Daily Republican., 1888-04-06
HER LESSON.

The wife OF prominent citizen, 4
year or two ago. wae turning over 1
box OF jewels, when she drew out 4
string OF opAls.
~ value that necklace above my
rubies or dlAmonds," she Gsid to .
friend.
her companion looked ct them.
why, they are not teali' she ex
claimed.
II know; q poor Initiation. Bot ]
will tell you their story, and you will
understand why 1 value them: My
husband, whsn married him 40 years
ago, Was D poor school teacher in a
Western town. We lived for q year
hsppy In littis house, keeping within
our means. We had fe " good friende,
intelligent, unpretent!ous people, whose
habits were simple Es our own. We
met them often at quiet dinners or teas,
Ia which there was no display, but
hearty cordiality and much real enjoy =
ment.
''Bat had o secret am bition to enter
rioh and fashionable set In the town,
though cav no way to accomplish II.
at last, the mother OF one OF my hus
bands pupils, wealthy and Influential
woman, asked US to q reception which
she gave, 1 was greatly excited; ex-
amined again aud again my black Bilk
gown snd lace collar, wondering how
they would look among the other rich
costumes.
One day, passing o shop, I saw In a
window this necklace OF opsls All, IL
could owo such lnaRni6csnce as thati
l went iu TO lcok st thom more closely,
and asked the price
Twenty dollars the man replied.
They are paste, Of osurse,' he added,
but only an expert could detect !"
Twenty doilaIsi Why could / not
take the mokey we tai laid by for the
renl2 Il would be supposed, resson
ei, that the jewels were worth thou.
SANDS. And consequently my right 10
enter fashionable society wonld be set
tied. For was go ignorant that l
thought social position depended ou
dreas.
"I bought the necklace. Then con-
WINGED mysslf that 1t needed hand.
some gown TO set 1t off / bought, ON
credit, q pale blue sstis, white slippers
and gloves. and all the accessories OF mn
evening toilet. l kept IL all Ieoret
FROM my husband.
He knew nothing o! my purchases
untis l took of my cloak at Mira
B ank's, and appeared before hila 10
oil my cheap spleador. the opals encir-
cling my bare neck. shall never for.
get bis look of amSzsment and disgust.
"We enterel the drawing room. To
my dismay found all the lsdiaa In
dark, rich dresses and hats which they
would have worn on the streets. As
walked through the room l detected
looks OF curiosity a1d amusement on
the faces OF come Of this least we'll. bred
among them. My hostess received me
wish oool civility, but made no atte IN pt
70 Introduce me to her other guests.
"As soon as L could escape, fed to
the dressing room, full OF shame and
misery. Two ladies were in tha next
room, and through the cpsn door l
heard one ask, "who Was that woman
In cheap eattn, with n s,ring OF paste
opals abous her neek?'"
"'She Ia the wife of . poor teacher
down to wn, ans wered the other. 'Sae
Is trying to push herself into society.
Her husband is q respectable, sensible
man, they say. pity him
We won't home. l WAS surely the
wretohedest woman In the village It
needed two years OF bard saving and
work to pay for that niRht's folly.
The lesson was hard one, but III
lasted me sll my life. have kept the
paste opsls, and Whenever 1 have been
tempted to make display on false
grounds look 1t then sni 70 back TO
reality aud Common sense. Do you
wonder that gay they are worth more
to me than ru5ies and diAmonds?"