Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1893-08-24
MY WIFE'S LEGACY.
Why We Didn't Got New House
and Furniture.


VI don't like to calculate upon such
things" observed my wife, "but If
Aunt Jane were to die, should not be
bit surprised If she left us that old
fashioned set of silver that belonged to
my great-grandparents."
Out of consideration for the printer
viii omit Solicitations of the emphasis
with which she usually spoke. II the
reader will kindly consider every second
word printed in small caps or italics, he
will have some faint idea of her manner
OF expressing herself.
ut is a very handsome set" re-
turned glancing about our modest din
ing-room, land will hardly accord with
our furniture"
1T wouldn't look at all we'll with
that sideboard," returned my wife,
promptly, ''it's so very shabby--oh, OF
course, ! mean the sidehoard, not the
silver"
II suppose, then, If such thing were
70 happen, you would want new side
board"
She nodded
III saw lovely one down town to-
day; antique oak, beautifully carved.
do admire oak so much"
but the rest of the furniture Is wal
nut" objected.
Walnut is altogether out of STYLE"
she said, with u disdainful glance ut the
chairs which we had once admired;
''and a sideboard is so much the most
expensive piece of furniture in u dining
room that it doesn't cost much more to
get a whole set than just that one
piece. And even walnut sideboard,
new, would not look well with these
chairs and this table,"
said nothing and the tacit surrender
was accepted by my wife. Thenceforth
1t was understood that if Aunt Jane
should bequcath us the silver, we We're
to purchase n new set of dining-room
furniture.
The next evening, as we were again
at dinner, my wife rcmarkcd;
II have been looking at carpets to-
day, and saw one that just suits me;
rich and subdued, you know"
Carpets" / repeated, in some sur
prise. 81 didn't know that there was
one needed this season."
"Why, stupid" rejoined my wife,
petulantly Nhc emphasis was all upon
the pet namc), did we not agree that
fbo 1;,;pfr-roo,,, r,ucf 1,a ,.af,rp 10 II a1 q
And this carpet is so old and worn, OF
course it would not do with all new
furniture"
Again acquiesccd silently, and she
proceeded to make plans for meeting
me the next day, to cxa mine and choose
the carpet and furniture to be pur
chased later on. Well, if my wifes re.
lations left her handsome silver, must
Of course, pro vide things in keeping
with it.
She met me according to appoint
ment, and, having inspected the arti
cles, gave me to understand that my
taste was so execrable as not to merit
a moments consideration, and, an
nouncing her own choice, suggested
coolly:
''And now let us go and look at the
wall papers.
"Wall papers," | echoed.
'sOf course the room must be re
papered if it is refurnished. AS for the
woodwork, suppose there is no helr
for that; it will just have to be re
grained Can they make that natura
wood finish on wood that has beer
painted?"
| stared aghast; that silver was going
to cost me a pretty sum. But ! was
helpless, entirely SO; my wife had made
up her mind.
That evening she was much elated a
the prospect of being surrounded BY
such things as she had that day Sc
lected. There was but one cloud on hel
horizon.
.The dining-room will be nicer thar
the parlors,n she remarked, plaintively
"lm afraid they will look shabby"
said nothing, hoping that If sh'
were not contradicted she would not
pursue the subject further. Vain hope
Sic had fixed it in her own mind thai
silence gave consent, and when came
home the next evening had assumed
that the parlors were to be newly fittet
up.
Don't you think" she raid coaxing
II. "that as long as the parlors anC
J;n;np-room are to be torn up, and w,
are to have the painters and paper
hangers here, we might as well hav'
the whole house done? 1t would b'
very little more trouble, and then /
will all look nice together, you know.
at would be considerably more cx
pensive," demonstrated.
You might draw the money out o
the building association" she SUI
gcsted.
"Our savings in that institution ar
doomed" said to myself.
Aunt Jane fingered long time. II
iustice to my wife, must admit sh
had become oblivious of the fact tina
ali these improvements depended upol
legacy which could only be possessed
after the death Of her venerable rela
tive.
4 dav or so after she had decided
tbnt the house was to be thorough.
serQratsd mY wife said toHei