Some building blocks for Eddy
II "Dear little follow! He will be SO de-
Lighted" murmured Mrs. Jones, as she
broke the string and removed the wrapper
from the box.
i "Where is he9' inquired the father.
: "He's asleep"
: ooh! How do you like your vases?" Mr.,
Jones spoke as if the vases had just come
into his thoughts, though, if the truth be
: told, they had been uppermost in his mind
since his step had passed the threshold of
his door.
"They are very beautiful, Jacob" re-
piled his wife, as she looked up affectionate-
ly into her husbands face. Yet were the
words not uttered with heartiness that
satisfied his expectations. Nor was he al
+ together sure that it was not increased hu-
midity that gave to her eyes their unwonted
lustre.
81 knew they were just what you wanted.
deal" said Mr.. Jones, in so tender voice
that his wife could not give words to what
was in her heart.
More pain than pleasure had the vases al
ready given to Mrs. Jones; for she had vet
too distinct remembrance of her husbands
words In the morning, when she had asked
him tor money to buy things needed in the
family, to feel comfortable in the POSSESS
ion Of what was merely ornamental.
''They were only fourteen dollars" said
Mr.. Jones.
Mrs. Jones did not respond.
'And SO cheap" continued the husband,
'that could not resist the temptation to
buy them"
If his ear did not deceive him, faint
sigh had bre tthed through the lips of his
wife. He looked earnestly at her, but her
head was bent down, and he was not able
to see distinctly the expression of her face.
The thermometer of Mr.. Jones's feelings
began to fall. He had anticipated a de-
lighted enthusiasm on the part of his wife,
and was not, therefore, satisfied with her
quiet expression of pleasure; and the less SO
when 1t was plainly evident that thi, pleas
ed exterior was but veil to cover more
sober state of mind.
sDid you 60 to Parker's this mornipg?'
he inquired, changing the subject.
"Yes." Mrs. Jones smiled as she looked
up.
"You found him pleasant enough, pre-
sume?''
"Of course. He would have sold half
the goods in his store. l believe
"a very agreeable man."
"Too agreeable for me, - said Mrs. Jones. |
''The fact is, have been on the stool of re- |
pentance ever sine / came home. I want. |
ra only about Z 81 h of. ID
rived, with the bill, 10 and behold! my pur-
chases had reached the sum of twenty-six
dollarsp'
"These storekeepers understand their
customers, replied Mr.. Jones, laughing.
sTndeed, they do. But, I know one
thing: if I'd been dealing for cash, Mr..
Parker's bill would not have exceeded my
limit. of ten dollars. 1t is such tempta-
tion to buy when you don't have to pay the
money right down. Excuse me, Jacob, for
saying what now comes to my lips. Don't
take it unkindly, for it is not meant So"
And Mrs. Jones looked at her husband
almost timidlys
"Say on, M :. will never take any
thing unkindly ,m you for l am sure that
nothing you wi ever say to me can spring
from feeling qnkindness.'
81 was thin e If that pair of vases,
Jacob"
"Were you.
'And it has just occurred to me, that
they have cost more than fourteen dollars
; perhaps twice that sum-"
"HOw can you make this out %
s1f you had given me ten dollars this
morning, l would have limited my pur-
chases to that sum, of necessity. Of course,
the vases would not have been bought. As
it is, they have cost, besides the fourteen
dollars you have paid for them, the differ
ence between ten dollars and the amount of
my credit bill at Parker's"
"Rather confused statement of the
case, Mary, and rather forced conclusion"
replied Mr.. Jones. ''Still Pm ready enough
to admit that an error has occurred. I
ought to have given you the ten dollars you
wanted when | had it in my pockat III
had done so, the aspect of things would
have changed. Instead of possessing pair
of handsome vases, not absolutely needed
for home comfort or happiness, and having
a debt of twenty-six dollars at Parkers,
which will have to be paid at the end of
the year, we would have both enjoyed the
needful things you bought, una 'loyed by the
consciousness that a draft had been drawn
upon the future which it might be no easier
to meet when due than at present. Ah,
me! I'm afraid l shall never learn wis
dom, Mary"
1t always grieved Mrs. Parker to see her
husband in trouble from any cause and,
| hat cha h .C..1
ours ent of his feelings, she instantly sought
to restore its peaceful flow. s. she spoke
spoke lightly of what had occurred, praised
the vases, and said they were just what she
had long wanted.
81 will be very economical" said she,
s'and SO will you, dear. In little while
we can save all the vases cost, and SO have
them without any draw back"
Very ready was Jacob Jones to accept
the comfort, particularly from this quarter.
The words of his wife were like the
suns rays melting through cloud. The
husband was himself again.
But, was he any the wiser for this little
episode? Not much, we are sorry to say.
The shadow had passed from his spirit too
quickly to leave even memory of its gloom
behind. On the very next day, he spent
five dollars in things superfuous and even
while he was doing this his wife, from eco
nOmical considerations, was musing over
the propriety of making her last seasons
bonnet answer, with some fresh trimming,
instead of buying new one.
And so matters went on until the year
closed when there came a summing up of
the years accounts.
"Money or credit. Jacob ?" Mrs. Jones
had said, in answer to the exclamation of
her husband that money was the bane OF
his life; and Mr.. Jones, thrown considera
bly, a-back by the question, which came
home upon him with telling force, was in a
state of mind rearly balanced between an
ger, confession of error, and amusement at
the aptness of his wife's interrogation.
"Credit, Mary, creditT' exclaimed Mr..
Jones, with forced emphasis. s'You have
struck the nail on the head. No-not
money; but credit; that is the bane of my
life! Why am such fool? run up ac-
| =. - II