The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-11-07

| III WOnC correspond Will tne reSI VI
the furniture"
"No danger of that" said his wife,
'it will set off the rest, and make them
all look handsomer."
ut may be so," said George, doubt
fully. ~ suppose you know better
about such things tran do. If you
are desirous of having it I suppose l
can buy it."
so, George, if you only will, it will
be such comfort"
''Then," said her husband, turning to
the clerk, 'you may send it to my
house."
cit shall be done this forenoon"
The young husband took tive-ten-
dollar bills from his pocket, and paid
them over for the sofa.
"This is the money" said he, as he
was walking home, "that was going to
put into the Savings Bank. You know
that this is quarter day, and for the last
four years | have put in this amount.
Now, in consequence of our new pur-
chase, shall not be able to-"
1T is only for once" said his wife,
"and then only consider how much
better our parlor will look"
Was it only for once: Time would
show.
When that sofa came home, and was
installed in the pace of honor, the old
fashioned sofa was removed to a
chamber. Somehow it did not seem to
set off the room as much as 1t was ex-
pected to. 1t looked out of place, as
Mrs. Hall could not help confessing to
herself, though she was not disposed to
speak of it. The plain but neat kidder-
minister carpet looked decidedly cheap
in comparison with it. However, Mrs.
Hall resolutely shut her eyes to this un-
pie ,sant fact, and continued enthusas-
ticaly to expatiate in praises of the new
sofa. She could not he contented until
Mrs. Savary had called and expressed
her opinion of it. This happened be-
fore long.
"My DEAR said that lady, taking a
critical survey of the Apartment, 'your
sofa is handsome one, acknowledge,
but will you pardon my suggesting one
thing"
"Ccrtalnly, Mrs. eavary."
'1hen, allow me to suggest that a
dark Brussels carpet is necessary to have
it show to good advantage. Now this
kiddermiuster, I dare say. is to erably
good ore, but 1T couldn't have cost more
than dollar a yard"
"Only eighty.seven cents" said Mrs.
Hall, little confused.
$50 l supposed. Well, you see, 9
carpet at eighty seven cents yard
| ~ yyoll with fiftv
dollar sofa. TO tell the plain truth, the
old. fashioned sofa looked more appro-
pirate"
Mrs. Hall almost wished that she had
never bought the new sofa; but having
done 50, she was dcterm ned, if possible,
to have everything to correspond. She
was too wise to say anything about it at
present, but waited until week before
The next quarte"-day.
Then she began to indulge in brief
hints, which at last became more de-
cided. At first George would not hear
of new carpet. lie was determined not
to omit his usual quarterly deposit this
time; but, at length, his wife's importu.
mites succeeded, aided by q lurking con-
viction on his own part that there was q
real incongruity between the sofa and
the plain carpet The new purchase
cost fifty dollars and trihe more, which
made George look little sober; but he
could not deny, as his wife said, that
the room looked a good deal i'm
proved.
And was this all1 By no means.
BY the time the carpet was put down,
it was discovered that the chairs, which
were only cane.seated, looked quite
! inferior to the good company which
had recently been introduced. When
! the next quarter day arrived, it was
found absolutely essential to purchase
some black stuffed chairs. Afterwards
came a new mirror, and piano was
hired, for even Mrs. Hall did not venture
to suggest so large an outlay as the pur-
chase would require. So the piano was
brought. and some fifty dollars year
were raid for its use, though. by the
wav. it was never used, since Mrs. Hall
had no ear for music, and, thereforef it
served only for ornament.
! BY the time the year was up, George
found that two hundred and twenty-five
dollars had been spent for furniture, and
not one cent had been deposited in the
Savings Bank. Nore than that, as
their s:gle of livirg hal increased with
their new furniture, which had un-
consciously elevated their ideas, George
found himself some two hundred and
fifty do lars in debt. At this time, or
just before, the great commercial re.
vuision had swept over the land, and
Georges employers had not been spared.
They had not failed, but their resources
had been greatly crippled. They called
him aside on the last day of the year and
told him. that though they should be
glad to retain him in their employ. they
should be obliged to cut down his in
come for the year to come to six hum
deed dollars. He went home much de-
pressed, as well he might be. His ex-
penses increased, his income diminished,
and debt to pay, which would swallow
M nearly all he had laid aside in the
Savings Bank.
He ut !e 9Th told his wife The cause of
his dependency. on her anxious solicit
tation. The vauity and love of show she
had exhibited, lay Oh the surface. She
determined to express her sympathy in
an active way. What that was, will
explain.
! When George came home the next
evening to tea, what was his astonish-
ment to find a load of furniture before
his door.
. "ran it be possible" he thought,
THAT Mary has been purchasing new
furniture"