The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-03-18
HOW THE BROWNS GOT A
PIANO.
BY MISS AMELIA THROPP.


MY dear" said Mrs. Brown to her
! husband, as she sat at the breakfast
table, whilst he was reading the morn
ing paper, as he slipped his coffee, Il do
wish our girls had piano. 1t is too
bad, John" she continued, appealing
", s'that they are obliged to stay at
Mrs. Emer's after taking their lessons
to practice. 1t is the only chance they
get, poor things, and with such talent
as Mary has, it is disgraceful."
Mr.. Brown was well-to-do mer-
chant, residing at the city of P, who
spent so much for his own comfort that
his amiable wife and two pretty daugh-
ters Were obliged to practice the strictest
economy.
You know, dear" persisted his wife,
''we have been doing our own house.
work for the last two years, and have
saved two hundred and eighty dollars.
| If YOU would add three hundred to it,
we could purchase a very good one.
Mary is now sixteen, and it is time she
was able to entertain company Us nicely
as other girls of her age. Besides, Tilly
Higgins, our nelghbor's girl, quite gives
herself airs with our Mary and Martha,
tiiN still ouLS We ttIC StS Soot 90 lllC
Higgins"
Jane" replied Mr.. Brown, don't
you think you are making an unreason-
able demand to want such a sum of
money these hard times to buy the girls
piano when it is all Ican do to make
both ends meet. 1t is unreasonable and
ridiculous. / am not going to be ruined
by my family, therefore, / will do no
such thing Girls now-a-davs are alto
gether too fine. The other dayI went
to little country village to collect
bill, and, going along one of the princi-
pal streets, saw an old woman wash
ing the sidewalk whilst the daughter
was within the house playing on the
piano. I'll have no such nonsense here.
Our girls are good, industrious and
saving, and they shan't be spoiled. Be-
sides, | have not the money and that
settles it.
oh said his wife coaxingly, eff
you would give up your club, wine and
cigars for one year you could easily
save the amount; and only think of the
pleasure a little self denial on your part
would be giving your children. Now
do consent, John! That's q dear, good
man, that you are. -
If milestone had been hung around
Mr.. Browns neck he could not have
been more surprised at his timid wife's
audacitv. Give up his club, wine and
cigars! Was his wife crazy? Or did
she think him so? Well. well, this was
pretty business! He would like to
know what women would be at next,
with their assurance, and his wife was
getting as badly spoiled as the rest of
her sex.
He dashed his clenched hands on the
| table with such force that some of the
dishes waltzed off upon the floor,
! snatched up his hat, dartcd across the
hall, and left the house, pulling the
street-door to behind with g bang. He
was heated and excited, regarding HIM
self as very much insulted and abused.
1t was true, he thought. he must admit,
''his wife was always amiable, kind and
unselfish. but the idea of her asking him
to give up his club, wine and cigars for
a whole year to buy the girls piano, "
such demand fairly choked Mr.. Brown
with indignation. LAS if. " he said tO
| himself, ga man who worked hard did
| not need these comforts. As he was
thus arguing to himself, with the air OF
martyr, turning a street corner he met
the Misses McClain, who, approaching
him, said:
''Glad to meet you. Mr.. Brown. We
want to have little talk with you. Our
school closes now in two weeks. and the
exercises terminate with a grand con
cert. The best player is to get hand
some gold medal for prize. Every one
thinks your Mary or lilly Higgins will
get it. but it viii require a great deal OF
practice for the pieces are very difficult.
Tilly thinks she is sure of it, for she
says, YOU have no piano at your house,
and Mary won't be able TO practice
much, but rs you live next door, we
are going to try and coax lilly into
generosity, and ask her to permit Mary
to use her instrument little time each
day, and let the contest be a fair one. II
she won't consent we will try some one
else"
You need do no such q thing ex-
claimed Mr.. Brown; ''she should not
touch Higgins piano if they were will
ing, which | know they wouldn't be.
As he continued his way he muttered,
AZ won't have my girls going around
dShiilS ldNbIS, luSN Cdl luSt sta al
home" However, the idea of the red
headed TilIy Higgins playing at the
concert, probably getting the prize,
whilst his little Mary had to stay at
home because she could not get the OPP
portunity to practice, troubled Mr..
Brown in spite of himself.
Il might try doing without it year, y
he finally said to himself. Il don't see
that my club, wine and cigars do me
much good anyway, besides a year soon
rolls around I'll just take walk down
Chestnut street and take a look at one,
that won't be buying it,
As he entered the ware-room of his
| friend. Mr.. c., and asked to be
shown some instruments. ne fell some
what annoyed when his friend expressed
surprise at his not having an instru-
ment, remarking: a have heard your
eldest daughter is first-class player,
she must have labored under great dis
advantages.
Mr.. Brown colored at the remark,
and said, ''She shall have one. poor
| child! | want you to send good one
| to my house Immediately
If he had not wished 10 have been
1 -